Welcome

Hi, I am Daedalus. Welcome to the Icarus Project blog. The project will be a collaborative effort between myself and a number of visual artists. It was started because I want to get a second tattoo. If you have the patience and interest to join me on the journey of personal transformation through art that will unfold here, I welcome you along.

My first tattoo was an owl on my left shoulder.



This particular owl is of the species Athena Noctua; common name, the little owl.

Athena Noctua is aptly named. In mythology, it is the chosen companion of the Athena, the Greek goddess of heroic endeavor and the companion of heros.















As a symbol of Greece, the little owl has appeared on it's money.

From the most ancient:
















To the modern Euro.














If you happen to remember the movie "Clash of the Titans" then you know Bubo.






Bubo



Well, turns out that I am one of those many people who have discovered that one tattoo just isn't enough. For my second, I decided to go bigger, perhaps over my entire calf. For me, getting a tattoo should be a spiritual experience, not something done out of whimsy, whim or boredom. As I thought about it and sticking to the theme of Greek things with feathers, my first thought was of Icarus from the myth of Daedalus and Icarus.

Daedalus was the most prominent architect and engineer of his day - kind of like an ancient Santiago Calatrava. Imprisoned with his son, Icarus, on the island of Crete by Minos, the king, Daedalus builds two pairs of wings out of feathers and wax and they fly away. Ignoring his father's warning, Icarus soars too high, too close to the sun whose heat melts the wax. His wings fall apart and Icarus plunges to his death in the sea.

The story of Icarus is one of my favorites. It is both the story of the joy and elation that arises from innovation and a cautionary tale about the consequences of the misuse and overuse of technology. It's not surprising given the allegory that there are many other endeavors called either "Project Icarus" or "The Icarus Project". This one is going to keep an asteroid from slamming into the earth.

I went in search of images for my tattoo. Here are a few:










































As art, I think the last two images are the most beautiful. Unfortunately, none of these images, or the many others I've found, struck me as something I'd like to have permanently etched onto my body.

Next to come: Brooklyn