THREE BOATS FOR THE DON

In collaboration with OCADU students participating in Shannon Gerard's “Pressing Issues” Printmaking class, Mare Liberum is creating boatbuilding guides for three separate crafts we have designed for the various states and hydrologic features of the Don River. These three boats revolve around the River punt, a small, flat-bottomed skiff. Built with the public over the duration of the project, in an ad hoc fashion, these designs connect with Mare Liberum’s work using found, salvaged, and landfill-diverted recycled materials as an ecological practice and orientation in the collective’s work.

The three buildable boats are: small scale river punt, perfect for one or two people to navigate shallow waterways; a 16’ punt suitable for a group of of 3, 4, or 5 people; and a catamaran for exploring the coastline of Lake Ontario based on a similar design which could serve as a platform for art + science research, performances, or rest and recuperation. Each boat form can be built from scrap and salvaged plywood in the space of a weekend by anyone, who can manage small tools some of which can be picked up for free by interested parties from the Evergreen Brick Works site.

Get in touch with us if you’d like to receive boat plans and materials (first come, first served).