THE OCEAN OF BLOOD refers to the first incarnation of the goddess Kali, in an older form of Hinduism, where she is depicted as a formless void, a primordial ocean from which all the matter that makes up the world was conceived.

SWIMMING CITIES is a diverse and evolving collaboration of artists, builders, and visionaries who come together each year to embark on a challenging large-scale project. Originally united through our common friendship and talent by the international artist Swoon, the group traces its roots back to the DIY raft project on the Mississippi River, the "Miss Rockaway Armada".

Taking on a new waterway, the project creates a vivid community of artists floating into towns to present an inspiring, interactive environment that encompasses art, sculpture, music and performance. The multi-layered and uncommon talents of our members inspire us to continuously look for new ways to materialize our style of unique living art.

This year’s project is our most ambitious and far-reaching yet, as we travel farther from home, and expand to include larger-scale collaborations. We have built a fleet of small sculptural rivercraft which interlock to form a floating island platform(THE RADIAL), on the Ganges River in India. Starting at D.N.D.G. art college in Farrukhabad, we will work for the first time with local industry and artistry to create our traveling art environment and performance venue. In a cultural exchange with local South Asian artists and artisans, we will stop in towns and villages as we traverse the river, collaborating with local craftsmen to customize and embellish our boats in the local style. We'll arrive complete in Varanasi, 400 miles downriver, said to be the oldest living city in the world. On its banks the boats will merge to form a floating island theater, on which we will present a visual and musical event themed on the experiences of our adventure and the boundless historical & cultural richness of the land.

Our crew of ten leaves for New Delhi on September 20th 2011! See the SUPPORT page to find out how you can help us get on our way...