The Orbs

"I remember the day they left. I was out in my boat which had become a ceremonious habit of mine in the summer mornings. The Orbs were always so still that flocks of local birds had come to call them home, leaving their detritus behind like any other. I sometimes wonder if I’d have gotten so close had the birds not approved of them first. There was a calmness to their presence. The Fermi Paradox had been shattered. We were not alone anymore. That always cleared the mind for the obvious follow-up questions; what were they? Where did they come from? How long would they be staying? They vanished as soon as they appeared, leaving even more questions in their wake. I still go out in my boat, rain, hail or shine. I even take my grandkids with me. But now I only ask one question...when are they coming back?"

Created in May 2020. This is the first artwork I created just after my son was born. To me it's a very special piece as it embodies how I was feeling at the time - in complete awe of life, biology and the mysteries of the universe.