Sandison activates the words of 18th-century ship captains' logs to create an immersive environment drawing upon the trade routes, politics, competition and voices that led to the founding of the museum and the origins of PEM's remarkable collection. Organized by PEM's Curator of Contemporary Art, Trevor Smith, this installation marks the first in a series of contemporary art interventions in PEM's FreePort initiative.

Exhibition made possible in part by donors to the FreePort Fund: Terry and Dick Albright, Jeffrey Beale, Heather Cairns, Raj Malhotra/Art 2020 and Nancy Tieken. The FreePort Host Committee: Sam and Tracey Byrne, Darrell and Nancy Crate, Kim and Jon Guerster, Sean and Kerry Healey, Tom and Monica Healey, Jay and Kate Horgen, and Jeffrey F. Rayport and Hillary Hedges Rayport. Additional support provided by ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations) and the East India Marine Associates (EIMA) of the Peabody Essex Museum.