Intersecting Entropy

I made this piece just after midnight on a (particularly cold) cloudless night, illuminated under both a full moon and intense Nordic Lights (ie, Aurora Borealis). Getting to the military R4D plane wreck on the black sand beach (check out the ocean in the background), across the unmarked 4WD-only snow pack, was an adventure in itself. This work was chosen by the New York Foundation for the Arts' director for the 26th Annual N.E.W. Show, featuring work from 42 artists from around the United States.

It continues my exploration of Man's Natures --- our intersection with, adaptation to, and affect on the world around us, especially as it relates to the effects and context of passing time.

It's Twinkling Tuesday... I just received happy news that the New York Foundation for the Arts' director chose my photo of the military R4D plane wreck at Sólheimsandur Beach for the 26th Annual N.E.W. Show, featuring work from 42 artists from around the United States. I made the piece, Intersecting Entropy, just after midnight under both a full moon and intense Nordic Lights (ie, Aurora Borealis) in Iceland this past March. It continues my exploration of Man's Natures --- our intersection with, adaptation to, and affect on the world around us, especially as it relates to the effects and context of passing time.

Intersecting Entropy
Entropy Alights
Alighting Entropy
Lighting Entropy
Cycling Entropy
Entropic Cycles
Witnessing Entropy

Behind the Scenes: I normally wouldn't have driven somewhere new to me in the winter, alone, in the middle of the night, but I was called to go offroad to the GPS coordinates that I had identified years ago via orbiting satellite. I found the US Navy transport plane where it was beached after severe icing and low fuel made the crew unable to maintain altitude. The wreck turned out to be just 2.4 miles of four wheeling across the snow pack. I had new studded winter 4x4 tires, extra gas, plenty of provisions, a sense of adventure, patience, a decent weather forecast, and a full moon to follow. I was rewarded with North Atlantic ocean waves pounding on the snow covered black sand beach under full moonlight, with dancing northern light tails, some over 10 miles long!

2015-06-19 uploaded to http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19731121-0

Douglas R4D (military DC3) at Sólheimsandur Beach

On November 21, 1973, the Douglas R4D-8 US Navy transport plane 17171 had delivered supplies at Hofn Hornafjördur Airport for the radar-station in Stokksnes, Iceland. On its return, the airplane encountered severe icing and low fuel. The crew were not able to maintain altitude. A forced landing was carried out on an ice covered river on near coast of Iceland at Sólheimasandur. The ice broke but the airplane did not sink. At the time the US navy was discontinuing it’s use of the Douglas C-47 and instead of repairing it, the plane was stripped of all valuables and abandoned in the black volcanic sand. Since then it’s been a favourite of photographers and adventure seeking tourists. All that's left is the plane's fuselage amid rumours a local farmer stole the tail to mysteriously sell it.