Mixed Media

2016

This installment was located in the Kingswood building of Cranbrook Upper School. Using wood and hand-dyed cotton sheets, with various hand-made dyes, I created an enclosure intended for relaxation. As one stepped inside Paradise, they could hear the sound of ocean waves playing on a nearby speaker. They sat in a beach chair and their feet sank into the sand. The fabric around them moved in a wave-like motion, and they felt a soft breeze thanks to the fan on the exterior. In front of them, they saw a small bronze palm tree and a small wax volcano. Spewing out of the volcano was water vapor scented with Orange, Lemongrass, and Rosemary oils. Beyond that was a sheet dyed to look like a sun setting over an ocean. As an option, there was a second speaker available to play that connected to a playlist of relaxing music, including songs produced by myself. This installation remained available to all for 40 days. Not much on the outside but inside was a whole new world. View the video for a small taste of the experience. The bronze palm tree sculpture is shown out of context for a more detailed view.