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<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Designed by the visual artist SWOON, the floating sculptures are descendants of the\u00a0Swimming Cities of Switchback Sea<\/a>\u00a0(Hudson River, 2008) and the\u00a0Miss Rockaway Armada<\/a>\u00a0(Mississippi River, 2006 and 2007). SWOON\u2019s boats were inspired by dense urban cityscapes and thickly intertwined mangrove swamps from her Florida youth. The Swimming Cities of Serenissima were built from salvaged materials, including modified Mercedes car motors with long-tail propellers. The boats\u2019 crew was made up of 30 collaborating artists from the United States. As the Swimming Cities moved toward Venice, the crew collected and installed keepsakes in an ark-like cabinet of wonders that was displayed on the boats when they arrived. Once in Venice, the boats and crew offered intimate performances that incorporate music, shadow puppetry, and story. The vessels were imagined as a hybrid between boats and bits of land broken off and headed out to sea.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/a>The Swimming Cities are designed and organized by printmaker and installation artist SWOON. Collaborators include puppeteer Robin Frohart and the band\u00a0Dark Dark Dark\u00a0and many many more. Boat design and carpentry created in close collaboration with Jeff Stark, Iris Lasson, and with guidance from\u00a0The Floating Neutrinos. Motors are designed by”Chicken” John Rinaldi.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n