"Oceana", Queen of The Seas The Mermaid Project
By Jo-Anne Sullivan
"Oceana" The Mermaid - Her Story
Sculpture by Jo-Anne Sullivan
True Story by Warren Spencer
Early one summer morning, while boating off the shore of a deserted beach on a large lake in Manitoba, Canada, the artist Jo-Anne with her partner Warren came upon a mermaid floating lifelessly in the calm waters. She was barely breathing and apparently quite weak from exhaustion. Jo-Anne was amazed and apprehensive at the same time and she had always considered herself an open-minded person but this was way beyond anything she had ever encountered. She realized that they had to act fast if the mermaid was to have any chance of surviving.
Jo-Anne and Warren maneuvered the mermaid to shore, put her on a blanket and carefully pulled her back to their small rental cabin at the lake where they tended to the mermaid's immediate needs and prepped her for transport back to their home.
After several weeks of care, the mermaid was grateful for all the kindness Jo-Anne and Warren had shown and confided to them that her name was Oceana. She spoke of her urgency to get back to her home waters near the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, thousands of miles away. Jo-Anne was very concerned for Oceana, knowing she had to honour her wishes and make a plan to get her back home. Jo-Anne got in touch with several contacts and assembled a team of trusted adventurers willing to help her with the journey across the Pacific Ocean and return Oceana back to her home.
When they finally arrived at Kauai and located the lagoon Oceana was ecstatic to be home. She spent several hours swimming around the lagoon regaining her strength. She took time to show Jo-Anne some of the wonders of her world and introduced her to other sea creatures. As days went by Jo-Anne came to realize that the lagoon was not just a beautiful place but also a complex ecosystem governed by its own set of rules and guidelines. Oceana's return was part of this natural ecosystem.
On the day of departure Jo-Anne was both relieved and reluctant to leave Oceana. They shared one last moment, each knowing that the time had come to part ways. Jo-Anne watched as Oceana disappeared beneath the waters surface. She knew that she had been privileged to share in a unique and unforgettable experience and that Oceana would always hold a special place in her heart.
As she settled back into her life in Manitoba Jo-Anne could not help but feel a sense of longing for Oceana. She may never have the chance to return to the lagoon in hope of seeing her again, but she held onto the memory of their time together with great fondness and would always be grateful for the incredible adventure they had shared together. She continued on with her life and artwork forever changed by her encounter with Oceana, the mysterious and magical creature of the sea.
Jo-Anne and Warren maneuvered the mermaid to shore, put her on a blanket and carefully pulled her back to their small rental cabin at the lake where they tended to the mermaid's immediate needs and prepped her for transport back to their home.
After several weeks of care, the mermaid was grateful for all the kindness Jo-Anne and Warren had shown and confided to them that her name was Oceana. She spoke of her urgency to get back to her home waters near the coast of Kauai, Hawaii, thousands of miles away. Jo-Anne was very concerned for Oceana, knowing she had to honour her wishes and make a plan to get her back home. Jo-Anne got in touch with several contacts and assembled a team of trusted adventurers willing to help her with the journey across the Pacific Ocean and return Oceana back to her home.
When they finally arrived at Kauai and located the lagoon Oceana was ecstatic to be home. She spent several hours swimming around the lagoon regaining her strength. She took time to show Jo-Anne some of the wonders of her world and introduced her to other sea creatures. As days went by Jo-Anne came to realize that the lagoon was not just a beautiful place but also a complex ecosystem governed by its own set of rules and guidelines. Oceana's return was part of this natural ecosystem.
On the day of departure Jo-Anne was both relieved and reluctant to leave Oceana. They shared one last moment, each knowing that the time had come to part ways. Jo-Anne watched as Oceana disappeared beneath the waters surface. She knew that she had been privileged to share in a unique and unforgettable experience and that Oceana would always hold a special place in her heart.
As she settled back into her life in Manitoba Jo-Anne could not help but feel a sense of longing for Oceana. She may never have the chance to return to the lagoon in hope of seeing her again, but she held onto the memory of their time together with great fondness and would always be grateful for the incredible adventure they had shared together. She continued on with her life and artwork forever changed by her encounter with Oceana, the mysterious and magical creature of the sea.
Oceana and Jo-Anne (her creator and caretaker) in Jo-Anne's studio.
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