Neighbour Crows - 2024 03 24

 

Graphite, pencil crayon, ink, acrylic paint on mylar - 8 1/4" x 6"

Everyday I walk in nature. Nature as structured by roads, sidewalks, municipal authority, parks board, residential property. Nature abiding in the sunrise, seasonal change, clouds and water sheds. Nature alive in budding branches, daffodils, snow drops and crocus blossoms. Nature embodied in my curious neighbour crows.

I walk in nature and it reflects back to me something about myself. Something that I need to know about myself that I can only see in the natural world as I interpret natural phenomena in relation to my own experience of life in this moment. My interpretation may be literal, the sun is rising and my spirits rise with it. My interpretation may be metaphorical, I see the dandelion growing out of a crack in the sidewalk and I see a way forward despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. My interpretation may be allegorical, I see crows sitting side by side on a telephone wire and I tell stories to myself about their relationships based on their proximity to each other and the direction of their gaze. I think of my relationships with my own family and friends. Are we pulling in the same direction? Are we pulling away from each other? Are we pulling together?

Neighbour crows remind me that I am in nature. I am part of nature. Nature is part of me. I can make sense, I can draw strength, I can find inspiration. In nature with my neighbour crows.

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