The Great Wave

You've probably seen the painting before. It is the Great wave of Kanagawa by: Hishikawa Moronobu. To some it reminds them of the great winds that saved Japan from the attacking Chinese army, which is where we get the term Kamikaze from. Most people think that Kamikaze is the name given to the planes that flew into allied ships and yards during world war 2. Kamikaze actually means divine wind and refers to the typhoons that had the Japanese during both invasions of the Mongolian army. (Apparently history really does repeat it's self.) Regardless this painting is not of that moment in history. It's just a bunch of fisherman who had run into a rogue wave off the shores of Kanagawa with Mount Fiji looking on in the back ground. I find this painting hypnotic for some reason. The wave looks like it has fingers ready to pluck the fisherman out of the boats and to their water deaths. Sometimes I imagine myself and my life as one of the fisherman sometimes. I'm holding on to my boat terrified that this gigantic wave will smash my fragile little boat into pieces and I will be tossed among the swell and to my death. Sometimes I feel as if I am the boat. I see this wave coming and I am responsible for all of the people that I carry. This obstacle threatens to rip me apart at my seams, but if I fail my passengers will all drown. I must survive for their benefit. Rarely, but it does happen, I feel as if I am the wave. I'm just a wave with no intent or thought, but by my existence people are thrown up against me. All a wave wants is to continue to roll before it breaks upon the shore.

I've decided to sew this piece of artwork onto a canvas. It's a foot and a quarter by a foot and a half. It's the largest canvas I've ever attempted. Usually I embroider for other people. I spend weeks at a time creating pieces of art for them, putting each stitch lovingly in place. I tend to concentrate on the person and reflect on them while I am creating this gift. This time I am sewing something for myself. I've found it a little more difficult. This creation will take months to complete, and I'm having a problem putting it down. It's always good to do some quiet introspection, but really who wants to contemplate yourself for several months. I love the painting so much I want to see it done, I love watching how each piece I sew brings it that much closer to finish. So I sit and sew and ponder. Sometimes I contemplate my novel and try and finish more of the story in my head, after all it is a little piece of me isn't it?