winged/wingless NIKE
2022
Nylon denier fabric, air blower. 

1 of 2 site-specific works for washed ashore at Fort Tilden, curated by Adrienne Greenblatt.

Fort Tilden beach was an occupied military space for nearly a century.

While active, the shoreline operated as the Nike missile site NY-49. The Nike missiles, in reference to the winged goddess Nike, were established as a response to cold war tensions to display US militaristic power and capitalism.

No nuclear warhead was ever fired. The fort was eventually sold to the National Park Service in the 70’s to become the present public beach — now a haven for queer folx and an unofficial nude beach.



©Michelle Lee Johnson2024