High Water 

Editor: Here we have "High Water" by Mark Beck, an oil painting that captures an interior space with a stormy seascape visible through the window. There’s a strong sense of isolation for me, seeing this powerful ocean juxtaposed with the stillness of the room. What's your take on this painting? Curator: Isolation is a fascinating observation. I almost feel a sense of invitation here. I see that turbulent sea not as something frightening, but untamed, something thrilling just beyond our grasp. There is something wonderfully contemplative, don't you think, in pairing the untamed ocean with the geometry of human architecture? Does it feel harmonious, or unsettling? Editor: I'm swayed – untamed is the right word. Perhaps unsettling. The geometry, that corner almost aggressively bisecting the space, makes the freedom of the ocean feel more distant, like a dream maybe? Is this about confinement versus freedom? Curator: Maybe so! Perhaps that sharp corner *is* trying to tell us something... the geometry of the room versus the seeming chaos of the ocean creates a tension. That window feels like a portal doesn’t it, almost calling to us! The textures invite the eye – and maybe the soul – to journey back and forth, don't they? Editor: They really do. I guess I see a lot more of the ocean's appeal now, too. So much going on behind such apparent simplicity. Thanks for pointing out the dynamic. Curator: It works both ways! This has me wondering about my own tendency toward the sea, the great beyond... What I can say is art really does make me consider, question and dream. Always good to find a companion on such journeys!