2014

Approx. 240" h x 180" w x 8" d

Reclaimed redwood, found objects, tempered glass.

The concept for “A Healing Home” evolved from a process that I explored using transparent collage on glass panes.  These panes were then framed by windows and doors and embellished with found objects that created a narrative portrait of a particular place. Telling the story of a place is very much like telling the story of a person.  I listen and hear the tales, but mostly I’ve learned to read between the lines of our complex lives that are enriched by universal contradictions of struggle and achievement.

My inspiration comes from materials that I intuitively assemble into visual narratives. Initially the doors and windows were composed as individual figurative forms.  But as the concept evolved, it took the shape of a house wall under construction. That became a beautiful metaphor for the surrounding MLK community as a place that is the collective home for healing. A search through the hospital’s archival photos added historical details and a diverse cultural perspective.  Although I had no idea what I would find, I was delighted to discover images like the unknown family of the first baby born at the hospital, and honored guests like Rosa Parks and Ray Charles.  Through collage, these known and unknown individuals added to the rich history of the hospital’s forty plus years of service to the South Los Angeles-Wilmington community.

Collaging these images onto glass required a new method of digital printing to achieve both the aesthetics and durability that were needed.  Objects added to these images brought a heightened sense of depth to the composition and created a vision that could inspire the viewer’s own memory and connection. Taken together, the piece evokes a healthy contemplation in the midst of what can often be an anxious waiting experience in a hospital.

Once I had a concept in mind, I needed to find my materials.  Some things like the windows and doors came from my studio, many of which were found in and around the South Central area.  The photos were edited from the archives from MLK and many of the objects were harvested from the Zorthian Ranch in Altadena where the artwork was assembled at The Z Ranch Studios.  A few items, like the baby shoes and the scooter, came from flea markets.  The wood is known as Clear Heart, a deep reddish brown and beautifully grained redwood.  To find the quality of wood that also had the history and integrity of the found objects, I sought local reclaimed wood sources.  This reclaimed redwood originally came from a dismantled 150-year-old bridge in Bakersfield, CA.  A single beam allowed me to acquire all the re-milled pieces you see In the artwork.  The timber company has dated the redwood at approximately 1,500 years old!! So it is from a tree that has lived many lives.

I have always been drawn to architectural forms, especially from the everyday dwellings that we live in and call home.  These spaces are filled with memories and the relics of people who’ve inhabited them.  Though sometimes seen as just the discards of our consumption, once cleaned and assembled into the harmony of a story, they become beautiful symbols.  For example, the variety of circles and wheels displayed speak to the idea of mobility but also to the cycles of life.  Aesthetically, their patina of rust, the aged paint and the darkened wood expose many ages of functional use. I also find that the contrast between materials is an essential visual contradiction where the rust and the shine of chrome together create harmony.

“A Healing Home ” is the call and you the viewer are the response. I welcome all of you to share your memories and stories with us. That is what truly brings this artwork to life.