Art
W
e’ll begin by stating the obvious: Guy
Harvey, Ph.D., is a phenomenally gifted
artist. His dynamic portrayals of marine
life grace — among other things —
canvases, books, apparel, murals, a specialty license plate
and even a purposefully-sunk shipwreck. This alone is
remarkable, heady stuff. Look past the obvious to his other
accomplishments, however, and the term “artist” becomes
thoroughly inadequate. Harvey’s efforts to promote the
magnificence, mystery and fragility of our ocean extend far
beyond artwork, encompassing intriguing documentaries,
intensive scientific research and hands-on labor to
encourage the enactment of conservation laws.
AD: Guy, some of your most distinctive work depicts
billfish, and it’s said that your initial inspiration
came from an Ernest Hemingway novel.
Harvey:
That’s right. I grew up on Jamaica, and I was
about 15 when I first read The Old Man and the Sea.
I didn’t know who Hemingway was, but I knew about
blue marlins because my parents used to speak about
them. These were iconic fish, but they were few and
far between. I think the tale seemed so familiar to me
because the fishermen in Jamaica fished the same way:
tiny boat, absolutely huge fish. When I was 18, I recreated
the story in illustration. The result, Santiago’s Finest
M E MB E R P R O F I L E
26
|
WINTER 2014
DIVE SLATE
//
GUY HARVEY
HOMETOWN:
George Town, Grand Cayman
AGE:
58
YEARS DIVING:
40
FAVORITE DESTINATION:
Cocos Island, Costa Rica. I was able to visit last August for the first time
in a decade, and the reefs were as amazing as ever. We noticed some big changes, however,
including an increase in the number of tiger sharks and a large decrease in the number of turtles.
WHY I’M A DAN MEMBER:
DAN is a wonderful organization that provides a unique and excellent
service. Why wouldn’t I be?
THE OF CONSERVATION
Below: Guy Harvey’s iconic artwork is recognized the
world over.
Opposite: Harvey was inducted into the International
Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in November 2013.
COURTESY GUY HARVEY
