Kern Carter's Blog, page 142
August 7, 2020
Riding the Wave: Portraits of a Jersey Shore Community During the Pandemic
You’re sitting on a beach. The sun is rising in front of you. A soft gentle breeze blows, keeping you cool as the day starts to warm. In the distance you can hear the crash of waves on the shore. While you are being led through a meditation, you can hear a boat moving through the inlet as it makes its way into open water to fish. The air is salty and humid and you begin to feel the sun shine on your face. As you take a breath in, the scent of the ocean immediately brings you calm.
Wish you were in this spot right now? You’re not alone.
There’s an actual science explaining human attraction to water. It’s in our DNA and as we incorporate water into our lives, our DNA changes with it. The theory is called Blue Mind. In a book by Wallace J. Nichols, with the same name, he explains why people are drawn to water, and how it’s enhanced with every generation.
The affinity began as we began, connecting with our mother in the womb. The fluid that surrounded us as a fetus gave us comfort and safety. It’s no wonder we find water so enticing. As a developing people, being around water was a necessity. Humans needed it as a food source and nomads often followed a body of water for navigation and the benefits it brought. As time has gone on, and people evolved, water has served as a salvation for many. Its cleansing and healing properties lure people from all walks of life and allows them the comfort it holds. Different bodies of water attract different types of people, but they all have the Blue Mind in common.
The beginning of this piece is just the start to a typical day at the Jersey Shore. Every morning, people start their day along the ocean. Fishing boats are coming off the bays and inlets, making their way out to fish in open water. People are fishing off piers or just simply from the surf. Surfers paddle out into the ocean for “Dawn Patrol,” surfing as the sun rises. Yogis are meditating and saluting the sun. And that’s just scratching the surface. Not only are all these activities happening at the same time, but many more are biking, running, walking, and skating along the boards too. Ask any of those people why they need to be near the ocean and each of them will give you a different answer. The commonality of it if you break it down is simply their need to be near the ocean. In it, touching it, hearing it, smelling it, taking in the whole package. Feeding the Blue Mind. While during the height of the pandemic, the volume of all these activities has decreased, those who have the need still make their way to the water.
Most mornings, I make my way up to the beach to have my coffee and take in the salt air and listen to whatever the ocean has to say. My story is like many others. I grew up in a big city, never learning how to swim, being to the beach very little growing up. As a teen, I discovered that the beach was less than an hour away. From then on, I got there as often and however I could. I took the train, hopped in cars with friends and finally drove myself “Down the Shore” on a regular basis. This went on for decades, with a small blip of living at the beach for a summer in my 20s. Then one day, I sold my house, switched jobs and took the plunge, so to speak. I can swim now… I took my first lesson as a full-grown adult and WOW. It’s absolutely freeing. It’s been a little over 5 years and I am a completely different person than what I was when I first moved. Like I said, I can swim — but so much more. I am a certified 500RYT, something I wanted for a very long time and just couldn’t find the space in my life to do it. I love to SUP (stand up paddle) board on the rivers and bays, I’ve tried my hand at surfing (all over the world actually), I rollerblade again and just recently, I got certified to sail. None of this was on my radar even 10 years ago and now, I can’t imagine my life any other way. I’m often heard saying “I live 4 blocks from the beach, and I will never live further away than that ever again.” It took a long time to discover this life and I intend to take full advantage of it for the rest of mine.
As I’ve said though, I’m not the only one. During our COVID-19 “Stay at Home” order here in NJ, we could go out and get exercise. The oceanfront was filled every day with people doing different things. So many people were simply walking on the boardwalk that the town decided to close it. That stopped no one. People began walking on the street, side by side with cyclists, skaters, runners and the like. The beaches never closed though and there we found not only surfers, but people fishing from the beach, meditating, and singing songs live to others on social media. In June, there was a Paddle Out for Unity, where surfers paddled out to meet in the ocean and form a circle to support the “Black Lives Matter” movement. With the ocean as common ground, we were able to stay together, while staying apart. Throughout the pandemic, we thrived as a community, sharing this common ground, this love for Mother Ocean.
But don’t just take my word for it. Part of this piece is a photo essay depicting how creative people can get to be in or near the water. I hope by looking at these images, you can see what the appeal is, and maybe develop your Blue Mind too.
The sun rises over the Ocean on the East Coast, and many gather to watch it, and surf with it. You can see those engaging in Dawn Patrol on the right.
Even on foggy and cold days, surfers dress in their wetsuits and hoodsto get into the water (hoods optional) .
