The Birth of Medusa

Three stills from "The Birth of Medusa," By me in 2007, Newfoundland

After a mini screening last night, I realized that the more out of control my video footage is, the more they are appreciated. Take this one for example, where thousands of jellyfish are slammed through a channel, it was impossible to control anything with the tide being forced through a canyon like space. Timing was everything. I watched this area of the sea for three days before trying to film it. It still was not enough study. The first camera bounced and broke when a wave double backed just a second after the tossed camera left my hands. It was as if the wave just changed its mind. The second back up camera got sucked into an underwater crevice in the process of making this footage, a dangerous rock face climb between surges and frantic tug on the line freed it from the sea cavern, but within an hour it too was broken. One of those cameras became the reworked camera that I am now using to make a piece about dance, so all was not, and never is completely lost. What was gained was this piece of footage. The jellies become my signature diffusion material. Soft and luminous. Beautiful and seemingly fragile, but in the end they survived while I was down 2 cameras. I realized that that which appears fragile is actually the most resilient.

Last day in the Cove

Its been too long since my last entry. I have been working and sorting through the options of what will come next. I keep trying to move on to something new, but the peace that comes from the nesting is hard to deny. I needed a nest more than anything, I guess. A place to bake bread for kind strangers, and walk the rocks until I could do it blindfolded. It is the classic travellers battle, being torn between staying or going. I write this after saying farewell to my ten year old side kick who reminded me of the joys of bonfires and joy rides on the back of a minibike. Using my camera to film rocks in the creek and talk about horses and dogs, and new friends at school. He tried so hard to hold back the tears, I didn't try so hard. Maybe I am tired of always keeping it together. It is hard to uproot now after so many months in this small community. The sea is again alive with fishermen just like the days of the past, they now know me by name.

My videos caught the illusive schools of jellyfish brought in by my last wish made upon the sea. It was a good bittersweet ending to this time in my new life. One wish granted as an otherwise empty cove that filled with thousands of jellies in one sweeping wave, then as soon as my wish was granted, it ended just as quickly. I turned my head to watch them wash away into the greater sea, to continue their own journey. I too have to drift away and once again live through memory.

So onwards through Canada. Onwards through the fog...