The Canajoharie Fates
Created as a celebration of imagination, place,
and the enduring stories carried by
Canajoharie Creek.
Where?
Along the Mohawk River sits the quaint village of Canajoharie, New York, a community shaped by water, stone, and generations of stories.
The Canajoharie Creek winds through its gorge before meeting the river, passing waterfalls, swimming holes, and the natural feature known as the Boiling Pot; believed to be the origin of the village's name.
With its historic architecture, wooded landscapes, and deep connection to the creek, Canajoharie is a place where nature and community have long intertwined. It is this landscape, and the sense of wonder it inspires, that provides the setting for The Canajoharie Fates.
every community has its lore
The type of stories that are written in books. Some that are passed down through the generations. But ours are spoken in conversations, carried in memories, and seen in familiar places. The Canajoharie Fates tells a tale that belongs here; nestled in the creek, diving in the swimming holes, waiting quietly in the trees, picking raspberries and catching crawfish, waiting for the curious who wonder. Long before paths were made through the gorge, the creek carved its way through stone. Water turned rocks against rock until it formed the pot that washes itself. From that ancient meeting of water and earth, three sisters were born.
Who are they?
Three sisters. Three points of life that no one can avoid. To every person that passes into their realm, a thread is spun, it is read, then it is measured. They are said to appear most often to those who still know how to wonder. To children exploring the creek, to dreamers watching the water, to the curious who wander beneath the trees, and to anyone willing to believe that a familiar place might still hold a little magic.
The spinner
The youngest of the three sisters. Born blind, she could not see the world as others did. She knew neither beauty nor ugliness, youth nor age. Instead, she saw the soul within every creature that wandered into her realm. From what she saw, she spun a thread of life yet to unfold.
the reckoner
Tiny enough to travel upon the breeze, the middle sister followed the threads her younger sister spun. With eyes sharp enough to read every knot and every crossing, she studied what had been woven into each life. She saw its joys and its sorrows, its choices and its consequences, and carried what she earned to her elder sister.
The immutable
She alone held the final word. When a life reached her, she measured what had been woven and made her decision. Sometimes the thread continued. Sometimes, with a sweep of her horns, it was cut.
CHARM
what made this mural possible
WHAT IS CHARM?
CHARM stands for Cultivating Havens for the Arts through Regional Murals. It is a New York State initiative designed to bring public art to local communities. As noted by the Office of the Governor, “CHARM-supported murals transform everyday places with beauty and vibrancy and create points of interest throughout the diverse communities of New York State – from urban areas, suburban neighborhoods and rural towns and villages.”
2026 is the second year of the CHARM inititive. This year Governor Hochul announced 12 community partners across New York to direct new public mural projects.
Saratoga Arts Council
As the community partner representing the Mohawk Valley, "Saratoga Arts Council recieved $100,000 to facilitate seven new mural projects in 2026 - one in each of the six Mohawk counties in its service area, plus an additional project in Saratoga County." - Saratoga Today
j.sar
I was selected to represent Montgomery County for the CHARM Initiative. Since 2000, I have lived in Palatine Bridge, Canajoharie, Nelliston, and Fort Plain. It seemed only fitting to give back the community that helped inspire who I am today.