The Pool is now open!

I dive into someone's life

No matter how briefly 

for the thrill of the unexpected.

To glimpse a World 

I might not see otherwise..

-Dau-

The Moat has been painted Swimming Pool Blue with the usual Roadside Flair!

Bring your swimsuits! 

Spouting with Joy!

Life is Simple

Just add Water!

-unknown-

Finally testing out the water feature and blasting out water from the blow hole.  

*Of note in the wild whales do not squirt water out their blow hole.

 That's hot air condensing in the cold air.

Water hydralic pump is on order and the Whale will be shooting water at the top of every hour between 10 am - 4 pm daily!

You have to Struggle no matter where you are to get to where you are going..

-Michelle Rodriguez-

While there are many struggles in nature,  humans have it easy.  We don't think so.  However watch but a few national geographic episodes and you'll find it's survival of the fittest.  Many people look at their Dreams and find them too daunting for various reasons.  I for some time was one of them.  But no longer do I see my own Passion Project as a struggle.  After 8 years of making tiny steps towards the goal, I've gotten to exactly where I'd hoped I'd be.  The creator of a functioning Roadside Attraction. 

I teamed up with the amazing artist, Derek Diorio after doing some incredible murals in Guatemala. He depicted one of the most classic underwater struggles.  A sperm whale vs a giant squid is captured on a wood cut out.  This painting, which has 3-dimensional qualities including ink gushing from the entrapped cephalopod, has truly brought life to the roadside environment! 

Check out more of Derek's work here.

Gray Whale!

"Every now and then one paints a picture that seems to have opened a door and serves as a stepping stone to other things."
- Pablo Picasso -

On an oddly warm afternoon I decided to step outside and apply one coat of gray paint to the exterior of the whale.  The concrete darjit mixture I used had many variations in color since I used recycled household paint as my acrylic adhesive solution.  Now the whale has a consistent gray color and still will allow mosaic tiles to be applied.

Building Bridges

Love is the Bridge between You and Everything..

-Rumi-

My gal pal Jai and welding inspector helped me construct a structurally sound bridge which will serve as the armature for the whimsical entrance into the Whale. Sparks are flying and I'm looking forward to creating waves in between the posts.

Happy Birthday Little Whale

Eight years ago I watched a humpback whale breach in my backyard over and over.  It inspired me to go to the garage, get a shovel and start digging a hole in my front yard.  I had no idea that this action would lead to creating the greatest passion in my life, The Westport Whale.

Lots of people want to find that "thing" that makes them spring out of bed every morning.  I'm no expert in this area.  I still have lots of things to figure out, but here is what's working for me in creating a life I love..

1. Be Curious

2. Have Fun

3. Work Hard

4. Have Confidence

5. Be Patient (I'm terrible at this)

6. Have Compassion (the world needs more of this)

7. Cultivate Inspirational Friendships

8. Listen

9. Most Importantly, Love Yourself

I am only one person but I really have faith that this concrete creation is going to generate something truly amazing that I can give back to the Ocean and keep it healthy.  I couldn't have done this alone.  I am so lucky to have all of you in my life.  Now who would like some birthday cake?

Where the sidewalk (ends) ...

It seems like only yesterday I used to believe

there was nothing under my skin but light.

If you cut me, I would shine.

But now when I fall upon the Sidewalks of Life,

I skin my knees.  I bleed"

 

-William Collins-

 



Using free tiles from Friends 

I've started mosaicing a nice path to the Westport Whale!

Stepping Stones

A Stumbling block to the Pessimist

is a Stepping Stone to the Optimist

-Eleanor Roosevelt-

I've run into so many obstacles in this process and have enjoyed every one! 

Made these cute little whale stepping stones with some left over concrete mix and tiled them with a friend on a sunny day! 

A Tale of Two Tails

"To be Human is to be Broken and Broken is it's own kind of Beautiful"

-R.M. Drake-

Delaine Hackney and I started breaking tiles on Jan 24th and created my first mosaic with her.  My love for whales was combined in this mosaic while using mostly free tiles I had found over the years.  Working with Delaine is so much fun!  Plus we had the most beautiful sunny weather anyone could have asked for!

Click here to check out Delaine's other amazing projects!

Three back breaking days later we completed this tail.  It still has to be grouted but that can wait for another day! :)

And then I started on the main sculptures tail!

I'm very excited with the progress.  It is all I want to do is create and finish this project I started over 6 years ago.

The Westport Whales Support Group!

The Westport Whale's "braces" have finally come off!  I cut the last supports out!  There were people that said I couldn't do it and look.. I really did it! I have officially completed a (structurally sound) Roadside Attraction!

Then I realized that this is also symbolic of part of my life.  I could have taken off the supports a year ago but I was afraid it wouldn't hold.  There was no reason for it to fail (as it was over constructed) but I still didn't have faith in myself.

I really want to encourage everyone to live your life without Fear.  Remember you already have that support structure inside your Heart! You really don't need anyone else.  You just have to work hard, stay focused and dedicate your time to what you Love and what Loves you back!  Have Courage!  Believe in yourself and follow your Dreams.. There is nothing in this World that could make you happier and allow you to love yourself more..

Coating the Whale with Love..

The first step to happiness is deciding what you want, the second step is doing whatever it takes to get it and the last step is enjoying every minute of it. - Nishan Panwar. 

I have finally found the right product to use to put the finishing touches on the whale.  It's called Darjit and was invented by Brent Sumner.  It's incredible and in 3 days I've completed almost 40% of the exterior.