Surfing facilitates community and the activity is just as social as it is exercise. It starts in these shore towns at a very young age. These “groms” are deciding where to paddle out.
Surfers paddle out in Asbury Park in support of Black Lives Matter.
Arial view of that same paddle.
Hundreds of people gathered on the sand to support the initiative.
Conclusion of the ceremony.
No surfer can resist riding a wave in.
Many surfers drive from spot to spot to see where it’s “going off.”
Lifeguard making their way out of the water
Surfing in motion
Surfers in the distance. For most, surfing isn’t just exercise. It provides a way to connect socially and a way to connect with the ocean spiritually.
One of the competitors of Cold Wars surfing competition. Held on Long Beach Island in the winter. Photo credit: Jason Gumble for Swell_Report.
Cold Wars Photo credit: Jason Gumble for Swell_Report.
Cold Wars — getting out of the barrel. Photo credit: Jason Gumble for Swell_Report.
Cold Wars again — look at that speed! Photo credit: Jason Gumble for Swell_Report.
Cold Wars — getting some air! Photo credit: Jason Gumble for Swell_Report.
The author taking her SUP on its maiden voyage. Photo credit Jason Gumble for Swell_Report.
Sometimes we SUP in the Ocean
Sometimes we SUP on a river
But we’re always smiling no matter where we do it. This is Sean, one of the owners of Summertime Surf, a company that provides surf and SUP lessons as well as SUP Yoga. He helps keep the stoke at the Jersey Shore.
A heron flying over the river and under the moon. Something that can only be seen SUPing on the river.
Life is better in a kayak with your pup.
Sailing is also a big part of shore life.
So we learned how to sail! Michele and Jay handling the mainsail and Nick Uzzolino manning the tiller. Photo courtesy of Barnegat Bay Sailing School.
Fishing boat coming in
Boat riding out of the inlet for the day
Jen from Metta Yoga in Neptune leading a class on the beach
Beach Yoga
Dancers at a Drum Circle
Drumming away
Local surf shop hosts a board swap. It’s about community.
It’s also about style.
Lifeguards spend their days ensuring safety in the ocean.
For surfers too…
But it can simply be the view
that brings us what we need.
Riding the Wave: Portraits of a Jersey Shore Community During the Pandemic was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
August 6, 2020
August 5, 2020
August 4, 2020
August 3, 2020
August 2, 2020
The Art of Balancing Writing as a Purpose and a Goal
And other stories you need to read on CRY.
The Art of Balancing Writing as a Purpose and a Goal by Maria Chance
Creatives Making a Living — Illustrator Chelsea Charles [interview]
Writing the Characters We Want by Don Simkovich, MA
The Art of Blogging and the Powerful Effects on Our Lives by Carlos Jeronimo
I Don’t Need Permission — Interview with Austrian Artist Laurene Southe
Don’t forget to follow us on IG @wecrydeep
The Art of Balancing Writing as a Purpose and a Goal was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
July 31, 2020
The Art of Balancing Writing as a Purpose and a Goal
As kids, we’re told we can be anything we want, but the fine print always reads: as long as you’re the best at it and extremely successful.
Creatives making a living — Illustrator Chelsea Charles [Interview]
How Chelsea Charles is carving out a lane for herself in illustrations.
You might have seen Chelsea’s work in the latest articles of The Walrus, Zora and ESPN or on the cover of recent fictional release, The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones. Residing in Brampton, Ontario, Chelsea uses a combination of digital and traditional mediums to create these click-worthy pieces.
Why Illustration?
I know it sounds cliche but I’ve kind of always been drawing since I was a kid. I’ve always seen myself becoming an artist so I decided to pursue that as a career.
I liked that you can create your own world. I always felt through drawing that it could be an outlet for me. I mean, I tried photography and it didn’t really work for me in terms of capturing certain feelings or thoughts that I have. It was always through drawing that I could release emotions.
What is your creation style — moody artist or more regimented?
I would say it’s a bit of both. What got me to stick with drawing was my experience in middle school. I went through depression and I was bullied a lot. So I used my drawing as a way to escape from all of that.
So sometimes when I am feeling that way, I draw. Whenever I come up with an idea or see something cool, I just draw.
What has been your toughest obstacle in being a full-time creative?
For me it’s been self doubt. That imposter syndrome. Just being on social media too, you kind of start comparing your work to other creator’s and I found myself doing that a lot. So that’s probably been the biggest challenge for me. It’s kind of finding that happy medium between being able to post online and not being too consumed by what I see. So that’s why I schedule my time on social media. On my phone, I have a time limit so that I am not scrolling for hours. I’m only on it when I need to be.
