Gate Keepers

K-Street, Washington D.C.

2010

Like ruins from another time, deterioration has a haunting way of reminding us of the past. No one will deny that decrepit and condemned buildings mar an urban landscape, but with this installation I aspire to reclaim the cultural identity associated with dying inner city structures.

Constructed with found material and salvaged TVs, I erected a collapsing monument in a Northeast section of Washington, DC. In the heart of an area that finds itself rapidly changing, this cube structure will be a strong reminder that these hollow buildings reflect not only urban blight, but also community endurance. In an ever-changing metropolis, environments are constantly morphing. Using salvaged materials from the region, I built an object inspired by a city block that was razed in Washington, DC. Creating a conglomeration of architectural refuse, I evoked the nostalgia of a past location while embracing the potential inevitability of future development.

And in keeping with my video work I captured the soul of the area by creating video portraits of people who reside in the rapidly changing enclave. The simple question was asked’ “What do you think about the changes that are happening in your neighborhood?” The videos are a documentation of the physicality of their response. This modest and intimate video documents the residents and how they feel about the rapid development. With the images integrated in the assemblage, my project will be combination of new media and crude materials that I hope will illustrate a community’s capacity to persevere.

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