Just a quick note while keeping up with the devastating earthquake in Chile. At the moment we are awaiting news of the tsunami that will hit Easter Island soon. It will be one of our first indications of what the rest of the Pacific might expect as the great wave radiates out from the epicenter off the coast of Chile.
Most of the people living on Easter Island are on high ground but I'll be hoping they are all safe this morning. But these moai know the effects of tsunami's very well because they were swept away in 1960 by the enormous waves after a 9.5 earthquake in Chile. They were subsequently re-erected. Testimony to the enormous power of tsunamis. For the sake of everyone in the Pacific basin we'll hope this one is much less violent.
Hi Jim,
as a boy I read a book by Thor Heyerdahl about Easter Island and was fasdcinated by it. I didn't know the moai were toppled by a tsunami, but then, Heyerdahl left in 1956 so the 1960 event was not mentioned in his book.
And now the inevitable question: how did you light the moai?
Best regards
Carsten
Posted by: Carsten Bockermann | February 28, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Carsten,
My friend Alex, a good photographer who lives on Easter Island, was standing over there with a flashlight. Low tech but it works.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Richardson | March 02, 2010 at 07:53 AM
Jim,
These are beautiful! Kenita and I are hoping you are doing a workshop somewhere soon! Great to see your work.
Trina
Posted by: Trina | March 04, 2010 at 06:05 PM