I also had a lot of self doubt coming out of college because I would see my peers getting jobs and I wasn’t really getting anything at the time. In the beginning of me freelancing, I never thought that I would illustrate a book cover and I was finally able to do that last year. So my advice is just to keep going, keep practicing and it sounds cliche but to stay positive throughout it all. You never know what can happen and when things can change.
Advice on how to get your work noticed?
For me, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of my jobs through previous jobs that I’ve done; through word of mouth. So that exposure has helped me.
So I’d say to put your work out there — whether it be through a website or social media. Marketing yourself through Instagram, Twitter and also simply networking. I had to teach myself to do social media because I was pretty lazy with keeping a schedule to post on certain days. Now I’ve created a bit more of a routine. Like if I have a new job, I post that with all of the proper hashtags. I used to find that overwhelming, but I have a bit of a routine now.
I also found that creating social media challenges for myself is helpful in building a routine and getting my work noticed. A bit earlier this year, I decided that I would post daily. I’d post certain black or POC actors and singers every day for a month. Through that challenge it’d create a bit of engagement for my followers and it also helped me gain new and different followers. So that’s another strategy that I sometimes use. I will post work I’ve created outside of my freelance projects, so that people get a sense of all the different styles of work I create.
CRY
For more of Chelsea, follow her on Instagram or visit her website.
Creatives making a living — Illustrator Chelsea Charles [Interview] was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Creatives making a living — Illustrator Chelsea Charles
How Chelsea Charles is carving out a lane for herself in illustrations.
You might have seen Chelsea’s work in the latest articles of The Walrus, Zora and ESPN or on the cover of recent fictional release, The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones. Residing in Brampton, Ontario, Chelsea uses a combination of digital and traditional mediums to create these click-worthy pieces.
Why Illustration?
I know it sounds cliche but I’ve kind of always been drawing since I was a kid. I’ve always seen myself becoming an artist so I decided to pursue that as a career.
I liked that you can create your own world. I always felt through drawing that it could be an outlet for me. I mean, I tried photography and it didn’t really work for me in terms of capturing certain feelings or thoughts that I have. It was always through drawing that I could release emotions.
What is your creation style — moody artist or more regimented?
I would say it’s a bit of both. What got me to stick with drawing was my experience in middle school. I went through depression and I was bullied a lot. So I used my drawing as a way to escape from all of that.
So sometimes when I am feeling that way, I draw. Whenever I come up with an idea or see something cool, I just draw.
What has been your toughest obstacle in being a full-time creative?
For me it’s been self doubt. That imposter syndrome. Just being on social media too, you kind of start comparing your work to other creator’s and I found myself doing that a lot. So that’s probably been the biggest challenge for me. It’s kind of finding that happy medium between being able to post online and not being too consumed by what I see. So that’s why I schedule my time on social media. On my phone, I have a time limit so that I am not scrolling for hours. I’m only on it when I need to be.
I also had a lot of self doubt coming out of college because I would see my peers getting jobs and I wasn’t really getting anything at the time. In the beginning of me freelancing, I never thought that I would illustrate a book cover and I was finally able to do that last year. So my advice is just to keep going, keep practicing and it sounds cliche but to stay positive throughout it all. You never know what can happen and when things can change.
Advice on how to get your work noticed?
For me, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of my jobs through previous jobs that I’ve done; through word of mouth. So that exposure has helped me.
So I’d say to put your work out there — whether it be through a website or social media. Marketing yourself through Instagram, Twitter and also simply networking. I had to teach myself to do social media because I was pretty lazy with keeping a schedule to post on certain days. Now I’ve created a bit more of a routine. Like if I have a new job, I post that with all of the proper hashtags. I used to find that overwhelming, but I have a bit of a routine now.
I also found that creating social media challenges for myself is helpful in building a routine and getting my work noticed. A bit earlier this year, I decided that I would post daily. I’d post certain black or POC actors and singers every day for a month. Through that challenge it’d create a bit of engagement for my followers and it also helped me gain new and different followers. So that’s another strategy that I sometimes use. I will post work I’ve created outside of my freelance projects, so that people get a sense of all the different styles of work I create.
CRY
For more of Chelsea, follow her on Instagram or visit her website.
Creatives making a living — Illustrator Chelsea Charles was originally published in C.R.Y on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
July 30, 2020
Writing the Characters We Want
We didn’t worry about genre rules since our characters emerged from our personal entertainment
