Small History of Flying Fish

sandstone, guitarflying fish5

If we set the little paraffin lamp out at night, flying fish were attracted by the light and large and small, shot over the raft…flying fish7

It sometimes happened that we heard an outburst of strong language from a man on deck when a cold flying fish came unexpectedly, at a good speed, slap into his face…

flying fish6

…They always came at a good pace and snout first, and if they caught one full in the face they made it burn and tingle… flying fish8

But the unprovoked attack was quickly forgiven by the injured party, for with all its drawbacks, we were in a maritime land of enchantment where delicious fish dishes came hurling through the air…flying fish1

We used to fry them for breakfast, and wether it was the fish, the cook or our appetites, they reminded us of fried troutlings once we had scraped the scales off…  Thor Heyerdahl, Kon Tiki, 1950

Flying FishThere is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.  But what are they among so many people?…flying fish4Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all… DSC_0064Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted… flying fish2When they were satisfied, he told, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”

flying fish3So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets… John 6, 9-13 NRSV

In the dark and unlit ceiling of the Loretta Chapel there is a lonely painting of a chunky fish atop a heavy slab of bread.   At the moment Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa log raft was colliding with a dusty man breaking bread in the grass of Palestine.  The long pilgrim road leading through elder drifts, slabs of rock, mountains of hailstones, unearthly fish with a mouth like a grave.  The sign of Jonah.  Provision comes unlooked for, and fear is weathered away.

 

8 thoughts on “Small History of Flying Fish

  1. Wow. I am taken aback at the beauty of this post. 2D, 3D, music, spirit, food, nature, creatures of the deep, texture, literature, photography, paper, visual art, surreal juxtapositions, fine craftsmanship….some kind of art vision. Talk about a transfer of energy! And there is Walking Man making his appearance!

    p.s. I recall reading Kon Tiki when young and being swept up in the account…

    Love how you have connected it to so many realms.

    1. Thank you as always, Steven, for your comments. Your voice brings a distinct color or a dimension to things around here and I value it. Walking Man is the witness, the happener to-er, the seer and the pointer. I guess Thor didn’t notice him stowing away on the raft back in 1948.

  2. Dude, what an incredible post. So much astounding artwork- so many pieces that I love. Please set a good pull of that new print aside for me. I love it and want one on my wall when I return! I’ll write more about this work directly to you soon.

      1. Thanks, buddy- I appreciate it. The Sot is still the Sot, and possibly is even Sottier than before. It’s a hoserfest here, for sure.

  3. This post is a feast Jack….I’ve been enjoying wandering around and through all parts of the story you are weaving but am absolutely captured by the muscular golden green scales on the colored flying fish. It’s been just the food I needed today. Thank you!

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