May 20th - 12:47

Title: May 20th - 12:47 Medium: Super-8 film Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Resolution: 2880 x 2160 File Type: H.264 Codec / MP4. Comments: Yoko was our neighbor who rescued us from the habu when we first arrived in Ishigaki. Her family invited us over for breakfast as they run a bed and breakfast business. We told her about the art project we were working on and the reason we came to her island. To discover the phenomenon of the star sand beach. Star shaped fossilized plankton particles that make up the entire beaches. Yoko, her mother, and her aunt decided that they were going to come with us and proudly show us their home. All 5 of us smooshed into Yoko's car and headed towards the ferry wharf. We sat and waited for our boat and shuttled to the galaxy of Taketomi Island. It was a very hot day and the sun was directly above us without any shade. The women lead the way to the beach. It was a good long walk until we finally made it. It was low tide and the perfect time to research the sand. I picked up a patch and felt that it was regular sand. I followed their directions around a few bends to a specific quieter site of the island that we may find the star sand. Takako, Yoko's mother, kneeled down and pointed to the ground. We found the stars! I collected a small sample in a tiny jar to study the fossils under a microscope. Takako's sister started singing and dancing their traditional dance. I asked Yoko and her mother to sit by her on each side to represent family and let the sand fall gently between their fingers. Then, I held the shutter down longer....... I paused, and sat on the ground; Stared out in the horizon to reminisces of what we all just created a moment ago and the beauty of we are now. Caught in a place between paradise and heaven.