Kinetic mechanical whale sculpture honors the island’s history while reimagining the relationship between man and these majestic aquatic mammals
In 2012, Mark and Gwenn Snider wrapped up a complete restoration of The Nantucket Hotel & Resort, one of the island’s landmark properties located just a few blocks from the Nantucket Town Pier, Straight Wharf, and the downtown shopping district.
Originally built in 1891, the new owners’ goal of the renovation was to pay tribute to its unique history and offer visitors an authentic experience combining relaxed luxury with the simple joys of a bygone era. With that in mind, the redesigned interior offers the classic style of coastal New England architecture with all the comforts and connectivity desired by modern day travelers.
Six foot Steampunk Whale mounted behind front desk in the hotel lobby.
At the height of its prosperity, Nantucket was considered the whaling capital of world. While the industry was crucial to the local economy, it is not necessarily a history anyone wishes to repeat. In fact, over time the resources that whaling provided have been replaced by numerous alternatives and as fortune would have it, the hunting of whales has been greatly reduced and monitored on a global scale.
Despite some of the negative aspects in history, there is still a sense of historic significance and prominence to the place that was once a world-renowned port and commerce center. To tackle the challenge of bringing a touch of this local history to the hotel’s aesthetic, Bruce Rosenbaum, owner of ModVic, LLC was contracted to create a moving, interactive sculpture in the hotel’s lobby to honor the past and resonate with the hotel guests of today.
“When I approach a Steampunk project, I often start my thought process with the phrase ‘What If’ ” said Rosenbaum. “In this case, we had to think – What if rather than hunting these beautiful creatures to the brink of extinction, we instead thought about ‘making’ whales by inventing a new submarine in the shape of a whale that could be used for transportation, tourism and unique underwater experiences…”
Concept drawing of kinetic sculpture by Mike Libby
Thus, was born the concept of the mechanical Steampunk whale, constructed of aluminum, stainless steel, wood, and brass with moving gears and windows for passengers’ viewing enjoyment. Although built as a model of the full- fledge vehicle, visitors and hotel guests are invited to imagine a life size version that could transport people and cargo.
Located behind the front desk in the hotel lobby, the sculpture’s mouth and tail are set in motion at the push of a button hidden within a ship’s binnacle on the reception area counter. The periscope on top of the sculpture houses a small webcam that monitors activities in the lobby. A nearby sitting area invites visitors to watch a short “behind-the-scenes” video documenting the project.
This sculpture represents the first collaborative project between Rosenbaum and Sam Ostroff, owner of Salmon Studios, LLC in Florence, MA.
Melanie Rosenbaum (left) and Gwenn Snider (right) with “Punky” the whale.
Working with unique, fluid metallic shapes and moving gears and parts are a specialty of ModVic and Salmon Studios. Some areas of the sculpture’s metal facade were intentionally cut away to allow guests to view the inner working mechanics.
In 2018, the Steampunk Whale was highlighted in an Architectural Digest (AD) magazine article. During the last 4 to 5 years, the sculpture has become a “Hit” on the island, with tourists stopping by just to see and activate the whale (and maybe to also enjoy a meal at the Breeze Restaurant).
As an artistic Instagrammable Moment “attraction” – the kinetic whale sculpture has benefitted the hotel’s promotional efforts.
“We worked with Bruce to create the right image for that important first impression,” said hotel owner Mark Snider. “When you come into the lobby the whale is there to greet you. It’s whimsical, it’s fun, it’s traditional for Nantucket, but it’s different. We’re a family destination and the whale has come to mean a lot of things to different people.”
The Nantucket Hotel & Resort is a family-centric destination.
“Almost before the building (renovation) began we had conversations about the whale,” Snide rsaid. “It was a massive effort to complete the construction in just four months. The first sign of a bright light at the end of the tunnel is when the whale was installed and everyone started to feel like we had actually pulled this off.”
Fabrication and welding at Salmon Studios in Florence, MA
