If Only I Had A Seaworthy Vessel

Summer 2003, Viking Union Gallery, Bellingham, Washington

If I Only Had A Seaworthy Vessel was a multimedia installation collaboration between Nata Lukas and Tanis S'eiltin. The installation focused on the theme of journey. The space was transformed to create an immersive environment that utilized two video projections, four sound sources and numerous found and created objects.

A wheelchair ramp that accesses the main gallery space was utilized as a starting point for the journey. Down this narrow hallway a video of a canoe trip down a local waterway was projected. Accompanying the video are sounds of birds singing and the sound of paddles entering and exiting the water.

Float Trip, video still        Wave Spot, video still       Installation view from hallway

As the viewer reaches the end of the ramp the hallway is extended with the use of false walls to further emphasize the sense of journey. At this location the sound of walking on a gravel beach is featured.

Emerging from the hallway into the main gallery space viewers are first confronted with Tanis S'eiltin's image of a boat "drawn" on the wall with rocks. The lighting in the gallery space comes from two neon images, one on either side of the gallery and subdued lighting from the gallery track lights. Hanging throughout the space are Nata Lukas' driftwood roots, creating an under/other worldly atmosphere.

The dominant sound in the main gallery space is Waves to Bags, collaboration between Nata Lukas and James Adrian Stewart. The sound of waves breaking on a gravel shore slowly becomes over powered by the sound of Stewart's bagpipes. The use of bagpipes, a traditional instrument often played at funerals, further emphasize the otherworldly feeling giving one a sense that the journey being inferred is one that involves transcendence.

Another reference to transcendence is a ladder made from driftwood that disappears into the dark open ceiling in the center of the installation. At its base is a glowing circle of white sand. The light reflecting off the sand creates a rainbow. On the wall to the left of the ladder and sand circle is a circular shaped video projection. Wave Spot is a calm meditative piece that depicts different types of waves (water and light) slowly fading in and out of each other. The tint of the waves slowly shifts as well, moving from purples to blues, greens and golds.

As the driftwood roots slowly spin in the currents of the gallery's ventilation system and the soothing sounds and meditative video projections play, viewers are treated to an experience that takes them on a journey. Whether they have made the connection with transcendence or simply taken a mental trip to the beach, this installation transports every viewer to a different state of mind.

click the play button to hear a sample sound from the installation

More images from the Seaworthy Project
click on image for larger version

More sounds from this exhibition can be heard on the Audio Files page.

©2005 Nata Lukas | nathan@natalukas.com