Cal Art Gallery

A few months back I was treated to an amazing afternoon at Moffett Airfield in Mountain View, CA. Tom and I were virtually transported back in time, and were able to view some vintage WWII aircraft. Unlike many other air shows that I've attended over the years, there were very few people -- allowing Tom and I nearly un-fettered photo opportunities. The digital pieces pictured below were created as a result of this trip.

According to Greek mythology, Icarus' father, Daedalus, a talented craftsman, attempted to escape from his exile in Crete, where he and his son were imprisoned at the hands of King Minos, the king for whom he had built the Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur. Daedalus, the master craftsman, was exiled because he gave Minos' Daughter, Ariadne, a clew of string in order to help Theseus survive the Labyrinth.

Daedalus fashioned a pair of wings of wax and feathers for himself and his son. Before they took off from the island, Daedalus warned his son not to fly too close to the sun, nor too close to the lake. Overcome by the giddiness that flying lent him, Icarus soared through the sky curiously, but in the process he came too close to the sun, which burned his wings. Icarus kept flapping his wings but soon realized that he had no feathers left and that he was only flapping his bare arms. And so, Icarus fell into the sea in the area that bears his name, the Icarian Sea near Icaria, an island southwest of Samos.

From time immemorial humanity has been mesmerized by the idea of flight. From ancient myth and legend to modern aviation marvels aeronautics continues to mystify our imaginations.

From tourism and commerce, to defense and space exploration, many aspects of flight affects our daily lives. 

All of Michael Callahan's images are available in print. Email Michael for purchasing information.