“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
—Maya Angelou
Next door to the Cypress Inn in Half Moon Bay where Cecile and I stayed is an "Ocean Studio" founded by Michael Powers, an artist and sculptor. I took these photos of some of his amazing ceramic masks, and his garden wood and rock sculptures that adorn the outside of his Viking-style home that he personally hand-built on Miramar Beach.
Powers was raised near lakes and rivers of Idaho during the 1940s and as an adult moved to Half Moon Bay, California and never looked back. Being a lover of mythology, one sculpture that particularly struck my fancy is “The Green Man,” which appears in many ancient cultures. It represents a forest god, a pagan symbol of rebirth and resurrection, still revered today as provider of good harvests and known as being a guardian of the metaphysical gate between the material and immaterial worlds.
The Ocean Studio is an alliance of artists, writers, and filmmakers working together to nurture a deeper empathy and understanding for the natural world. For over 39 years Powers was the Commander of the Tsunami Rangers, an extreme condition sea kayaking team. Powers, now over 80 is their official Shaman. This life-long adventure seeker is the co-author of "Extreme Kayaking" with the late Eric Soares, one of the original partners of the Tsunami Rangers.
Postscript: Michael Powers garden sculptures are hand-crafted from Sierra Featherstone and available for sale by appointment only. If interested call 650-400-5712.
