Traveling exhibition showcases artifacts from first fully authenticated pirate ship discovered in U.S. waters
March 14, 2008 —“Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship,” a traveling exhibition organized by National Geographic and Arts and Exhibitions International (AEI) LLC, opening at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia May 24, explores early 18th-century piracy and the Caribbean slave trade with more than 200 artifacts recovered from the ocean floor. With graphics by Pasadena-based Hunt Design, a leading graphic designer for buildings, spaces and places, the exhibition tells the compelling story of the Whydah, a real pirate ship that began as a slave ship, and the stories of the diverse people whose lives converged on the vessel before it was sunk in a fierce storm off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass. on April 26, 1717.
“The multitude and diversity of content required careful integration of both immersive and static environments,” said Heather Watson, a director at Hunt Design. “Our goal was to create a rich, seamless visual experience that reflects the excitement of a mythical pirate’s life, while accurately portraying the often harsh realities of a real pirate’s life.”
The exhibition provides visitors with an unprecedented glimpse into the unique economic, political and social circumstances of the early 18th-century Caribbean. Involving close collaboration with AEI and National Geographic, Hunt’s role included the development and complex layering of digital super-graphic walls to create visually rich environments filled with artifacts and employing interactive displays.
Brought to life with projection and digitally printed backgrounds created by Hunt, “Real Pirates” allows visitors to experience a virtual journey on the Whydah. An introductory video, narrated by Louis Gossett Jr., presents the age of piracy in the 18th century. Visitors then move through a dozen multimedia galleries, showcasing the reality of the slave trade in West Africa and the economic prosperity in the Caribbean in the early 18th century, the Whydah’s journey, the ship’s capture, the violent storm that sank the ship, its discovery and the recovery and conservation of its artifacts. As visitors travel through the exhibition, original music in each gallery transports them back to this historical period.
“We strove to make ‘Real Pirates’ an engaging experience for visitors of any age as they learn about the realities of 18th-century piracy,” said John Norman, president, AEI. “‘Real Pirates’ is a world-class museum experience brought to life in a unique and unprecedented way.”
Visuals are available upon request.
Contact:
Todd Hays
TODD Public Relations
626.345.0255
[email protected]