Rising Tide Opens At Maritime Museum Of San Diego Spring 2024
Traveling Exhibition Shows the Human Consequences of Rising Sea Levels
SAN DIEGO, CA — The Maritime Museum of San Diego’s mission is to serve as the community memory of our seafaring experiences by collecting, preserving, and presenting our rich maritime heritage and historic connections with the Pacific world. Museum curators are currently in the works on a new exhibit opening to the public for six months starting March 2024 through Labor Day weekend. The new exhibit will be staged on two vessels in the fleet designated on the National Register of Historic Places, including in the Carol Lundquist Gallery on the Orlop deck of the world’s oldest active sailing ship, the 1863 Star of India (originally named Euterpe), and within the Compass Gallery located on the 1898 Victorian-era steam ferryboat Berkeley that operated for 60 years on San Francisco Bay.
The new exhibit, Rising Tide, debuted in Spring of 2021 at the Het Scheepvaartmuseum, National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam. Rising Tide visualizes the human costs of the climate crisis. Dutch documentarian photographer Kadir van Lohuizen illustrates the dramatic consequences of climate change across the world through photographs, video, drone images, and sound. Raymond Ashley, Ph.D., K.C.I., President/CEO of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, is enthusiastic about being chosen to be the first Maritime Museum on the Pacific Coast to display the powerful work. “The exhibit demonstrates the fragility of life at the water’s edge where the vast majority of humanity currently lives. Most Maritime Museums talk about what happens when civilization, in terms of ships, go to sea. This exhibit is the inverse of that when the sea intrudes upon civilization.”
In response to the pressing implications of rising sea levels, The Netherlands faced a critical wake-up call on January 8th, 2019, when a severe Northwestern storm, compounded by spring tide, triggered flooding on the island of Terschelling. Notably, the quays of West Terschelling were submerged, along with the surrounding area, including the iconic ‘Wierschuur’ at Easter Terschelling. This alarming incident highlights the increasing frequency of such events and the need to address the impacts of climate change. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, acclaimed artist Kadir van Lohuizen has embarked on a compelling journey to capture the profound consequences, of the climate crisis, particularly its manifestation in rising sea levels.
Through an exploration of various global locations, including Greenland, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Panama, Kiribati, Fiji, Jakarta, Miami, New York, and his native Netherlands, Van Lohuizen seeks to shed light on the irreversible force of climate change. His personal artistic vision and unwavering discipline are harnessed to present a thought-provoking narrative that transcends mere statistics, delving into the human stories behind the escalating environmental challenge.
The Rising Tide exhibition, a testament to Van Lohuizen’s dedication and comprehensive investigation, offers a multi-dimensional perspective on the impact of rising water levels. By engaging with both policymakers and ordinary citizens, Van Lohuizen unveils diverse viewpoints, painting a vivid picture of the challenges and opportunities in addressing this global crisis. Through a powerful blend of photography and film, the exhibition invites audiences to confront the stark reality of our collective future, urging society to collectively strive for sustainable solutions. Rising Tide clearly identifies through photographs and films the human stories behind the alarming statistics and sketches a confrontational vision of the future. The exhibition is co-developed by Noor, an Amsterdam-based, international agency for documentary photography and visual storytelling.
The Rising Tide project has received funding through grants from the Netherland-America Foundation, Kingdom of the Netherlands, ASML and Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Foundation.
Entry to the Rising Tide exhibit is included in general admission ticket purchase for adults at $24.00, seniors 62+/military and students at 13 – 17 $18.00, and youth ages 3-12 at $12.00. Children under two are free. Daily Museum hours are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Last guest entry at 4:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the Museum Ticket booth located in front of the Maritime Museum of San Diego found between Grape and Ash Street at 1492 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.
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About the Maritime Museum of San Diego
The Maritime Museum of San Diego experience includes admission to a world-class collection of historic sailing ships, steam-powered boats, and submarine, each offering entertaining and educational exhibits. The 501c3 non-profit Museum enjoys an international reputation for excellence in restoring, maintaining, and operating historic vessels including the world’s oldest active sailing ship, Star of India. Maritime Museum of San Diego is ranked as one of the nation’s top attractions offering self-guided tours, docent guided-group tours, tall ship charters, year round public events, educational programs, and a distinctive venue for corporate/private events. The Museum is open daily along Star of India Wharf at 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101-3309.
About the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam
The National Maritime Museum is committed to its mission statement, “water connects worlds.” Showcasing an extensive array of masterpieces and remarkable artifacts from one of the world’s premier maritime collections, the museum seamlessly integrates exhibitions with a historical character alongside works by contemporary international artists. Leveraging maritime developments from the past, present, and future, the museum fosters dialogue on pressing contemporary themes. Among these themes, climate change and rising sea levels emerge as crucial focal points that resonate deeply with the museum’s identity and mission. Kadir van Lohuizen’s project, Rising Tide, aligns seamlessly with both the artistic and thematic focus of the museum. In presenting Rising Tide, the museum actively embraces its social responsibility, fulfilling the role of informing and mobilizing a diverse and engaged public. This endeavor reflects the museum’s dedication to fostering awareness and dialogue around the evolving challenges presented by climate change and its impact on our interconnected world. hetscheepvaartmuseum.com