Part two of Learning From Allen. Building a Chinese Junk on the beach with hand tools. Commentary and appearances by Allen Farrell and Dan Rubin. Vintage sailing footage courtesy Dan Rubin.
This is a great film, and an inspiring message! My only reservation is with regards to the message about being "totally independent of fuel and engines"; "principled and independent and free". It's true that Allen has done something unique and beautiful with this boat and his lifestyle; his use of hand tools, the sculling oar, the sails and even his artful design. But he's highly dependent on fuel and engines to support his lifestyle, and they were instrumental in building his boat. For example, the chemical plants that manufactures the spar varnish he has used everywhere, the paints, and the spray products, all are manufactured with petrochemicals, engines, and transported with them. Likewise the ropes, canvas, nails, etc, all made using petrochemicals, either as a material, a fuel for machines, or both; this is saying nothing abut his relationship with food! I love the message of Allen's art, I'm grateful for this film being available here online, I'm not saying Allen or the narrator is doing anything wrong; I just think some clarity is necessary regarding the scale of the systems we're involved in. You cannot enjoy modern products and industrial materials without keeping the wheels of modern industry turning by your involvement; this being "independent of fuel and engines" is a quality possessed by only the very rare and entirely removed-from-modern-day people. Alas, I'm sorry for Allen's passing, because I would like to have heard his reasoning behind using so many industrial material, and if he saw them, as I do, part of a vast web in which we unknowingly enslave ourselves, and cause the vast destruction and impoverishment-of -culture that I believe he was lamenting in this video. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
how is allen now, wonderful people to me they are like the north star you can see them even when you are in pakistan if i could a visa i would travel to us just to see allen i wish
amazing film project.. thanks for your footage . One and only one .. mis-step I'd rather not of heard.. was when speaking to Allen regarding their home,you asked Allen the value of his house.. Well one its not a house on the market,it was a 'home'.. hand built with soul. There is no monetary value of such a creation .. and the details around that issue don't add to the wealth of this story of China Cloud and it's creator . You might as well of asked - how much did you pay for the boats materials,or wood stove .. or sails... Leave cost out instead.. and go for the issues of the making,shaping and inspiration !
as far as I have seen in the video , I would say the struture is different , like he didn't use watertight , but the hull shape itself is totally typical south part of China 's style hull,and the way he set up the pole for rigs , .etc . I think he is great and few of the western people who truly understand the purpose of Chinese junk , but still ,just want to know more about him and his boat .
What a truly wonderful life! GOD Bless Allen.
This is a great film, and an inspiring message! My only reservation is with regards to the message about being "totally independent of fuel and engines"; "principled and independent and free". It's true that Allen has done something unique and beautiful with this boat and his lifestyle; his use of hand tools, the sculling oar, the sails and even his artful design. But he's highly dependent on fuel and engines to support his lifestyle, and they were instrumental in building his boat. For example, the chemical plants that manufactures the spar varnish he has used everywhere, the paints, and the spray products, all are manufactured with petrochemicals, engines, and transported with them. Likewise the ropes, canvas, nails, etc, all made using petrochemicals, either as a material, a fuel for machines, or both; this is saying nothing abut his relationship with food! I love the message of Allen's art, I'm grateful for this film being available here online, I'm not saying Allen or the narrator is doing anything wrong; I just think some clarity is necessary regarding the scale of the systems we're involved in. You cannot enjoy modern products and industrial materials without keeping the wheels of modern industry turning by your involvement; this being "independent of fuel and engines" is a quality possessed by only the very rare and entirely removed-from-modern-day people. Alas, I'm sorry for Allen's passing, because I would like to have heard his reasoning behind using so many industrial material, and if he saw them, as I do, part of a vast web in which we unknowingly enslave ourselves, and cause the vast destruction and impoverishment-of -culture that I believe he was lamenting in this video. Anyway, thanks for sharing!
Great capture of a real artistic BC coastal character ,,,
Divine couple!
how is allen now, wonderful people to me they are like the north star you can see them even when you are in pakistan if i could a visa i would travel to us just to see allen i wish
Allen died some years ago. We all miss him.
Yes. Allen was 86 at the time I got to know him. The whole film is called "Learning From Allen".
They are amazing people!!!
amazing film project.. thanks for your footage . One and only one .. mis-step I'd rather not of heard.. was when speaking to Allen regarding their home,you asked Allen the value of his house.. Well one its not a house on the market,it was a 'home'.. hand built with soul. There is no monetary value of such a creation .. and the details around that issue don't add to the wealth of this story of China Cloud and it's creator . You might as well of asked - how much did you pay for the boats materials,or wood stove .. or sails... Leave cost out instead.. and go for the issues of the making,shaping and inspiration !
We had been speaking of the incredible prices of the surrounding property previously, which is not on camera.
taken in the context of the time he/they had spent there, it was an humorous aside ,,nothing more.
what is Allen's design ?
As all of his boats, he developed it himself based on traditional types, using models. Lines are in the back of the book Sailing Back in Time.
as far as I have seen in the video , I would say the struture is different , like he didn't use watertight , but the hull shape itself is totally typical south part of China 's style hull,and the way he set up the pole for rigs , .etc . I think he is great and few of the western people who truly understand the purpose of Chinese junk , but still ,just want to know more about him and his boat .
under-estimated as an artist,by most it would seem,,
Whats happen to Bertie?
Currently in Mazatlan Mexico bound South. Check out FB page BERTIE.