October 8 | 6pm | Wavertree | Free
Join Black Gotham Experience (BGX) and the Seaport Museum for another edition of Nerdy Thursdays, this time aboard the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree. This program will be the opening reception for the Art Project Armazoen’s New York City activation. After stops in the Netherlands, Angola, Curaçao, and Suriname, this international project arrives at its culminating stop—New York City October 8–25.
Art Project Armazoen is based on an excerpt from an entry in a Dutch slave ship, the frigate Hof van Zeeland, which was part of The Middelburgse Commercie Compagnie (MCC) making its first triangular voyage between Middelburg, Angola, and the Caribbean between 1732 and 1734. MCC is the Zeeland counterpart of the United East India Company and West India Company, which contested the sovereignty of Lenapehoking when it established the company outpost New Netherland in 1624. New Amsterdam was the capital of New Netherland and the antecedent to New York City. This excerpt from the ship describes five Angolan women who chose to jump overboard rather than be enslaved. One of them died. These few sentences in the archive, describing this experience, became the basis for Art Project Armazoen—an ode to their resistance.
Preregistration is encouraged for this event. Walkups will be accommodated as possible. Tickets are distributed through BGX, visit their website below to sign up. Access to Wavertree involves climbing a few stairs, walking up an angled gangway, and descending a few stairs onto the deck. The lower decks are accessible via stairs, while the upper deck requires navigating steep ladder-like stairs.
Please Note This is a Past Program, Event, or Activity
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About Nerdy Thursdays
Nerdy Thursdays is the Black Gotham Experience take on the Harlem Renaissance salon. A familiar place to meet new ideas. Come and enjoy complimentary drinks, a thematic soundtrack by the featured DJ, check out the library, and make sense of the day. The Spring theme is: Land of the Blacks; Summer is: Black Vision Day; and Fall is: As Above So Below.
About Black Gotham Experience
Established in 2010 by artist/historian Kamau Ware, Black Gotham Experience creates media at the intersection of scholarship and aesthetics that illustrates the impact of the African Diaspora missing from collective consciousness as well as the public square. BGX reimagines the spaces directly impacted by the African Diaspora as human stories explored through interactive walks, talks, events, and art. The heart of these experiences are five core stories that revisit Manhattan in 1623 and move forward through three centuries: Other Side of Wall Street, Sarah’s Fire, Caesar’s Rebellion, Citizen Hope, and State of Mirrors.
In addition to producing the New York City activation for Art Project Armazoen, BGX is celebrating its 16th year throughout October. From a black historical walk that started on Wall Street in 2010 to producing international projects about the impact of the African Diaspora, BGX is taking moments in reflecting on their journey that started with a question—“Where were the Black people?”
About the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree
Wavertree was built at Southampton, England, in 1885 and, after a 24-year sailing career and circumnavigating the globe at least three times, is now the last remaining iron-hulled three-masted full-rigged cargo ship. Today, Wavertree is visited by guests of all ages from around the globe and serves as the centerpiece of the “Street of Ships” at the Seaport Museum. She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1978 and symbolizes the profound influence of sailing ships, their intrepid sailors, and the bustling waterfront in shaping New York City into a modern metropolis. As a historic vessel with a fascinating past, Wavertree embodies the rich maritime heritage that played a pivotal role in transforming South Street into the vibrant heart of “Where New York Begins.”
Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16 is included with your ticket to this event. Access to the additional historic ships and exhibitions on view is not included. If you would like to explore more that the Museum has to offer, book in advance or ask Museum staff about General Admission tickets when you check in.
In addition to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree, General Admission brings you aboard the 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16, and into both exhibitions on view in the first-floor Schermerhorn Row galleries at 12 Fulton Street. General Admission also sets you on course to explore Maritime City, the Museum’s immersive, three-floor exhibition at A.A. Thomson & Co., located at 213 Water Street.
And, your General Admission ticket now includes The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation Exhibition, which has been extended through November 29! Explore this landmark exhibition and see rare national treasures.
Plan Your Visit
We look forward to welcoming you! Before your visit, please review the Visitor Guide and Frequently Asked Questions. You’ll find helpful information on ticketing and discounts, planning a family visit, directions and accessibility at each of our historic sites, the visitor code of conduct, what is and isn’t permitted across the Museum campus, tips for using technology during your visit, and more.
Ready for more?
Head over to our Programs and Events page to see what else is happening at the Museum. Sign up for an upcoming talk, learn more about visiting Wavertree, or explore our virtual offerings.