Hopes and Fears for the Project

I have many hopes for the project, and they mostly stem from the origins of it.
For one, life is incredibly busy: all forms of communication must be satisfied; there are all sorts of media and other distractions. I hope for six days of quiet contemplation—six days to regroup, refocus, and really focus on the essentials. That’s really important to me with this project. It’s a little selfish, just get out there and enjoy some quiet, some physical work, and some peace.

I also want to draw attention to the historical sense of the Cane—that it was navigated very slowly. “Slow” is a very essential element of this project. That is an element that people continually try to dissuade me. “You could hide a little trolling motor on the back. Nobody would see it. It wouldn’t be noisy.” But the slow pace of the travel is an important thread that winds through this project.

Also, I see it as an artistic practice. I see the raft as the vehicle for the art. If you make art with welding or painting, then the torch and the brushes become the vehicles for the art. The outcome isn’t a visual piece of art—in the long run it’s what we call a happening or an event. I see myself out there on the river as a visual element. Every time I’m spotted, I think people will feel it’s kind of a romantic sight—this guy out there quietly and slowly poling his way down the river. It’s kind of like the gondolas of Italy or Huck Finn and Jim floating down the Mississippi.

Matt’s Pre-launch Fears
· Cold rain.
· It’s been instilled in me a fear that snakes may climb onto the raft.
· Alligators
· Headwinds the whole way
· Lightning
· The main fear is not accomplishing the project