“What Lies Beneath These Waters” 

12 X 12 X 1.5 inches

Acrylic on Canvas

If you have traveled the Oregon coast, you may have noticed a pattern in names of places. Several have the name “Devil” in them, such as Devil's Punchbowl, Devil’s Cauldron, Devil’s Lake, Devil’s Kitchen, Devil’s Churn, etc…

While the coast is a majestic place full of beauty, the mighty Pacific Ocean and its marine inhabitants are not something to be taken lightly. In fact, I believe those who walked these places before us, who lost loved ones, named these places accordingly to both warn us and cultivate our reverence for the sea. 

The Story Behind “Devil’s Lake”

(Story from the Preservation Association of Devil’s Lake) 

The following story is a compilation of information supplied by Chief William Depoe, who told the legend of Devil’s Lake during the second annual Grass Carp Festival in September of 1987. 

The Siletz people made their homes upon the scenic shores of the quiet lake. As legend has it, members of the tribe used to meet on the shores of the lake during the moon of abundance to celebrate. Young braves would demonstrate feats of daring and strength to win the heart of the maiden of their choice.

In order to impress his young love, Chief Fleetfoot dispatched his braves in canoes out onto the calm waters of the lake. As the moonlight shone down upon the serene lake, legend says the waters began to churn and bubble. Giant tentacles emerged from the chaotic waters and wrapped around the panicked braves and their canoes, pulling them down into the murky depths.

"Legend has it that the lake could cause bad things to happen to people. To avoid that, the Indian people would offer valuables to the lake before crossing it…to show respect to the power that it possesses." - Chief Depoo 

The hunger of the animal that inhabited the lake has long since been appeased, but the legend itself grows with each retelling. Today, the legend maintains that those who cross the waters in the moonlit chill of night will still feel a tingle of fear as they cross the center of the lake.

The more I explore and learn about the coast, the more reverence I feel for it. I try to encapsulate this respect and awe in my work. You can see it in the way I add extra strength to the sea by adding texture and using dark space to invite viewers to consider its mysteries.    

With reverence, 

Kathryn Ann Myers