Going to Water

Going to Water studies

Do you ever wonder where ideas come from?

I mean, where did Johannes Gutenberg get his idea for the printing press? Where did Nicholas-Jacques Conte get his idea for the pencil? Where did Ada Lovelace get her idea for the computer algorithm?  Where did a German choirmaster get his idea for the candy cane? Where did Elizabeth Magie Phillips get her idea for Monopoly? Where did Mary Anderson get her idea for a windshield wiper? The list goes on.

There’s a theory about ideas: Ideas are particles of disembodied energy that spend eternity swirling around, searching for human partners who are willing to collaborate. An idea’s sole purpose is to be manifested into reality. And the only way that can happen is through a human being.

So, when an idea spots a likely human, it swoops in, taps the candidate on the shoulder, and says, “Hey, you. Wanna hang out?” If the human doesn’t notice, or even ignores it, the idea will wave goodbye and move on to someone else.  

I have an idea for my artwork:

As a backstory Chuck, Lucie, and I visited the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, where I was captivated by the Cherokee Nation’s sacred “Going to Water” ceremony. Every morning, regardless of the season, Cherokees faced the sun and immersed themselves seven times into a flowing river. Their purpose was to cleanse themselves of bad thoughts, attract a long life, recover from a wasting illness, and/or call for prosperity. (Some Cherokees still practice the ceremony.)

I learned that to Cherokees water is a sacred and living being—a vehicle of medicine and spirit. It represents the very source of life. Water, specifically river water, nourishes, guides, warns, and welcomes. It protects the mind, body, and spirit.

I couldn’t sleep that night. So I climbed out of bed and grabbed my journal. Lucie and I cuddled in front of the fireplace. My brain isn’t fond of being shushed, but I told her it was intuition’s turn to talk. With that my hand took on a life of her own, and what appeared on the page was a plan to create a series of abstract landscape paintings that honor the Cherokee’s “Going to Water” ritual.

My paintings will be large. My palette will be desaturated blues, sage greens, creams, and Australian salmon enhanced with pops of saturated Bordeaux red and orange. Bold marks and bits of Cherokee handwriting will add interest. Along with the river, I will include abstract renditions of mountains, skies, and clouds.

I’m honored this idea selected me as its human collaborator. I don’t want it to scurry off to someone else. So I alerted my brain it was her turn to talk, and wrote the following commitment in my journal/sketchbook:

Dearest Idea:

By June 30, 2025, after completing my six-month course entitled “Momentum,” I will have created a minimum of three finished abstract landscape paintings that honor the Cherokee Nation’s “Going to Water” ceremony.

To show you I’m serious, I started playing with concepts. You can view them pinned to my Discover Board.

Thank you for selecting me to be your human conduit.

Love,

Judith

Going to Water studies