(1998) an interactive room installation commissioned by the Staten Island Children’s Museum.
I lived on Staten Island (1981-2003) and taking the Staten Island Ferry was one of the highlights of that time. I’m a water-person, and my design of this room installation was inspired by the 6-mile trip across the New York Harbor. Its fun, interactive components were mostly made during museum visitor workshops. In a New York Times article, the project was likened to the style of artist Red Grooms… what a compliment!
I personally made the “instrument panel” elements above, but Velcro allowed the kids to move them into new positions.
I made a linear, blow-up image of the lower Manhattan skyline as the ferry-approached its dock in South Ferry. Paper cutouts were then covered in fabrics, trimmings, and buttons to create a wall-hanging in a family workshop.
The hand-painted images behind the window openings (inspired by scenes of the New York Harbor) were made in a public family workshop at the Children’s Museum. You could turn a crank and the images moved horizontally on a hidden roller system.