I am prepping for putting my Deception Pass Canvas up for auction starting Monday, March 16th. Half of the proceeds will go to an Orca conservation non-profit in Seattle.
I know a lot of my social media peeps will know that I am interested in whales and ocean conservation because I JUST WON'T STOP POSTING ALL THOSE DAMN WHALE VIDEOS!!!
What you may not know is that my birthday present for my 7th birthday (or there abouts) was a membership in Greenpeace. When I was a little bit older, I got a certificate from Greenpeace for writing them a lengthy letter about my experiences with lugging my tape recorder into the Michigan woods to play the birds the songs of the humpback whale and noting their response. (Note to future researchers, Michigan songbirds LOVE the songs of the humpback whale. Tippy Hedren had NOTHING on me!)
When life seemed inexplicable as a kid, I buried myself in the cetacean section of the library. I learned the facts and the science and formulated confusion into order. I wanted to study whales and the ocean called to me.
I got a little older and made my way out to the Gulf of Maine where I followed whales around in a little Zodiac raft and learned the absolute beauty of knowing that I was tiny in the face of absolute majesty. I then sailed in the merchant marine where I would be rewarded, on occasion, with seeing the marine life from my "office window".
I then later found myself on the shores of the greatest inland sea, Lake Superior. As one of my marine ship handling instructors stated "It's just like an ocean, but it doesn't smell right". Lake Superior will always be my secret mistress.
After awhile, I made my way out to the Pacific Northwest. Whenever I felt the world was out of control, I could, in the words of John Masefield, "Go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky...". The Pacific Northwest will always be the home that I am homesick for.
My Deception Pass canvas was a recognition of that "home away from home" and a deep and abiding love for the creatures that dwell there. I hope that folks who are interested in my art and the story behind it, will watch my social media spaces.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQAswwHoM0o
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coral_knits/?hl=en
Twitter https://twitter.com/ChristyHarkness
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy2ekEL6u8TR8mUaza6nkJA