It's amazing to think that someone whose every waking moment is spent on some aspect of his own survival would have the time to make art. But art making seems to move forward even under extreme circumstances. The impulse to find meaning in the arrangement of objects and materials, in the generation of images, is apparently nearly as elemental as the survival instinct itself. See a number of historical artworks for examples.
If you'd had an experience similar to the one Reid recorded on August 20, you also might put the repairs and food-procuring on hold as you made some sort of record.
Day 850 - August 20, 2009
Wind S, 10 knots, Course NW, Speed 1 knot, Position 5*22n by 16*26w
Christmas Tree Effervescence
A few days ago before I dropped the mainsail we sailed through a night of the most amazing phosphorescence I have ever seen. Shortly after dark green lights around the schooner began flashing on and off. They were about six feet in diameter and they flashed very brightly and then slowly dimmed down. They flashed all around us as far out as I could see. Obviously the flashing lights were not caused by the schooner or our school of fish.
The lights were so bright that I tried to film them with the video camera, but once again the wonders of the sea escaped being captured by my technical devices. I knew I would have to share this in words and a painted image, so I started looking at it with the artist's mind. My limited frontal vision changed to a spherical omnipresent vision and my being spread out with it.
It was a soft silky night and all the stars twinkled in a dark velvet sky. I could feel the stars touching me. The green phosphorescence around the schooner made me feel as if I were sailing in a Christmas tree of effervescent flashing lights with neon decorative mobile fish swimming around and through me.
I knew the phenomena could end and I didn't want to miss a moment, but I had to cook and eat dinner. After dinner it was still there and I climbed to a higher vantage point to see the green flashing further out. As always this time of night my body gets tired and prayers begin.
I lay down naked on cushions in the cockpit and fell asleep only to wake up again and marvel at the magnificence and the prayers of thankfulness that go on and on.
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