Fellow Travelers

This site specific installation appeared aboard the S.S. Olympia, the late 19th Century flagship cruiser permanently parked at the Independence Seaport Museum on the Delaware River. The ship is now a beautifully restored museum and this piece was comprised of thirty crocheted rats distributed throughout the interior decks and cabins, mess and latrines. Some were highly visible and some lurked in the shadows and other unsuspecting places. Visitors were encouraged to search for all thirty (the number of years Olympia was in service) and enter a contest to win a rat. The group show entitled Artship Olympia received positive media attention and Fellow Travelers had several good mentions.

 

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The thirty rats are crocheted individually. Some are black, grey, brown, white, beige and mixed. Each is approximately 8-9″ in the body and at least the same tail length. Inside are magnets which attach them to iron walls, pipes and ceilings. The eyes are plastic and the whiskers are wire.