1-Year GhostShip Memorial Service
Donation protected
Help Make My GhostShip Memorial Grow in Permanence.
On December 2nd, 2016, 36 young artist and creators died during a party at a live in/workspace known as the Ghostship in Oakland. The lack of affordable housing and safe low cost venues was a major culprit that led to the fire. The tragedy dissolved the underground music scene. DIY Spaces in the Oakland area as well as nationally were evicted unfairly and with little warning, most were significantly safer spaces.
The building of the memorial was very cathartic even if it was an expensive 10 day rushed build of a 20' long black pirate ship. I installed the ship in the Emeryville Bay at 4am (non permitted) to mark the six month anniversary. The paint was still wet, and the boat was hardly as finished as I would’ve liked. More additions have been made since the photograph of the ship above, pictured a month ago. The Bay’s daily low-tide causes the memorial to drag on the rocky floor. At high tide it can be in 20' of water. The result is constant, exhausting and expensive work while swimming for upkeep. Thankfully, someone has offered to tow the boat in, and fiberglass the hull and complete major upgrades for only the cost of $200 in materials, no labor.
For the first year anniversary, I will be building a floating heart to surround the ship made of 36 red, solar-powered, LED globes that will be anchored to a semi-submersed PVC frame that stretches approximately 100' in perimeter around the memorial. Each of the 36 lights will have one name of the beautiful people we lost- keeping their names alive while the heart serves as a pleasant reminder that Oakland’s love and struggle for creativity continues on. The large heart will act as a place-holder while the ship is taken in for the fiber-glass hull upgrade in late December I hope to have it finished to turn on at the one year anniversary of the fire. Unfortunately, dodging the high cost of pre-manufactured goods for the heart and going the DIY route (as is the Oakland way!) this project still needs financial support to acheive the cost of the materials- which result in another $200 on top of what I've spent.
Linked below is a one of the newspaper article written about the GhostShip Memorial, along with old photos of the boat before the more current upgrades. A photoshopped old drone image shows the approximate appearance of the finished heart.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.sfgate.com/bayarea/amp/Artist-Oakland-Ghost-Ship-tribute-Emeryville-11200900.php
My heart, and many hearts are full as a result to the GhostShip Memorial- however, I’ve sunk well over $1,000 in construction and upkeep as it stays floating. Please donate what you can to keep this memorial afloat and beautiful. In advance, thank you so much for your support. I plan to keep the memorial afloat for as long as possible along with it's green spotlights and red heart-shaped perimeter.
Anyone and everyone who would like to help with the build before December 2nd or continued upkeep, please contact me!
Thanks again, let us never forget the people we lost- and continue to remind the city of lessons we learned on that horrendous night, one year ago. The fight for affordable housing continues, and Oakland’s Art Community's continues to heal and grow against the opposing tides.
-Chris
On December 2nd, 2016, 36 young artist and creators died during a party at a live in/workspace known as the Ghostship in Oakland. The lack of affordable housing and safe low cost venues was a major culprit that led to the fire. The tragedy dissolved the underground music scene. DIY Spaces in the Oakland area as well as nationally were evicted unfairly and with little warning, most were significantly safer spaces.
The building of the memorial was very cathartic even if it was an expensive 10 day rushed build of a 20' long black pirate ship. I installed the ship in the Emeryville Bay at 4am (non permitted) to mark the six month anniversary. The paint was still wet, and the boat was hardly as finished as I would’ve liked. More additions have been made since the photograph of the ship above, pictured a month ago. The Bay’s daily low-tide causes the memorial to drag on the rocky floor. At high tide it can be in 20' of water. The result is constant, exhausting and expensive work while swimming for upkeep. Thankfully, someone has offered to tow the boat in, and fiberglass the hull and complete major upgrades for only the cost of $200 in materials, no labor.
For the first year anniversary, I will be building a floating heart to surround the ship made of 36 red, solar-powered, LED globes that will be anchored to a semi-submersed PVC frame that stretches approximately 100' in perimeter around the memorial. Each of the 36 lights will have one name of the beautiful people we lost- keeping their names alive while the heart serves as a pleasant reminder that Oakland’s love and struggle for creativity continues on. The large heart will act as a place-holder while the ship is taken in for the fiber-glass hull upgrade in late December I hope to have it finished to turn on at the one year anniversary of the fire. Unfortunately, dodging the high cost of pre-manufactured goods for the heart and going the DIY route (as is the Oakland way!) this project still needs financial support to acheive the cost of the materials- which result in another $200 on top of what I've spent.
Linked below is a one of the newspaper article written about the GhostShip Memorial, along with old photos of the boat before the more current upgrades. A photoshopped old drone image shows the approximate appearance of the finished heart.
https://www.google.com/amp/www.sfgate.com/bayarea/amp/Artist-Oakland-Ghost-Ship-tribute-Emeryville-11200900.php
My heart, and many hearts are full as a result to the GhostShip Memorial- however, I’ve sunk well over $1,000 in construction and upkeep as it stays floating. Please donate what you can to keep this memorial afloat and beautiful. In advance, thank you so much for your support. I plan to keep the memorial afloat for as long as possible along with it's green spotlights and red heart-shaped perimeter.
Anyone and everyone who would like to help with the build before December 2nd or continued upkeep, please contact me!
Thanks again, let us never forget the people we lost- and continue to remind the city of lessons we learned on that horrendous night, one year ago. The fight for affordable housing continues, and Oakland’s Art Community's continues to heal and grow against the opposing tides.
-Chris
Organizer
Chris Edwards
Organizer
Richmond, CA
