"Pirate Cindy" poked fun of the art world and the most hated and feared art critic of the time, Charlie Finch, an art-world "Pirate". Finch co wrote "Most Art Sucks" and the "Coagula" journals.
In this installation, Tower's pickup truck was transformed into a pirate ship, actors were hired with real parrots on their shoulders to cuss at the audience. Viewers gazed at seascapes and pirate/art critic portraits through a veneer of alcohol bottles. Rum and coke was served.

Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 4
Gang plank with artist pallet
1998
mixed

"Pirate Cindy" show at Trans Hudson Gallery, NYC
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 6
View through ship railings

"Pirate Cindy" at TransHudson Gallery, New York City

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 8
Side view of ship
1998
mixed

"Pirate Cindy" show at TransHudson Gallery, New York City
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 10
Art in America

Review by Janet Koplas

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 12
Back end of "Pirate Ship"
1998
mixed

Artist turned pickup truck into a pirate ship using gallery columns as masts and canvas as sails. All truck parts were incorporated. Truck's front end was gilded and transformed into a "Treasure Chest" in the second room.
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 14
Time Out

Review by Linda Yablonsky

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 16
Sails
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 18
View showing captain's walk with cabin door ajar

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 20
Cab interior
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 22
Ship cabin interior

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 24
Cabin interior with photos of truck in its youth
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 26
Cabin interior

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 28
Side door with map
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 30
Pirate Muffler/flag

"Pirate Cindy" Installation at TransHudson Gallery, New York City

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 32
Painted Truck Seat

Detail Women Pirates painted on truck seats, Piraqte Cindy, TransHudson Gallery, New York, NY
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 34
Dismantling Truck in front of 56 South 11th Street, Brooklyn, NY

Making "Pirate Cindy" show

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 36
Treasure chest; side view
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 38
Treasure chest/ truck front end with gilded engine parts

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 40
Painted pirate treasure/truck parts
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 42
Gold ship compass

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 44
"Peg leg" stick shift
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 46
Ship Anchor made from truck engine

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 48
Installation Shot
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 50
Cannon from truck axle

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Oil paint and photos of dealers, artists and collectors in bottles on canvas
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 52
Octopus
1998
Oil paint and photos of dealers, artists and collectors in bottles on canvas

"Pirate Cindy" Series
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 54
Octopus Detail showing Dennis Hopper in bottle in Bottle
1998
mixed

"Pirate Cindy" exhibition

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 56
Tatoo
1998
mixed
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 58
Tatoo Detail of shoulder

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 60
Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest
1998
Mixed

"Pirate Cindy" series
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" mixed
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 62
Detail Fifteen Men on a Deadman's Chest
1998
mixed

Detail showing artist's father in center bottom bottle

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Oil, bottle, photo on canvas
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 64
Wreck
1997
Oil, bottle, photo on canvas

From the "Pirate Cindy" series; painted at Chaffinch State Park, CT
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Oil, muscles, bottle with photo on canvas
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 66
Portrait of Charlie Finch
1997
Oil, muscles, bottle with photo on canvas

Portrait of the most hated and feared New York art critic at the time, coauthor of the Coagula journals and book titled, "Most Art Sucks"

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Oil, bottles, photos, song on canvas
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 68
Bring Back, Bring Back
1997
Oil, bottles, photos, song on canvas

From the "Pirate Cindy" series
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Oil, muscles on canvas
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 70
Muscle Man
1998
Oil, muscles on canvas

From "Pirate Cindy" Series

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy" Oil on canvas
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 72
Portrait of Luke Rodney
1997
Oil on canvas

From the Pirate series
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 74
Ransom

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 76
Flotsome and Jetsome
Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 78
I dream of Jeanie

Portrait of Charlie Finch with Jeanie Deans of the Sidney Janis Gallery, NYC

Cindy Tower Installation, "Pirate Cindy"
Installation, Pirate Cindy" ,  article artwork image 80
Portrait with bird