Outstanding In His Field

I've always believed that art and creativity were multifaceted, that no one is talented in only one area. Creativity is the way we approach our lives as opposed to how we use a particular medium. And then, of course, there needs to be a burning passion for what we do. Hence, perhaps I could entice you to look at the work of Jim Denevan.

Denevan is the founder of Outstanding In The Field

Most of what they do is give dinner parties. Not just ordinary dinner parties, but big, huge, long tabled, in the field - literally - dinner parties. The food is natural, local, and the parties are usually set in the fields where the food has been grown. The photo below is of the table at the dinner party in Sea Cove, California. Oh my, and I was concerned about doing last night's dishes from my two pan meal.

And then, of course, there is a cookbook, Outstanding In The Field: A Farm To Table Cookbook. I'm ordering mine soon so I can try the upside-down fig cake.

It is obvious when reading about Denevan and seeing all that he does, that this is a person who is passionate about the environment and about sharing his ideas with everyone. Denevan is also an artist who does freehand drawings in the sand. That's what it says on his website...."...freehand drawings in the sand". You read this and then you see the photos on the website and you realize that Denevan's idea of a sand drawing isn't exactly what we've seen before. They are more like crop circles. These are breathtakingly beautiful. And remember, these drawings wash away as they succumb to the force of the ocean. It is an incredible lesson in impermanence and detachment. Here are a few photos.

In this first one, you see a close up of Denevan drawing in the sand with a stick, and yes, its freehand.

Moving down, you see the results. Some sand drawing, I say, and it will eventually wash away.

If you look closely in the center of the amazing sand spiral below you will see Denevan again, like a tiny sand creature at the core of his creation; the enormity of the work next to the pulsating ocean is truly awe inspiring for me.

Suddenly, the few hours I spent yesterday fighting with a strand of beads that were being uncooperative, seems a bit silly. After looking at Denevan's work, I am going to put the beads back into their drawer, leave them where they are apparently happy for the time being, and work on something else until they are ready to come out and play. I am inspired to go out to the garden, build something from stray branches and twigs (no sand in sight), perhaps something for the birds to play on and embrace the idea of it blowing away as the night breeze creeps in.

What I find in Denevan's approach to life and art is the lesson of putting our attention on what brings happiness and beauty without concern about where it will lead us or how long it will last. Whether it is food we grow and eat, or art that was not intended to last forever, everything we do is in the current moment. Perhaps that's the only security there needs to be.

I hope you enjoy Jim Denevan's images enough to look at his artwork, his food blog (link is above) and appreciate what he does and, more importantly, the passion with which he does it. I'm a bit smitten, myself.....

Namaste'