Once in a Blue Moon Eye
Once in a Blue Moon Eye (cyanotype)
This summer at our family cottage on Lake Ontario, we unexpectedly experienced the lake filled with the infamous moon eyes. I had only heard stories about them from my mom. She is one of several generations to spend summers on this shore. They used to wash up in huge piles of sun-dried, stinky fish carcasses. My mom would earn ten cents raking neighbors’ beaches. The moon eyes made perfect fertilizer for potted plants.
Up close, the living fish were breathtaking. One dying fish swam in circles near the surface of the clear water. Sunlight illuminated its scales like glitter. Its big, silvery eyes, the namesake of the moon eye, felt like a quiet message from the lake itself. Time seemed to stand still in that simple, magical moment.
That moment inspired a series of cyanotype prints called Once in a Blue Moon Eye. A still from a video of the fish was traced to create a repeating pattern. The pupil was drawn as a crescent moon-shaped eye, a playful nod to its name. The negative was printed on clear plastic. Various leaves, textures, and flowers were arranged over the fish shapes. Everything was held in place by plexiglass and exposed to direct sunlight for 11 minutes. Each print is shaped by temporary conditions. The time of day and angle of sunlight influence every piece. The deep blue of the cyanotype evokes water. It connects the work back to the lake where the moon eyes live.
This series became a meditation on noticing, slowing down, and honoring life and death. It is a love note to Lake Ontario and it celebrates the quiet wonders often overlooked. Moments like these invite pause. They offer a chance to witness the beauty, the good, and life around us. In observing these small, magical moments, it becomes clear that if we don’t slow down, we forget we are nature, too.
Come see one of the final prints at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center. The opening reception is August 28th from 5 to 8 pm. The show runs through October 18th.
