"Mighty Mo" – The USS Mohawk CGC, a 165-foot World War II warship that is now a living reef thriving with exotic marine life – is the home for Andreas Franke's 3rd underwater art project. Franke researched the history of the Mohawk, which launched 14 attacks against German U-boats and rescued 300 torpedoed ship survivors. He imagined the life of sailors past aboard the Mohawk – their daily lives and dreams of home – and again superimposed images of models in period clothing he shot in his studio in Vienna onto original photography.
Like the Stavronikita Project each image measures roughly 2.5 by 3.5 feet and is encased in steel-framed Plexiglas. During their time at sea, the photos will evolve with accumulation of marine life, which will give them a seaworthy patina and life of their own and ennobles the art work to unique pieces.
For divers, the artwork will come into stunning view, as the destination is in the midst of its peak dive season. In the clear waters, divers will enjoy 50-70 feet of visibility, perfect for viewing the ethereal images. Nearly a year ago, the USS Mohawk CGC became our newest artificial reef and has since attracted exotic marine life, including numerous whale sharks. Now for three and a half months, divers will be able to view artwork on the Mohawk. At the end of their underwater exhibition, “The Sinking World” images will rise to the surface for display at the Lee County Alliance for the Arts galleries in Fort Myers on Oct. 4, 2013. The images will remain on display until Oct. 26, 2013.
Divers at the underwater exhibition on USS Mohawk.
