The Elements

Yesterday, I gave an art workshop in Woody Point. The idea was that we would spend time at the shoreline observing the organisms that were there, doing a bit of beach combing, making lumen prints and then make more art inspired by that experience.

Yeah.

Even though the weather forecasts here are very inaccurate and changeable, the forecast for workshop day was consistent. It would not be a nice day. The high was to be much colder than it has been and rain was in the forecast. So I made a “Plan B”. Making lumen prints in such conditions would be nearly impossible.

I woke up with a migraine because the weather influences my head. And what weather we had! All day, the conditions flipped between rain, brief stretches of sun, hail, and high winds. Right when we were scheduled to go to the shore, the sun came out and smiled on us. We could make lumens after all!

Of course, it was still cold and windy. AND it was high tide, which means that there was very little beach where we were going. In fact, it was pretty comical. You have to laugh.

Still, the wonderful group of brave souls who attended my workshop were up for any challenge and they all had a great time. The sun was out for EXACTLY the amount of time needed for lumen print making. Right after we finished, it poured rain and the hail began.

I struggled with my head in the afternoon but the workshoppers made fabulous art!

There is a lesson in this, somewhere. The elements are out of our control. If we can find ways to work with them, and to adapt to less than ideal conditions, there is always inspiration to be found.