A major part of the
project concerns the journey of my work (the penguin) and how to
send it, so I chose a slightly more obscure means of travel and
correspondence which is my version of a message in a bottle - a
penguin in a bottle!
Unfortunately I couldn't find any bottles large enough to fit an
adequately sized penguin in. I thought of using large plastic pop
bottles but quickly dismissed that idea when I thought of the thousands
of years it could pollute the seas for due to its reluctance to
bio-degrade. Coffes jars (and Horlicks jars) came to my rescue in
the end though they would have to be made water tight.
So I created six miniature paper penguins and wrote a short laminated
message that could be read from the outside to be put into each
jar. I weighted the jars with an inch or so of solid sand so that
they wouldn't sit too proud of the water and sealed them, first,
with glue and then with a silicone sealant (the type used for sealing
windows and doors).
On April 29th, 2000, at 6:30pm, I launched them out to sea from
a point called Trwyncastell at Abereiddy, West Wales. Four of us
risked life and limb (some more than others) to get out to this
point on the coastline but it was worth it due to the beautiful
views and the evening sunshine. I selected a time when the tide
was starting to go out so that they would be dragged out to sea.
Unfortunately, the first five looked as if they were headed inland
but the sixth made a break for it and was last seen heading out
into the St. Georges channel (I think it was probably making for
a fishing boat that was moored offshore to be rescued).
Anyway, I have had no response or complaint so far so I assume that
all six made it safely out to sea. Not that there's much that I
can do about it anyway. I may never hear from these little penguins
ever again!!
The great part of this project is that it is timeless, there
is no expected end to it. Whereas with the other penguins I must
expect the enthusiasm of the 3rd parties to dwindle to a point
of termination eventually, with the 'penguin in a bottle' there
might never be a termination. The anticipation of a reply will
always be there (unless they are all found, which is unlikely).
I may hear something next week or I may hear something next year
or I may even hear something in ten years times - I have no control
over what happens to these penguins, or where they go, whatsoever.
WEIRD, HUH!
|