Cotton Carnival
I discovered amazing audio and some photos from Memphis’ Cotton Carnival. Jean has kept the glass awards that Carl and her were given. It was a legal jump from a building.
1984, June 2 - Carl and Jean Boenish jump (with parachutes) from the top of the 430-foot-tall 100 North Main Building as a kickoff for the Cotton Carnival Parade. Carl would die five weeks later in a jump from a mountain in Norway.
Long days and nights in the archive. I can at times feel Carl’s presence (or energy or whatever it is), going through 100’s of letters, photos, audio tapes. I have been listening to all the music he liked classical, Beach Boys, Bread, Jesus Chris Superstar. I am working out of the studio and I feel like I knew him although I didn’t.
It is amazing how well a person can get to know another by going through their objects, films, audio, letters, and books. I wonder if I know anyone as well as I am getting to know Carl.
In the early eighties Carl Boenish coined the acronym “BASE” (standing for Buildings, Antenna, Span, and Earth, the objects jumped) and invented a sport. Carl was the catalyst behind modern BASE jumping; an electrical engineer and filmmaker who believed that BASE jumping would allow mankind to overcome artificial limitations. He religiously chronicled the early days of BASE in beautiful 16mm film, often with cameras mounted to the jumpers’ heads. He saw BASE as the next amazing thing to film. Subscribe via RSS.
