What are we going to do with all the bodies?

I happened to be on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean when Hurricane Katrina made landfall. It was my first experience of a hurricane. Within days it destroyed the poorest area of New Orleans and exposed the world to the persisting race and class divide, unspeakable poverty, neglect, and violence in America. I will never forget seeing photographs dead bodies that were left behind in the streets or strapped to telephone poles by officials as the water retreated.

It made me think of all of the things that elected officials are putting off repairing, much like the levee that broke- year to year. And about how the poorest people are the ones that live in the most dangerous places in these cities, because those with money can move to safety. In the coming years and coming natural disasters and lack of revenue- more structural problems will come to light, just as a roof will cave when leaks aren't repaired.

It just makes you wonder, what are those things that our local governments are putting off repairing till the next years agenda? And what are we going to do with all the bodies?

Division and Western

Create a Natural Environment

dimensions variable
mixed media (dead trees, latex house paint, wire)
2005

This earth art piece was done in 2005 at a forest preserve in Shenyang, China for the International Horticultural Expo held in 2006. This project evolved from concept to installation over the course of a week in which the entire length of 10 dead trees (from roots to branch tips) were painted fuscia and suspended sideways throughout a small valley on either side of a stream and was designed to be view from a naturalized foot-bridge in the forest. Its materials, color, and composition addressed the irony of human desire to create a natural environment, when the point of nature is that it is not man-made.

1997-2004

1997-2004.2’x3’ shadow box and 8.5”X11” itemized list
photographs, mixed media (found objects from travel)


Two items, a shadow box and a frame with an itemized list of the date and location of each photo. Under each picture is a corresponding figure number. Photos were taken locally and on road trips across the country. Patterns emerge such as a missile in a parking lot in Kentucky, and a subdivision in New Mexico, Collections of shoes nailed up a telephone pole and stickers from a museum going up a crosswalk signal post. Objects around the border came from many of the trips and walking places.