Tokitae's Reality is a poignant mixed reality experience that immerses participants in the stark confines of captivity endured by Tokitae - a Southern Resident orca whale captured in the Salish Sea and held in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium for over 50 years - highlighting the urgent need for the ethical treatment and release of captive marine life.
Digital Mixed Reality 3D Installation
Real world dimensions - 22' length x 8.8' wide x 3.1'- 6' high
Digital Tools:
Blender 3D (modeling)
Adobe Aero (location placement and experiential placement accessible through a QR code scan)
Apple Reality Composer Pro
Tokitae's Reality
2023
In 2022, I created Tokitae’s Reality, a mixed reality installation that shines a light on the life of Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut (pronounced “Ska-lee-chel-ten-ot”), also known as Tokitae or by her performance name, Lolita—an orca who spent over five decades in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium. Developed and tested as a virtual pop-up on a beach in Treasure Island, Florida, the project allowed participants to step into a human-scaled recreation of Tokitae’s confined tank, offering an unflinching, immersive encounter with the ethical realities of cetacean captivity.
During the testing phase, more than 80 individuals walked through alpha and beta versions of the virtual tank. Each participant confronted Tokitae’s story firsthand and engaged with an integrated “click-to-call Miami Seaquarium” feature, taking direct action to advocate for her release.
Although Tokitae tragically passed away before she could return to her home waters, Tokitae’s Reality continues to spark empathy and inspire collective action for the freedom of captive cetaceans. The installation also casts a vital light on the Southern Resident Orcas—Tokitae’s family—an endangered population urgently in need of our protection to prevent their extinction.
2025 INSTALLATIONS
July 15-17 - Brickworks Event Center, Friday Harbor, WA
July 18 - San Juan County Park, San Juan Island, WA
July 19 - Eastsound Village Green, Orcas Island, WA
July 20 - Moran State Park, Orcas Island, WA