This is a site specific project developed as a catalyst to examine the potential for the interchange of ideas with New York's commuting public. An essential component of the Communicating Vessels project is a newsstand kiosk which can be found operating at the St. George Terminal of the Staten Island Ferry from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily from September 1 through 14, 1998.

The newsstand a modular structure, consists of a sheet metal and wood construction which includes a video display, telephone information service and internet terminal. From this structure guests are able to communicate on different levels with other cyber-vessels, send electronic postcards and sample some specially created cyber-goods, including New York's first HTML Pretzels. Additions to the internet terminal allow viewers to track the movements of the Staten Island ferry through New York harbor, as well as view our Communicating Vessels web site and VRML compass.

In addition to the kiosk and the various project related products on sale there, guests receive a free copy of, The Daily Level a newspaper which features articles on naval and nautical history and general scientific information. It comprises interviews with (retired) mariners residents of Sailors' Snug Harbor in North Carolina. Our paper explores Snug Harbor Cultural Center's past as a home for retired seamen, once named Sailors' Snug Harbor itself and built on Staten Island's Kill van Kull in 1833. It functioned as a refuge for aged mariners until 1976, when it was relocated to Sea Level, North Carolina. where it continues to operate. Rocco and Schalks visited Sea Level this July to interview the residents of Sailors' Snug Harbor about their recollections and life in the Nelson Bay area. Their contributions are published in The Daily Level under the daily column The Hobbyroom Log.

With Communicating Vessels Schalks and Rocco attempt intergrate and enlarge visitors' awareness of historical and metaphorical connections between these individuals, locations and the sea. The visitor in a sense, becomes another connective element, or vessel, between notions of what is past and what is present.

Communicating Vessels receives support from the Rotterdam Center for Visual Arts (CBK) and the Consulate General for the Netherlands for North America. We also thank the residents and staff of The Sailors' Snug Harbor in N.C., the New York City Department of Transportation, the Jewish Community Center, Dr. Schnabel of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Thomas Paulo, Materials for the Arts-NYC Department of Cultural Affairs/Department of Sanitation, Lexmark International Inc., Maptech and Kinko's.

To the Communicating Vessels web site!