Subject: baidarka paddle etc.
From: Richard Nonas (rnonas@thing.net)
Date: Thu Dec 21 2000 - 14:05:06 EST
Dear Harvey,
Thank you for the paddle. It came yesterday and I used it last night at a
pool practice session. It's fantastic; a short, rough, narrow and almost
awkward object that is actually almost perfect: perfectly balanced and
proportioned, clean and powerful in the water, and also, I think, absolutely
beautiful --beautiful in the way I love a made-thing to be: single, unaccented
and right not in spite of, but because of, its history --the ghost of an
irregular history still visible in it, the flaws of crude, strong and direct
old use. A pleasure to use, to feel, look at and own.
Andrew saw it too, but expressed it differently. "Cool" he said after each
roll, "really cool; really-really cool". --But I wish we knew more about that
paddle then we do.
The kayak show is going well. There is much more interest than I expected, but
it is interest of a very strange kind. Kayakers are calling from all over
--looking for something. But they don't seem to know what they are looking
for, don't really know why they called -- or what they really want. The
exhibition (the idea of the exhibition, since most of these people have only
heard or read about it) seems to suggest to them that maybe their kayaking
intersects with broader, deeper aspects of their lives in ways they have not
allowed themselves to see; that maybe their passionate interest in paddling is
actually a wider and more powerful interest in bigger life. --I'm not sure
what to say about that. But anything that opens things up, that challenges
catagories and limits, that makes us see more of what we can see, is probably
worthwhile; and anything that widens the world for us and complicates our
place in it is probably even better. --Or seems so to me.
I'm paddling a lot, but only occasionally now in the South, since it will
remain in the gallery in Brooklyn until the end of the month. I get steadier
each time, but not much steadier. But I will get there. --Old, I am, and
stiff. But persistent. And stubbern.
And grateful for a new wall to bang my head against.
I hope you and your familly (and girl-friend) are well. And that work on your
house is progressing.
And I'm glad that you are finally building a new boat for youself (and would
love to hear more about it).
All the best,
Richard
--I've sent $400. for the shipping. Is that right?
--And a few quick questions.
What wood did you use on the paddle?
Did the horn tips change the balance or feel in any way? (They sure changed
the look, especially when wet. --The nylon on Andrew's paddle simply seems dry
when wood clearly isn't --which is pretty weird.)
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