Coney Island waterboarding thrill ride
Encyclopedia
In the summer of 2008 conceptual art
ist Steve Powers conceived a work that came to be known as the Coney Island waterboarding thrill ride.
As originally conceived Powers saw the public watching volunteers undergoing actual waterboarding
.
The Washington Post reported that on August 17 2008 Powers brought in Mike Ritz, a former US official experienced in administering waterboarding, for a one time demonstration of waterboarding on volunteers.
This demonstration was not open to the general public, but rather for an invited audience.
Powers himself was on of the volunteers.
As built, the thrill ride
was a diorama, where viewers would mount stairs to a window where they would see a tableau of two models, one a captive, one a masked interrogator. The captive was wearing an orange uniform "non-compliant" captives wear in the United States
' Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
, and was spread-eagled on a tilted table.
When the piece was installed, in July 2008, viewers inserted a dollar the interrogator figure would pour water onto a rag over the captive figures' nose and throat, upon which the captive figure would start convulsing.
The piece was installed in a row of ordinary coney island freak shows and concessions
.
When installed the thrill ride triggered coverage and commentary around the world.
The installation's last viewing was on September 14, 2008.
Powers told The New York Times his purpose in preparing the display was educational:
Conceptual art
Conceptual art is art in which the concept or idea involved in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic and material concerns. Many of the works, sometimes called installations, of the artist Sol LeWitt may be constructed by anyone simply by following a set of written instructions...
ist Steve Powers conceived a work that came to be known as the Coney Island waterboarding thrill ride.
As originally conceived Powers saw the public watching volunteers undergoing actual waterboarding
Waterboarding
Waterboarding is a form of torture in which water is poured over the face of an immobilized captive, thus causing the individual to experience the sensation of drowning...
.
The Washington Post reported that on August 17 2008 Powers brought in Mike Ritz, a former US official experienced in administering waterboarding, for a one time demonstration of waterboarding on volunteers.
This demonstration was not open to the general public, but rather for an invited audience.
Powers himself was on of the volunteers.
As built, the thrill ride
Thrill ride
Thrill ride or Thrill Ride may refer to*Amusement ride*3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrill Ride*Thrill Ride, the 4th book in The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series....
was a diorama, where viewers would mount stairs to a window where they would see a tableau of two models, one a captive, one a masked interrogator. The captive was wearing an orange uniform "non-compliant" captives wear in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and was spread-eagled on a tilted table.
When the piece was installed, in July 2008, viewers inserted a dollar the interrogator figure would pour water onto a rag over the captive figures' nose and throat, upon which the captive figure would start convulsing.
The piece was installed in a row of ordinary coney island freak shows and concessions
Concession stand
A concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
.
When installed the thrill ride triggered coverage and commentary around the world.
The installation's last viewing was on September 14, 2008.
Powers told The New York Times his purpose in preparing the display was educational:
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