I’ve explored sea life in a previous collection, but I wanted to return to it. I’ve realized this is a pattern in my collections. I revisit a theme if I feel I have more to add. The last collection in which I explored this theme was called Splash in 2019.
I think about my life in chapters, and the chapter post 2020 has centered so much around the balance of control and chaos. There is only so much we can control, and so much more that we cannot. A tide definitionally refers to the gravitational pull between the moon and sun, and the rotation of the earth — a push and pull no one can control.
The symbolism of motifs is purposeful, a sunfish sail boat – one that children first learn to sail and navigate rough waters. A school of fish to signify the importance of family. The nautilus shell as a symbol of growth and change to be able to withstand and welcome inevitable chaos. The sand dollar as a symbol of luck and prosperity, often out of our control. The conch shell as an ancient symbol of protection. And lastly the mussels with a pearl inside to remind you to trust what’s within.
Tides can bring in beauty, and sometimes they bring pain. Sometimes they push you out to sea, and sometimes they bring you back in.
