Niagara Falls: ZapMan

Niagara Falls:
Zapman Meets The Great Blondin & The Pirate, Michigan, 2004
Alberta Foundation for the Arts Collection

In 1827, The Pirate, Michigan, a lake schooner was filled
with various caged animals, mostly domestic, and set adrift
over the Horseshoe Falls of Niagara as a tourist promotion.
In 1859, the Great Blondin first crossed the Gorge via tight-
rope. And in 1896, Nicola Tesla visited the Cataract Power Plant,
site of the historic installation of his polyphase motors.
Inspired by the events above and numerous other stunts, but
primarily Mr. Tesla’s technological dreams, Niagara Falls:
Zapman Meets The Great Blondin & The Pirate, Michigan, with
water-filled polymer penstock and operational electric lights,
came to be.



Construction Information
(23 x 17.5 x 4")

Interior:
White acrylic painted balsa wood framework
supports interior Glass, Five Polymer water-filled
tubes. 2-110 Volt Metal Covers. Metal Animals and
Blondin on a wire.
Collage Interior walls are varnished ink jet photoshop
images and painted plaster.

Exterior:
3/4” Clear Pine box stained and varnished
with 7/8” Maple frame and glass secured by
ten screws.
Power Box (3x1.25x1.75”) (7.50x3.13x4.38cm)
1/4” Poplar stained and varnished.
9 Volt battery operates five 1.5volt lights.
Rear Panel 1/4” Fir Plywood stained and varnished.
Copy of 1827 Advertisement for The Pirate, Michigan
thumbtacked and varnished with Zapman Icons.