Tuesday, September 10, 2013

A Fish Tale

[UPDATED for FIGMENT NYC 2014 at Governor's Island, New York]

There’s more than one way to tell a tale. This, my latest vignette, is an interactive, multi-faceted and multi-media journey that involves a fish, one brave koi fish in particular: “Valory” the Koi of Courage.

Before the final treatments in my breast cancer journey, I chose to give power to my creativity – instead of giving over to anxiety and fear -- to build courage, power and community, and to manifest another sort of tale. This one, I hope will start a conversation of empowerment. Won’t you join in?

Please share your story of valor and courage (of any length) here on my blog, and a symbolic scale will be added to Valory’s fish body. A journey that began as part of Figment Philadelphia 2013, this time, your scale will become part of the Figment story and exhibit to be held Saturday, June 7th at Governor's Island, New York.  

To learn more about Figment log on to:http://figmentproject.org/about/why-figment/
____________________________________

A Journey and a Challenge.

"Valory" the Model.
In Japanese legend, a koi that succeeded in climbing the Yellow River, past the falls at Dragon Gate, would be transformed into a dragon. 

Similarly, “Valory, the Koi of Courage” invites you to be part of its journey into being, asking you to recall and remember a challenge you have overcome to lend the fish a bit of your power.

This Figment Philadelphia 2013 art installation calls on the power of our collective consciousness to help Valory come into being, to become a symbol of transcendence, strength, unity, and peace.


Tell Your Story, Lend Your Power.

Can you recall a transformative life challenge, one which gave you a sense of power when it was overcome? Share your power by indicating that challenge in writing on a paper fish scale of courage.

Choose an ink and scale color to reflect your family identity and the type of challenge, respectively, that you select. Then write a date, keyword, name or even a descriptive sentence or phrase about the challenge you met. Last, add your personal “scale of courage” onto the fish body. 

While in progress, the fish’s nose faces the sky, indicating its upward journey. Once the body has been covered with scales and the challenge has been met, the fish's nose will dip downward, in the opposite direction. This will signify that its journey is complete.



Who Are You? How Have You Been Challenged?

Choose an ink:     Choose a Challenge Scale:
 Fathers-Black      Asagi-Education, knowledge-Blue, orange
 Mothers-Red        Ogon-Economic, financial-Gold, orange
 Sons-Blue            Bekko-Health, physical-White, yellow, red

  Daughters-Pink    Kohaku-Love, relationship-Red, white

The Fish in the World.

In Japan, the fish has become a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. Moreover, in world cultures and religions, the fish has symbolic meaning and is a timeless icon.

African Myths - Fertility and creativity, embodying a new phase of life
Buddhism - Happiness and freedom
Celtic Culture - Knowledge, wisdom, inspiration and prophecy
China - Unity and fidelity
Christianity - Abundance and faith
Eastern Indian Mythology - Transformation and creation
Greco-Roman Mythology - Change and transformation
Norse and European Cultures - Adaptability, determination & life
Pagan Traditions - Femininity, fertility and an attribute of the Goddess



The Tale Grows!

© 2014 Valerie Williams-Sanchez. All rights reserved.