The USS Vandenberg has had many purposes in its life, but has recently taken on a completely new purpose. After its successful sinking in May 2009, the Vandenberg is part transformative art gallery, part artificial reef thanks to efforts of Austrian artist, Andreas Franke.

A year after Franke explored the Vandenberg, he developed an artistic concept which had never been done before. He saw his images, taken on his dive, filled with stories via people added to the deserted decks. His work became the world’s first underwater transformative art exhibit on an artificial reef.

The grand ship had moved him. Now, his artwork is doing the same for divers from all over the world who come to explore the depths of the Vandenberg, because his artwork is being displayed on the popular artificial reef.
In 2010, Franke did several dives and shot multiple pictures. This was the beginning of “Life below the Surface”, Franke concept of an underwater art gallery. When he returned home to Austria and examined the photos, Franke decided he wanted to add life to the ship. He says there was so much marine life around the ship it seemed natural to add people to his photos.

Franke created composite images taking the photos he shot underwater and layering them with images of people he took in his studio. What developed were these otherworldly images appearing to make the ship come alive. After seeing what he had created, Franke took it one step further and requested the artwork be actually hung on the ship itself.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary agreed.

In August 2011, the artwork was hung and divers can now benefit from a special experience. There are 12 images placed on the Vandenberg which was sunk 100 ft. below sea level approximately seven miles south of Key West.

The photos show every day scenes from past times. The images are encased between sheets of Plexiglass with a stainless steel frame, and a silicone seal keeps out the water. The images are attached to the ship by strong magnets granting damage free removal after the exhibition ends.

Captain Joe Weatherby, co-owner of Reef Makers, and instrumental in the sinking of the Vandenberg, worked for 12 years securing permits, raising money and preparing the ship for its May 2009 sinking. He met with Joanne Delaney, who handles permitting for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in order to help with the project. “I knew the permitting process for reefs,” says Weatherby. “I met with the Marine Sanctuary representatives in order to facilitate the process and discovered permits would be necessary if we were doing work on the ocean bottom.”

Weatherby says the images were installed where all the dive boats and dive masters take their divers. Divers can easily pull themselves along the railing and see the exhibit,” Weatherby said. Weatherby encourages dive charter operators to take advantage of showing the exhibit to divers visiting the area. “It is a one of a kind exhibit and won’t be there forever.”

For more info on the exhibit visit www.staudinger-franke.com/vandenberg/view/galery.php ■