Every day we are surrounded by objects—things created for a purpose and then discarded very often without any thought to their final destination or possible reapplication. I was initially struck by this idea when I lived in Chicago, where on my daily trek I viewed the relics of what society once deemed important—from the broken fan in the alley, to the pile of bricks that once was a garage. I was fascinated by the idea that people at one time invested their money in the objects they now so freely discarded. True, these items had aged and begun to deteriorate, but I was possessed by their beauty and unknown histories, and wanted to extend their purpose.

I began collecting materials for my latest installation Sleep Easy Tonight several years ago. Initially, I had no vision for their reapplication,
but the direction became obvious in the fall of 2001. After the attacks in September of that year, I was horrified that we were asked as patriots to go shopping as a response to terrorism. Our elected leader’s proclamation demonstrated a calculated lack of respect for the electorate. I found their response was no different from the other advertisers materials I had been collecting prior to that terrible day.

We are constantly reminded that we are the greatest country in the world, and as such, we should set an example by taking a few moments to honor the place where we live. By acknowledging the common objects that make up our collective America, we might all develop a greater sense of community and unity. Preservation of our daily existence is key to my work.