Crane Prayer by Diane Farris
This image seemed right for the upcoming auction for Alachua Conservation Trust. Cranes traditionally symbolize peace, grace, fidelity and healing, from the prairies of our Alachua County to the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea to elegant origami from Japan. I welcome a sense of light radiating from a photograph, and this crane had that luminous presence for me. I am drawn to prayers, wishes and blessings written on bits of paper and whispered into walls, baskets and branches. Crane Prayer pairs this lovely bird with words of hope.
Though Sandhill Cranes captured my interest early on, I have become increasingly appreciative of other nearby birds. While preparing Crane Prayer this week, I noticed that some of my most recent sketches continue to explore birds and branches.
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.” T.S. Eliot