Ephemeral Tidal Rings (after) Photograph

Gerry Joe Weise, "Ephemeral Tidal Rings (after)", sand installation and photography, 23rd February 2016, Jetty Beach, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia. "Ephemeral Tidal Rings" after the tide came in. Sand Drawing in Earth Art. When creating a Sand Drawing on a beach, the ephemeral quality of the creation is subject to the tides. The periodic rise and fall of ocean waters and its inlets, which happens approximately every twelve hours, on an area subject to tidal action known as a tidal zone. The artist must take into account when the water level recedes, by checking with the local tidal timetable, before proceeding with an installation. Sand Drawings are created with one or several different types of rakes. The implement consists of a pole with a toothed crossbar at the end, used for drawing together leaves or smoothing loose soil, in an act of raking. The rake in this case, is used like a huge pencil to draw on sand. Symbols or patterns drawn from an aerial perspective, have greater impact and importance, than normal portraits or objects. Drawing in this manner is topographical, and related to graphic representations of surface features on maps. Using the damp sand left behind by an outgoing tide, and drawing a raked line, this line is of a much darker shade of brown than the virgin yellowish background. If the artist treads lightly without shoes, barefoot or with smooth bottomed sandals, minimum footprint is seen at a short distance. The outcome of the design ranges from the subtle to the disorienting, depending on how close, or how far the spectator is from a Sand Drawing. Both for the Land artist and the spectator, psycho-geography is connected with the mind and mental processes, whereby a geographical site has effects on our bearings, leading to an awareness of our position relative to the surroundings. A three-way information exchange between the artist, the location, and the viewer. As a facilitator and a maker, the artist’s skills are summoned to translate the micro mental image to the macro Sand Drawing; a large scale series of lines, circles, spirals, etc. Different states of mind: the thought of picturing oneself walking around in the drawing, one’s own self in another dimension, and the aspect of being beside oneself. The artist becomes lofty in a positive manner, elevated in ideals topographically, while the artwork becomes ephemeral due to the tides via the Sun and Moon. Tides result from the gravitational forces exerted on the Earth’s surface by celestial bodies. Tidal forces from the Moon, due to its proximity to Earth, are approximately twice as strong as those from the Sun, while Jupiter produces minute tidal effects. Spring tides demonstrate the largest change in sea level between low and high tides. They occur when there is a full Moon, with the alignment of the Earth and Sun, where the forces of the Sun are combined with those of the Moon. The geometry of the coastline and of the water’s basin also affects the range of tides. Sand Drawings executed during spring tides, have the longest duration, before their ephemeral ending. From a hard physical state, transformed into a fluid watery dimension. I do take pride of my Sand Drawings. I go for an organic abstract result influenced by physics and philosophy, leaving my mark in originality and style, while never striving for perfection. My earthwork fingerprint. Contrary to popular belief, “perfection” can extinguish the soul of an artwork. As it is only an artist’s style of interpretation, that becomes “perfection” in itself. Where I took pride ever since the day when somebody working at a cartoon gallery, walked up to me while I was doing a Sand Drawing by the Jetty just after dawn, and said: “Oops, you just made an imperfect line?” I replied: “That will just make it even more organic!” Of course I could rub out the line in the sand, and then do it again. I chose not to, because that was the end result I was aiming for in the first place. To make it harmonious, organic with my imprint, just like where nature never has exact copies of itself. Never “two” being entirely the “same”, adds to the harmony and complexity of the material world and its phenomena. I have to create, I must create, I will create! I shall not be the slave, I will create my own perfection!

Photography:Color on Other

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:944.9 W x 708.7 H x 0.8 D in

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