Living Sea Sculpture: contemporary art as coral refuge
A Mixed Media project in Portland, OR by Colleen Flanigan ·
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Update #9: Progress in Cancun
Posted on July 21, 2011
What a full-tilt adventure! We completed the land-build of Living Sea Sculpture. No less than 14 anchors to hold it to the seafloor once installed. Plans to deploy and wire the electrical are delayed due to further contracts that emerged in the final hours. Without power to catalyze a protective layer of minerals, the steel will rust and dissolve into the sea, so LSS is being stored until final clearance. Your contributions bought new tanks, regulators and cutting torches for metalwork, rental work spaces, steel and tools, electrical design and supplies, accommodations, deployment, sculpture transport,...Grateful we had such a resourceful team and collaborators to reach this milestone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMBZAFmF-GY
Pablo Pantoja located the site with me and was my local liaison/daily ally. (Better not begin listing all the huge support of the people in Mexico, never get through!! special thanks are at the bottom:) Wendy Thompson and Terra Nyssa did a fish survey to observe environmental impact of the project; will fish and others quickly populate the sculpture once it is in place? Lots of rain and murky waters almost prevented them from snorkeling the site, but luckily the sun and ocean gave them one bright calm day.
Mike
Gerzevitz captured some great interviews and footage of the making
(as well as participated in the making). Here's a little timelapse
for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjLWcAXjFSU
Now Margaret Andres will begin to weave the stories as she edits. Looking forward to what Mike films underwater with his 3D camera when we go back to finish this coral refuge.
Thomas Sarkisian helped immensely with forming the metal by hand, body and foot; and with Tom Goreau, prepared the power supply for phase 2--deploy. Will have to bring Thomas back over from Thailand to calibrate and install his BOLPS (Biorock On Land Power Supply prototype 3). Hope to return for phase 2 very soon! Hurricane season is stirring up, so we aim to process the paperwork and see what the weather holds.
Below is a photo tour taking you from "open air studio" to stainless steel factory...to the bank by the deployment boat at Puerto Cancun. Last you see the waters of Punta Nizuc's tropical AquaFresh blue--that is the future 15 feet down. (photos by Mike G. and me)
Once again, update # 7 details how to download "Reef Reborn." Other rewards in the works.
For more from Dr. Tom Goreau about Biorock and his take on Climate Change:
http://wn.co/OneClimate_interview_with_Coral_Reef_Expert_Thomas_Goreau_at_COP15_in_Copenhagen__1
And Sylvia Earle about the Coral Reefs--Rainforests of the Sea:
http://wn.com/Rainforest_Alliance_Coral_Reefs__Rainforests_of_the_Ocean
Gracias para todo!!
special thanks to Marcia de La Pena and Leif, Pablo Pantoja, Fredy Ulloa de La Rosa, Joel Lopez, Jason deCaires Taylor, Roberto Diaz, Mario and Enrique Chacon, Jaime Gonzales, Alain Ibanes, Todo Inoxidable - Guillermo, Suzie, and Jose Luis, Diego Gioseffi, Jorge Luis, Fernando, Lorenzo Guerrero, Kevin Watt, Karen Salinas, Rodrigo, Salvador, the staff of Aquaworld and Marenter, and of course, MUSA...the long list continues of people who have offered creativity, skill, friendship, strength, and resources in Mexico.
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This project successfully raised its funding goal on April 12, 2011.
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You will receive an e-photo of a coral I propagate at Seahorse Aquarium here in Portland.
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22 is my favorite number! (122 is the symbol of the snail in some native lore). you will receive an "escarglow"--a handmade candle in a snail shell made by Miss Snail Pail + an e-photo of a coral. note: this reward for $22 pledges only.
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e-photo + a download of "Reef Reborn"-- a documentary about the largest Biorock coral nursery in the world.
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the above + a limited edition digital print of one of my detailed pen-ink drawings with ocean theme (your choice from a selection)
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All of the above + a pdf with photos and findings from my adventure
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All of the above + come to Mexico (transport not included) and plant corals! + 10 cards (blank inside) with underwater photographs from Coral Perspectives http://www.coralperspectives.com/portfolio.php,
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All of the above + a pass to MUSA. The entrance to the museum is by boat tour.
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All of the above + you will receive the Friends of MUSA package: an official MUSA video, a book that will be published in early 2012 with your name in the back, your name listed in the Friends of MUSA book at all visitor centers + one more pass to MUSA
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All of the above + If you live in the Bay Area, I will come to your garden and take you on a snailing expedition. (If you live elsewhere and want to pay my transport, you too can partake in garden mollusk collection!)
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All of the above + I will lead a coral restoration re-enactment in the Pacific NW at a public or private event, school, or exhibition. Can be for a one day happening or 3 month exhibit.
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All of the above + a 16 X 24 limited edition print by Coral Perspectives
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All of the above + the steel Biorocker (in the video). Corals not included.
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All of the above + a trip to MUSA with a private tour of the museum with Jason deCaires Taylor and myself. (US only)
Project By
Connected as Colleen Flanigan (593 friends)
Colleen Flanigan is a visual, performing and environmental artist. Raised along the Monterey Peninsula in California, she has been listening to the ocean tide for much of her life. Through her socio-ecological alter egos, Miss Snail Pail and Amphitrite, she has joined the voices defending our natural resources She is in the first class of TED Senior Fellows. With more than 20 years of art and design background, she works in jewelry, steel sculptures, tile work, and interactive mixed media on conceptual and collaborative projects; she also makes ball-and-socket skeletons for stop-motion puppets.