It is so amazing to be where I am at with this sculpture.  I no longer have fear of not completing this.  I am nearly done with this part of the project and soon I will be able to pass on the mosaicing and glass work onto other people.

I'm so excited and have so many people to thank for your inspiration and support.

The Pour!

Life's problems wouldn't be called "hurdles" if there wasn't a way to get over them.

Author Unknown

I am so lucky to have started this incredible project years ago.   I have learned so much about myself through the process...

The sculpture did not turn out like I had hoped.  It's not a failure but a delayed success.  It needs a little more cement mix at a few spots.  But overall the whale is complete!

Double Visions...

Why does the eye see a thing more clearly in dreams than the imagination when awake?

Leonardo da Vinci

I welded the forms that will hold my blown glass eyeballs for the whale.  These one-of-a-kind forms were created by a pretty amazing blacksmither, Toby Hickman, who lives in Westport.  He is the coolest guy...

The cement trucks are hopefully going to be scheduled in 3 weeks.  It's amazing. It's scary.  It's everything words cannot express..

I have been known to tell Tall Tales.. and weld them too!

A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements, related as if it were true and factual. Some such stories are exaggerations of actual events.

Welded and Meshed a diving whale in the backyard.

and a few days later it was covered in cement!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder!

You use a glass mirror to see your Face.

You use works of Art to see your Soul.

- George Bernard Shaw -

Glass is the most Magical of all Materials and therefore it needed somehow to be part of this sculpture.  Luckily, I got Buster Dwyer from Glass Fire gallery to join me and add his artwork to the Westport Whale.  He will be blowing the eyes for the Whale!

Spouting out the Good News!

When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn off the heat.

Nelson Mandela

The water feature is in for the Roadside Attraction. Yes the Westport Whale has plumbing for the Blow Hole! I am getting so close to finishing it that I have to move pushing forward.. Full Stream Ahead!

This may Shock you...

What is a Soul?
It's like electricity.
We don't really know what it is... but it's a force that can light up a room.
-Ray Charles-

 The Westport Whale now has electricity!

Two light fixtures and 4 outlets.

Now I just need to figure out where the wet bar is gonna go???

Happy New Year from the W.W.

A Roadside Attraction is a feature along the side of the road.

I have new Inspirations in my life and the Whale will be completely cemented in this Summer. Look for me in the Book Roadside America very soon!

(this incredible photograph was taken by my amazing friend Holly Moskowitz)

Rent the Blacksmith Shop... Save the Whale!

The Westport Whale is for rent!

Click here for details

Happy 3 year anniversary Westport Whale!

"No dreamer is ever too small; no dream is ever too big." Anonymous

Whale Watching

"Fiction was invented the day Jonas came home and told his wife he was 3 days late because he had been swallowed by a whale." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Today I saw 64 Humbacks, 16 Blues and 1 Gray whale with the San Francisco Oceanic Society. One acrobatic humpback breached, lobtailed and flipper slapped over and over for 15 minutes. Demonstrated everything I had ever read. One of the greatest experiences in my life!

Westport is the BEST Port!

Even though you can't physically see a tree growing, doesn't mean it's not. Right?

Same with the World spinning?
So next time the masses are huddled at your feet, pining about dreams they claim are not coming true, you might remind them of this....

Everyday you get closer.

My long time gal pal Anne Maree has made these fantastic hand made cards!

Buy them here: Grizlee Adams

Promotion by the Ocean....

LOOK .... what washed up on the beach today!!!!

People know you for what you've done...

...not for what you plan to do.

- unknown -

Many thanks to those who continue to motivate me in pursuing the Dream.

Continuing Education.

And the man with a Dream toils til dusk. Dreams do come true my friends, if we only wish hard enough!

Don't wait for someone else to make your life Terrific...well because....That's your job!

I've had to work hard for everything I've ever really wanted my whole life. Nothing has come easy. But in the end it is all worth it for I have touched the hearts of others.

A Whale needs Water to live!

One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him.

Booker T. Washington

A Bump in the Road...

A bad day for the Whale.....

While making a little art studio behind the whale the building was red tagged. Then the county representative tagged the whale too. Five hours later after pictures, drawings and a short interview and the building permit department I was back in business! The Westport Whale is still Alive and Well!

Making New Connections...

I demolish my bridges behind me - then there is no choice but forward.

-Firdtjorf Nansen

-----

I liked this quote although I have not intention of blowing up this bridge.

but....

Sometimes in order to accomplish your dreams you need to make sure you cant turn around and run back. Be Fearless and enjoy the daily Challenges. Keep Going and Create the Magic this World is Missing!

Strength added to bridge.

5 inches of cement mix added.

Me mixin up some Crete while singing...

"I'll Tumble for Ya"

In about a week I will take off the form and walk the Plank!

Bridge over troubled water

Build Bridges instead of Walls and you will have Lots of Friends

-unknown-

After a few cuts with a circular saw and a whole bunch of screws the framework for the Path less Followed is created. Trying to stay on track for the big pour coming soon....

Where the Sidewalk ends....

Its Good to have Dreams.

Dreams get you through the hard times.

16,000 pounds of cement mix and the pathway to the sculpture is complete.

oh my aching back!

Pour Pour Me!“

"The happiest moments my heart knows are those in which it is pouring forth its affections to a few esteemed characters" Thomas Jefferson Eight beers and 5000 lbs of cement mix later a small part of the sidewalk leading to the sculpture is complete.