After a few weeks reflecting on my time aboard Falkor, I am realizing one of my favorite parts was connecting and collaborating with all of the amazing people on the ship. I brought cyanotype chemicals which are UV light sensitive photo emulsion chemicals that can be coated on paper and printed with the sun! All you need is a transparent image, some paper, the chemicals, and a sunny day.
I began asking the crew members to email me a photo that they wanted to print. I think as artists we can be secluded from the world. In our own heads, and physically secluded, while working in our studios. I am so glad that I took my time on the ship to engage with the elements of nature and the human connections in front of me. It is not every day you get to make art with people from all around the world, literally. I think I must have made a cyanotype with people representing 10+ countries. It was an experience of a lifetime.
With each person that I created a cyanotype with, I asked them one question as well. I asked,
“What is your favorite part about being at sea?”
I am interested in this lifestyle, being at sea for sometimes 6 months a year. It seems like it could have its struggles – but, for the most part, I think that being engaged in such interesting science, technology, and scenery is a dream life. There is something very magical about being on Falkor. I would like to share a few of the art and the answers.
Name: Phillip Guenther (Captain)
From: Hamburg, Germany
“Living in a micro cosmos, like in a different world with just 40 people.
It’s a secluded microcosm. We wouldn’t realize if the
rest of the world wasn’t there anymore.”
Name: Erik Suits
From: Estonia
“That’s a good question… I guess it’s very liberating.”
Name: Tamara Ellis
From: Perth, Australia
“I think it’s because you can appreciate how big the world is. I like places that make you realize that you’re not so significant. I think that’s what it is- it puts things in perspective. You’re not the center of the world when you’re out here.”
Name: Logan Mock-Bunting
From: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
“I think both the constant motion and not being able to see land gives you a completely different perspective of scale, power, and energy.”
These are just a few of the incredible people I was lucky enough to collaborate with and share my passion with. I got over 20 quotes that I want to create into a future artist book, along with many cyanotypes I create from imagery from the ship. There’s a lot of seeds that are being planted as we speak. I think the experience and process can sometimes be more interesting than the work itself.
There was also an exchange of knowledge, energy and emotion as I share with my passion for creating visual art, they all shared with me a glimpse of their love of the wide open sea. I believe in the power of numbers and if enough of us are brave enough to share our passions and deepest thoughts with each other, I think there can be hope for a healthier ocean and planet.
