Counter Flow
by Ken Walker
Title
Counter Flow
Artist
Ken Walker
Medium
Digital Art - Digital Painting
Description
The artist explores what it is to be part of the true counter-culture: Resisting the temptation to allow others, or even our own inner thoughts to push us towards directions that are not beneficial to us. Obstacles get in our path to knock us off track - how easy it is to allow other people, movements, fashions of the day, and trinkets of distraction to pull us under and away from a beautifully orchestrated life.
COUNTER FLOW by Ken Walker
I feel it all around -
the pull
the tug,
“Come this way.
Think this way
Follow me.”
But I am the only one
to have traveled
these steps forged
through the balance of
LIFE:
Painful sorrow.
Effervescent blessing.
The stream carries on
flowing through and around.
Stay alert for fallen branches,
A bludgeoning blow,
take you under -
The undertow is strong!
Sweep you away
fate
unchosen
But truth
thrives in the path
against the norm.
I will be a resolute reed
bending, still
defiant,
counter to the
culture,
for I answer
to a higher calling,
the story of
me.
Artist Note -"I am [10/2021] in a major transition requiring me to go against everything I thought I knew as safe and normal, and everything I was used to in order to break free from some destructive ways of thinking -These forged very much through wounds from my past, long past in my childhood - setting me up for a lifetime of missed opportunities because of fear. Walking counter to the flow of a rushing stream is scary and dangerous, but in this short life, this is just what I need to do, because the direction the water wants to take me is over the DOWNSTREAM and over the edge. UPSTREAM is where life is reborn, fertile and expansive."
Uploaded
October 28th, 2021
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Comments (3)
Sharon Williams Eng
This is obviously a deeply personal representation of your struggles. You are brave for sharing. Stay resolute and you will persevere.
Ken Walker replied:
Thank you Sharon for the encouragement. It is easy when I have such wonderful understanding fellow artists here to add there appreciation and support.
VIVA Anderson
Beautiful ART. Wonderful drama, the balance of black vs white, symbolism: good vs bad; and through it all, YOUR art , YOU, thrive, find Balance, expression, 'release', the safety net to keep you afloat; going with the flow/no undertow ! Your journey, to WHO you will be, despite/because of your challenges, will end beautifully. You will BE ! Who, What, you WANT to BE, now! Love this optimism! Love your colourful prose, vs the stark b-w ! f.v. VIVA
Ken Walker replied:
Humbled once again that you get it - and sometimes say it better than I in a few less sentences. On Point. My heart swells. Thank you dear friend.