Inspired by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now”, this artwork evokes the image of society as a precarious vessel. Its moving, puzzle-like form represents the constant struggle required to move towards a more inclusive society.
The ability to navigate the Charles River shaped the history of human settlement as well as the growth of industry in Cambridge, powered by immigrant labor. The form of Same Boat Now is based on a type of nineteenth century workboat common to the area. It celebrates the working-class origins of the surrounding neighborhoods and the importance of immigration to Cambridge, historically and in the present day.
Commission: City of Cambridge, Cambridge Arts Council
Material: Steel, aluminum, fiberglass, electric motors, electronic controls
Size: 168” x 50” x 27”
Location: King Open/Cambridge Street Upper School Community Complex (Cambridge, US)
Year: 2019
Fabricator: Carlson Baker Arts
Architect: William Rawn Associates
Photo/videography: Natasha Sadikin
Sound: Celia Hollander “Surround Sound Me”
Download photos here (1920px, 13MB)
Download high resolution photos here (3000px, 34MB)
