Ethan Okamura: You Are Here

~Artist Reception October 14, 3 pm – 5 pm~

Water: Life giving, life affirming, life sustaining, ephemeral, spontaneous, connected, omni-present, foundational, fundamental…

I’ve spent a large portion of my life staring at the ocean—more precisely, the Pacific Ocean off of the Marin County coast. Certain shapes and images eventually become iconic: the silhouette of the Farallon Islands; the Point Reyes Peninsula as viewed from the south and the San Francisco cityscape as viewed from the north; Duxbury Reef at low tide from the cliffs above Agate Beach; the white caps from the northwest trade winds in spring; the sunny, rolling glass of fall; the foreboding giant Aleutian ground swells of winter; the shapes and characteristics of waves over certain oft-visited reefs and beaches depending on tide, sand bar development, wind, and swell factors.

But there are also less obvious images and moments to be appreciated. Perhaps smaller in scale, but happening in countless locations every moment of every second: the way water molecules are connected in foam; the way some waves appear to be molten glass or rolling molasses; the architecture of splashes on Duxbury Reef; the almost psychedelic color array in bubbles. It just takes paying attention and being present, respecting the moment.

These photographs represent my respect for the moment. And for the ocean. And for the elusive ability to simply be present. There’s always something interesting and beautiful going on…