Where there is life, there is hope. Anything is possible. Believe in the good. Persistence and determination beat the odds. The public, for its part, appears to recognize that a swift return to life as it was before the pandemic is unlikely. As the third year of the coronavirus outbreak approaches, Americans increasingly appear willing to accept pandemic life as the new reality.”
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“Seaside Turnaround ” oil by artist Michael Muldoon for FEARLESS.
And so, as the Seaside Art Walk evolves into a new normal, with returning “snowbird” hostess and a gallerist stepping forward to speak about the process of creating contemporary art for the upcoming high season at the beach.”
“Joan de Arc” pen, ink, and watercolor by Vanessa K. Stokes. Featured artist lecture by Fairweather gallerist with gallery hostess during the opening reception of Fearless, a May exhibition. In the background is sunflower art by Jan Rimerman, dragonfly art by Lieta Gratteri, and oil paintings by Emily Schultz-McNeil.
With the delta and omicron variants fresh in mind, the public also seems to accept the possibility that regular booster shots may be necessary. Despite these and other fearless steps toward nomalcy uncertainty abounds in many other aspects of living a changing life. Indeed, visiting restful places, such as Seaside, surely are a step forward.”
“The Sun Will Shine on Their Faces, Once Again” fine art photography presented by artist Bob Kroll with gallery hostess for the Fairweather May 2022 FEARLESS exhibition.
I equate fearless with brave, though they are not truly the same, because people behaving bravely can be filled with fear.” Bob Kroll
Naturalist Neal Maine lectures during the opening reception of the FEARLESS exhibition at Fairweather’s. Water striders are fearless bugs adapted for life on top of the water, using surface tension to their advantage to “walk on water.”
Maine naturalist notes:
The water strider has three pairs of legs. The front legs are much shorter, and allow the strider to quickly grab prey on the surface. The middle legs act as paddles. The back legs are the longest and provide additional power, and also enable the strider to steer and “brake.”
The buoyancy and paddling legs allows striders to be fast. Very, very fast. The National Geographic article reports striders are capable of “speeds of a hundred body lengths per second. To match them, a 6-foot-tall person would have to swim at over 400 miles an hour.
Water acts different at the surface. Water molecules are attracted to each other and like to stay together, especially on the surface where there is only air above. The attraction between water molecules creates tension and a very delicate membrane. Water striders walk on this membrane.
Water striders have legs that repel water and capture air. By repelling water, the tiny water striders stand on the water’s surface and the captured airs allows them to float and move easily.”
Persistence and determination beat the odds.
“Thou shalt fly without wings.”
Fairweather House and Gallery
612 Broadway St
Through May 25
FEARLESS
For FEARLESS, sculptures by Chas Martin also pictured art by Peg Wells, Marga Stanley, and Jan Shield.
Viewing my work is a layered experience. The first reaction is often whimsical or humorous, and the second level reveals a more engaging question. The third level reflects the viewer’s journey, and everyone sees something different.” –CM