Fragments of Place

Fragments of Place is a personal reflection of my temporal existence: 

Leaves collected from places which hold special importance in my life 

woven in a tapestry of place. 

The main collection of leaves comes from my husband’s childhood home

a place that has become home to me and my children

as we have become part of his life, his family. 

Leaves from the town where we were married

where we grew up as college students

where I found employment years later.

These were inserted in to the fabric

woven together with grass from our current residence. 

This place is the only place my children know as home. 

Blades of grass are used to construct the tapestry

not entirely visible

building its internal structure. 

The tapestry of leaves gradates in color

fresh green morphs into red

red fades to black. 

It was carefully placed

propped gently against two crossing vines

draping down to carpet the earth in a park where I used to play as a child. 

Rich, black, soil, excavated from the site flows around the black leaves anchoring it to the ground. 

From this soil leaves which had been collected and pressed

radiate in a colorful gradation

then fade to black.

The unity of materials will quickly dry

decay

turn to dust

in the way I have left my own dust in each of these places

and traces of dust from each place has stayed with me.

This journey began as separation

analysis of the soil dug from the place of childhood play. 

Bits of decaying leaves, roots, seeds, shells

were isolated in individual, pristine, housings. 

Separated parts were reunited with their home

photographed in their new pristine housing

           on the contrasting backdrop of the soil from which it was removed.   

Install Day