Franconia Boat Tower

Franconia Boat Tower. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx.100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Site View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Site View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Right. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 fee

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Right. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx.100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Front. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Sit

Franconia Boat Tower – Front. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower Front Left. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower Front Left. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Front/Pre Planting. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19

Franconia Boat Tower – Front/Pre Planting. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Port Sterns. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 fee

Franconia Boat Tower – Port Sterns. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Left. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Left. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower - Side. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site

Franconia Boat Tower - Side. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Port Bows. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Port Bows. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Weathered. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Weathered. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Port Bows Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x

Franconia Boat Tower – Port Bows Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Worms Eye View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 1

Franconia Boat Tower – Front Worms Eye View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – ChrisCraft Bow Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x

Franconia Boat Tower – ChrisCraft Bow Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower - Stern View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet

Franconia Boat Tower - Stern View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Stern View Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x

Franconia Boat Tower – Stern View Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Chris Craft Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19

Franconia Boat Tower – Chris Craft Detail. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – SouthWest Bow. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 f

Franconia Boat Tower – SouthWest Bow. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – Parkers Prairie Bow Plate. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 3

Franconia Boat Tower – Parkers Prairie Bow Plate. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

Franconia Boat Tower – SouthWest Cockpit View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x

Franconia Boat Tower – SouthWest Cockpit View. Franconia Sculpture Park, Shafer, MN. 2015. Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson StrongTies, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings. Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx. 100 feet.

The Franconia Boat Tower is a site-specific found vintage boat sculpture that reflects upon human interaction within an atypical nautical boat lift ecosystem, questioning ideas of natural decay, boat dematerialization, and organic shape shifting during seasonal change. Sited along two tree lines in a former corn pasture, the four midwestern metal and wooden boats found online are: Chris Craft, Crestliner, Parkers Prairie, and SouthWest. Boats face South, structure aligns NSEW with the cardinal directions, and rainwater flows through each forming multiple tiny waterfalls and icicles. The boat tower sculptural ecosystem becomes natural habitat to numerous species, including varmints, birds, and bugs.

The artist credits The Jerome Foundation, Franconia Sculpture Park, and many generous individuals for their physical & financial support of this site specific public art project. Photos courtesy the artist.

Stats:
Materials: Found vintage boats, recycled telephone poles, Douglas Fir, Simpson Strong Ties, steel hardware, rebar, cement footings.

Size: Wood base 28 x 8 x 9 feet. Overall 32 x 19 x 9 feet. Site diameter appx.100 feet.

Elevation: Appx. 912 feet ASL.

 

Links:
Franconia Boat Tower in FSP Spotlight    

Boat Tower in City Pages Artist of the Year

Franconia Sculpture Park

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