Winter Sol Artist Statement

Winter can be so cold and dark. The wind blows through the mainland, over the bay, under my jacket, into my home, chilling my bones. It makes me want to hibernate and withdraw from everything; lull myself into a deep sleep like a sailboat in the doldrums. That would be easy but also it would be lonely, limiting, and I would be stuck like a wave in a bucket of water.

So I force myself to go outside, to run on the beach, face the bay at sunset, to surf on sunny brisk days, to hike in the snowy woods. I rarely see anyone. I am usually lost in my thoughts, marveling at how beautiful everything looks. Winter, at first glance, seems grey, but with closer inspection, there is a spectrum that shines through the frozen hunter green branches and bright crimson holly berries. The ocean also reveals many colors such as stormy root beer brown and calm crystal azure. I become inspired by my surroundings. I feel free. I am moving like swells rolling toward the shore.

When I am home, inside from the deep freeze, I have time to reflect. My spirit is stoked, my senses warmed like a gentle Caribbean breeze. My heart is on fire; fueled by the Winter Sol.

Mary Tantillo