Last days
I’ll miss many things about Itoshima. Immersion in a vastly different culture, stepping away from myriad responsibilities at home, and having uninterrupted creative time have been indispensable.
The value of the experience can’t be calculated and boarding the flight today I’ll take these things with me:
The landscape. I wish my eyes could burn the beautiful landscape into my cells. I’ve filled an entire sketchbook of dark forest greens, bright yellow-green rice fields, diffuse atmospheric gray-green mountains, and the piercing orange gates that frame all of nature. Surrounded by the Sea of Japan and volcanic mountains I’ve savored the daily view.
The people. Spending time with my buddy from grad school has been wonderful. We were studio mates over twenty years ago. How does time move so quickly? Making new friendships - on this trip particularly with Dee -has been a valuable reminder that there are friends everywhere just waiting to be made. Creative friendships are fuel when the tank is low. A shared trust in the creative process is an unexpected stabilizer. It’s encouraged some new ideas, experimentation, openness, and flexibility.
The studio. Making artwork is a soul saver. Working in a communal environment with sharp, engaged, positive people has been good medicine. Going solo works for some folks. I was told recently that I’m fiercely Independant but in truth that independence only works from a strongly rooted position.
The Beach: The peninsula shrine is my favorite view of the Sea. In my last visit the wind and water were HOT and as beautiful as can be. The towering boulders, the multiple groupings of three stones jutting up from the sand, and the shimmering golden sand are mesmerizing. The multiple two and three-stones outcroppings are everywhere. In Shinto religion they are often honored and represent an aspect of Kami.
“The ancient Japanese considered that all things of this world have their own spirituality, as they were born from the divine couple. Therefore, the relationship between the natural environment of this world and people is that of blood kin, like the bond between brother and sister.
…the reverence toward Kami of Mountain, started with people’s awareness of mountains as an important source of water for rice cultivation. Then, people came to regard the mountain itself as a sacred object. This mountain faith prepared the way not only for the preservation of mountain forests but also for conservation of the cycle of the ecosystem, given the fact that mountain forests supply rich nutrition to seas through the rivers, and support good inshore fishing.
In ancient times, reverence toward a holy mountain was expressed by paying respect directly to the mountain itself. Nowadays, Shinto has a building, or a compound of buildings, where Kami spirit dwells permanently, and people worship by performing Matsuri - a festival to offer prayers to Kami - in these buildings.“
Find more here at the Yale Forum for Religion and Ecology.
The Shrine: Rising up steep steps to the largest shrine building and overlook is stunning. There could not have been a more beautiful location for the residency and I had no idea this spectacular shrine would be next door.
Resource Links
Learn Religions: A Guide to the Shinto Spirits
World History Encyclopedia: Kami definition
I am thrilled beyond belief that you have had this amazing experience. To share it with Chris must have been especially significant.