Geoff McFetridge builds an ocean-going bike in great short film

Date
23 February 2015

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We’re always interested in what Los Angeles-based artist and illustrator Geoff McFetridge has been up to. A video of him talking about making a bike sounded especially promising, but a video of him talking about making a “totally absurd” ocean-going bike? Swoon.

The Sea Rambler is described as “A Human Powered Surf Exploration Vehicle” that Geoff made for the Patagonia outdoor clothing store in California. But the contraption is both simultaneously the focus of the film, and completely incidental to it, as Geoff meditates on creativity with quiet, insightful honesty. He talks about the difference between creativity as “coming up with an idea” and in a second sense “that’s more to do with engineering,” an area where, he readily admits, “I don’t know what I’m doing at all.”

As The Sea Rambler takes shape into an invention that seems to spring straight from the pages of a Roald Dahl book, Geoff explains that he intends to bring viewers into the creative process by “making decisions in the work that are totally clear.” That way, he insists, “you can take somebody on that journey.” All aboard then!

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Farm League: Geoff McFetridge – The Sea Rambler (Photograph by Ian McGee)

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Farm League: Geoff McFetridge – The Sea Rambler (Photograph by Ian McGee)

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Farm League: Geoff McFetridge – The Sea Rambler (Photograph by Ian McGee)

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Farm League: Geoff McFetridge – The Sea Rambler (Photograph by Ian McGee)

Above

Farm League: Geoff McFetridge – The Sea Rambler (Photograph by Ian McGee)

Above

Farm League: Geoff McFetridge – The Sea Rambler (Photograph by Ian McGee)

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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