Blog

I just returned from the Plein Air competition held at Grand Marais, MN this past week.   This event saw 53 artists participating in various aspects of painting.  Especially fun for me was the Quick Paint affair that caused most of the participants to be climbing over Artists Point, a rocky spit of rocky terrain that forms the northwest corner of the harbor.  It seemed that individuals and easels were scattered here and there over the entire surface of this craggy peninsula in order to get just the right orientation to paint the perfect canvas.

It took me some time to settle on my view, and stake claim to a piece of rockbound turf.  Rather than look out towards beautiful Lake Superior, or the woods that somehow clawed its way onto the boulder field, I decided to turn my sights on the dead end gorge of blue water that had cut its way into the point.  Admittedly, it seemed a bit odd to be the only individual to be looking down and in as opposed to outward, but, oh well, that’s what grabbed me.  Yes, I had numerous onlookers clamber down to my nest, puzzled that I faced awkwardly in what seemed the wrong direction.  I believe however that they were rewarded by seeing the relentless unremitting waves slap into the cut in the rock, moving from the open blue into a pinched deep purple note.  Over and over the undulating waves from the vast fresh water lake were here squeezed into a dead end gorge which ended their agitated voyage in a petulant poof and dying splash.

I could go on to metaphors this brings to my mind, but, I will spare you.  Suffice it to say that rock and water are engaged in a constant battle here.  The dug in, seemingly unchangeable stone as immovable and massive as it appears will eventually be worn down, over time, yes, over the long course, over continual and consistent slaps of water that ever flow at it.  So shall we persevere till the victory is ours.