As was mentioned in a previous blog entry, both Mike and Lance are using separate lockdown time to peruse the pages of Gavin Pretor-Pinney’s wonderfully engaging book “The Wavewatcher’s Companion”. A fitting title, very pertinent to the Earthwaves manifesto, you may think. And you’d be right.
The book, besides being full of information and inspiration for Earthwaves work, is a joy to read; full of playful humour, in-depth scientific enquiry and a relentless energy in it’s pursuit of all things wave-like. Starting at the obvious type of waves – ocean waves, of course – Pretor-Pinney goes on the hunt for all manner of waves; brainwaves, shock waves, standing waves, radio waves, even Mexican waves, and (particularly relevant to Lance’s work) sound waves. There’s not a wave around that Mr Pretor-Pinney doesn’t delve deep into. Who knew that sand dunes in a desert move like creeping waves, or that the tragedy of a dog called Tubby is instrumental in understanding torsional waves?
What makes the book such a great read is that it presents the science and physics behind the different type of waves in such an accessible and organised way. As such it will prove an indispensable – and oft returned to – bible for Earthwaves work. Furthermore, the digressions pondered that lead onto new avenues of enquiry are also an inspiration for Earthwaves, given that the intersection of Mike’s ceramics and Lance’s sound work is creating inspiration for exciting new forms that combine both disciplines. Which will lead on to… who knows?