Ant Float Dream Boat

Ant Float Dream Boat | “Ants Together, Ants Forever”

BMCM+AC {re}Happening 13 | Lake Eden | Black Mountain, NC  

5/3/2025

For our 11th {re}Happening, we paid homage to ants and how collectively and cooperatively they work together to create a phenomenon called the “ant raft”, allowing them to remain afloat for weeks, caring for each other,  until dry land is reached and their community can rebuild. 

Through explorations in innertubes (“inner tutus”) and pool noodles, we built an antigravitational miniature/giant ant float on Lake Eden with wind enhanced visuals.  At sunset (8:19), an illuminated ant ballet was performed on the water, accompanied by music,  projections, and synchronized movements that guided and invited the participant-observers on the shore to dream as ANTS TOGETHER, ANTS FOREVER. 

Ant Float Dream Boat draws inspiration from Black Mountain College's Build program, surface tension, the choreography of Esther Williams and Busby Berkeley, “the cheerio effect”, geodesic domes, eusociality, mermaid shows, marionettes, spinnakers, migration, the anti-architectural “inflatables” of art collective Ant Farm, tractor square dancing, and actual ants.

Video by Infinite Wow !