Tuesday 24 May 2011

Norman's Voyage to America

 In October 1939 Norman McLaren set sail for America on the SS Cameronia with his partner Guy Glover.
Only a month since the war had begun, the Cameronia made the passage to New York unaccompanied.
At the time the passengers had been told a convoy system was in operation but McLaren noted that no other ships had been seen
McLaren describes the journey in great detail, down to the colour of the ship's paint...on this occasion ( and it turned out a dozen others during the war) it was a dull grey...to blend in with the grey sea!!
On the seventh day of sailing was ''the first fine day we've had''. After dinner he sat out on deck with Guy and Jimmie,a passenger they had befriended from Canada.
" It was a pitch black night, heavy clouds, raining cats and dogs- and not a single light from the ship.
Nevertheless the sea just around the ship where water was being stirred up was giving off clouds of luminous and phosphorescent light, and sparkling and twinkling with fierce little bright spots."

McLaren goes on to give the most beautiful decsription of light on the water where no light should be...there were no lights as the ship traveling in war time would be in blackout for safety. It is a description which reveals some of the vision of a creative mind....and the child like wonder with which McLaren viewed nature.

" It was as if there were thousands of little electric bulbs flashing on and off and dancing about in the water, as well as clouds of white frothy light streaming past us! "

Guy went on to explain why this phenomenon happens....caused by little fish and other sea creatures......

I love the thought that Norman was as fascinated by water as I am and that he describes it in this way!

Both photos here are of the river where I grew up and which I still love to walk beside...and look at endlessly......constant motion...never the same water.

this image I love especially..I took it just after the snow melted in March 2011. the water looks so diffeent on either side of the dam...it used to be used to power a mill wheel many years ago.But here the drop in height alters the flow and the way the light hits it and reflects. The scientist in me wants to know how that happens...the artist just appreciates it. Maybe Guy could have told me how?



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