SOS ! SOS! SOS!
I am the commander of the sailing schooner Helon!
My schooner is in open sea.
Presently the weather is grim. Cloudy sky and strong wind.
The sun is nowhere to be seen, but we have a logbook to finish.
To finish the logbook of Helon is very important as it represents the emotions of 13 years of dreams and reality.
Please help the sun shine once again over Helon...
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This is not a joke; It's true.
I really am a commander of a 95-ft sailing schooner. I really in the Mediterranean sea.
And my logbook--is a cartoon movie.
Because I am an artist (not а captain only) I paint about emotions, about our sailing, about the sea, and about the world which passes us.
I animate these paintings in cartoon films which resemble an animated logbook.
This film encompasses our voyage from the middle of Russia to the Aegean sea.
It’s poetic story documents the things we have seen--ruins of a Great Empire, storms, blue lights of the night sea, ancient cities and floating fortresses...
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All these impressions are poured into the abyss of digital technologies.
We create the film onboard, while at sea. Due to Helon’s lack of electricity the film is created using an iPad instead of a professional desktop.
Upon completion it may well become the first professional cartoon film made entirely on a tablet.
This film I'll send to lots of different video festivals - sure, it will be big success... and even a little revolution
But...to finish the film, to record original music (courtesy of my friend the professional composer Den Kalashnik), to check the film for quality on a big screen, to use big desktop computers for making advertisements and other things requires a significant amout of electricity!
I would to ask for help to buy more solar panels and batteries.
For real professional publishing of the film I need:
Solar panels (400 watt) $800
Controller $200
Batteries 4x(180 Amp/h) $800
Of course I will use this equipment for future films as well. Our Around-the-World Odyssey has only just started!
The next projects will include Research of the Childhood, a few sailing expeditions in historical places of our civilization, Ancient Greek points and few cartoon films about Legends
Thank you!
Evgeny Solodkiy, commander of sailing schooner Helon
P.S.
About me
Professional artist since 1987. Worked in Europe (conceptual art, video art, performances) and in Moscow (art show, creations, films)
Since 2000 I decided to change my life of chasing money into freedom and started to build schooner. It took 12 years .
About Helon
95-ft still gaff schooner. 80-tons. Very simple, brutal and reliable. People say she has nice spirit. The name Helon -derives from the legend of the northeast Greek colony, somewhere in Russia.
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About "New Odyssey of Helon"
Open project. Funding from people. Anyone can participate in the trip as a crew member helping stand gaff sails, hand-operate Helon and enjoy the comforts of the of all the art inside.
After a year at sea we have had over 50 people aboard from different countries of the world all the way from Japan to America...
The main goal of "New Odyssey of Helon" is to sail around the world and make 20 cartoon film about your Earth.
And to prove that every dreams can come true for everybody.
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One of my crew - onboard - Russia, Italy, Greek, Ausralia, Turkey, Japan, Morocco.
Some info about project:
International Herald Tribune ( Turkish addition Dunia ) - eng -
http://www.dunya.com/russian-artist-displays-works-on-his-schooner-191989h.htm
Motorboat & Yachting - turk - http://helon.ru/contact/text.jpg?fbid=560826263930320&set=a.508422219170725.121396.196084583737825&type=1&theater
Helon in Istanbul - eng - http://www.omactivities.com/2013/04/istanbul-yacht-museum-helon-be-part-of.html