Sacred Space: Current Projects in Progress

to find out more about my thesis, check out my blog
any feedback would be much appreciated!


some quotes that may contextualize the work...

This is my most recent project - no description here - check my thesis paper out!

While i may not do all of the following, here is a list of the projects and links to the descriptions or pictures:





Sacred Space: Sacrarium #1

any feedback would be much appreciated!


i would like this project to undergo many incarnations. it would be fun to install it all over the place and see how people react.


see a video of the installation at zed.cbc.ca

This piece consists of custom made, hand printed caution tape with the caption "GOD IS IN HERE" designating a square of "sacred space" that measures 15" x 15" or 10 cubits2. The dimensions are taken from the "Holy of Holies" which is the central area of the tabernacle of the ancient Hebrews, too holy for any common person to access. The priest enters once a year with the strong possibility of not coming out again. In CS Lewis' The Last Battle, Lewis asks a lot of the same questions around who gets to frame sacred space and the misuses of various claims. One of the oft repeated lines, used by some parties to intimidate and gain power and by others to claim that no one can control or even face Aslan is that "he is not a tame lion."

The piece brings sacred space into any context, or frames any space as sacred. Similar to Tom Friedman's "The Curse," (where he got a witch to curse a sphere 28cm in diameter, 28cm above a plinth) the viewer is challenged to project their own preconceived ideas of god or sacred into the space. The piece allows interaction in the form of exclusion as it is a physical barrier, but it also was seen by some ‘vusers' as an invitation to sit inside the tape and meditate, to contribute money, and other interactions. It was interesting to see others project their own meaning onto the piece and ask their own questions. Throughout the day, clusters of people would gather nearby and discuss ideas of space, church and religion. In addition, the empty space in the middle, plus the idea of caution tape, implies a sense of work in progress; that something is developing here.

related works

Tom Friedman, "The Curse" (2000); The Geo Group, "Ley Line Map of Seattle" (1988); Biefer/Zgraggen, "God" (1998); Kanarinka & Ikatun, "Alley 818," & "The Institute for Infinitely Small Things;" Blackbelt Jones' warchalking of wifi networks.

related links:

HUMAN AURA WIFI AURA LEY LINES WARCHALKING
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Sacred Space: Sacrarium #2: prayer tent

any feedback would be much appreciated!


This piece is a small canvas tent for isolation and contemplation. A tent is portable (implying nomadic) by nature and as a designation of sacred space is peculiar for this reason. Similar to the caution tape, it designates a space, without a very substantial physical structure. The difference with this piece, is that while it could be viewed in a very similar way as the first, it actually offers an immersive experience on the inside, separate from the rest of the world. Many artists have worked before in the parameters of an isolated space for an individual, but usually create some sort of ‘isolation chamber' style pod. The difference here is that it offers some isolation and protection but is flimsy and offers mostly just a "blind" – out of sight, out of mind. In isolation, the ‘vuser' has a chance for introspection and contemplation. However, they are not removed to a monastery (Absalon) and dislocated from the rest of reality. Instead they are offered a brief chance to step lightly aside for a few moments wherever the tent may be.

related works:

Room of Silence in the Brandenburg Gate (1994); Tobias Rehbergers, "Me Shell" (2004); Tadao Ando, "Church of the Light," "Church on the Water;" Andrea Zittel's "A-Z escape vehicles" (1996); Absalon's "Cellule" (1991-92); Lee Bul's pods.

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Sacred Space: Sacrarium #3: alleyway

any feedback would be much appreciated!


An alleyway is the setting for a film projection loop of a waterfall on one of the walls with a misting hose above the projection. The mist catches the light and produce dampness and run-off, as well as providing a more immersive experience for the ‘viewser.' This piece talks about superimposition of the natural (albeit a made image) on the human-made which is superimposed on the natural.

Kanarinka reclaims an alleyway for art space in "Alley 818" as it is a non-space, ignored by those who pass by and even through the space. L'hirondelle reclaims airspace for the birds by climbing stairwells of buildings in cities, chalking messages at the top of the stairwell and broadcasting pirate radio from the roof. This piece intends to ask some of the same questions but to frame them in the light of the natural and the sacred.

Related works:

Kanarinka, "Alley 818", Tony Oursler, Bill Viola, Doug Aitkin, Murray Favro, cheryl l'hirondelle, "for the birds."

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Sacred Space: Sacrarium #4: jump site

any feedback would be much appreciated!


Related works:

Tony Oursler, Murray Favro, Biefer/Zgraggen, "God" (1998)

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Sacred Space: Sacrarium #5: death is a baptism of maggots

any feedback would be much appreciated!


A video projection of maggots from the ceiling down onto a double bed with a white fitted sheet and a single white pillow on it are the only objects in a darkened room. The ‘vuser' is offered the opportunity to take a "baptism" in the maggots, lying on the bed to consider death. Baptism is symbolic of ‘descent' to death (confronting mortality) and return to life. Ani Difranco refers to her own body like this: "I got it on loan from the time in between my mom and some maggots."

Related works:

Tony Oursler, Murray Favro, Biefer/Zgraggen, "God" (1998)

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sculpture: ring for love

any feedback would be much appreciated!


A small stand (2" tall) holding a tiny cymbal and mallet with the inscription "ring for love" on the stand. The bell ("ring for service") on the desk of the receptionist announces loudly to anyone nearby an individuals need for help. Taking this context away into a new setting, anyone who wants to ring the cymbal can, but has to admit a basic human need to others around them. This piece could work both as a stand alone and inside the prayer tent where others can hear but not know the significance until they also venture into the tent. Based in part on 1 Corinthians 13:1: "If I speak the languages of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Related works:

Tony Oursler, Murray Favro, Biefer/Zgraggen, "God" (1998)

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video: travelling

any feedback would be much appreciated!


"Traveling" takes footage from a trip to India and reframes certain moments as sacred.

hopefully this video will be posted at Zed soon where you can see some of my work... search for 'squish'

Related works:

Doug Aitken, Bill Viola, Coldcut, Hexistatic

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video: tree meditation

any feedback would be much appreciated!


"Tree mediation" takes footage from various places including my wife's mother's house in the country and my parents' cottage. Both are places of contemplation and refuge/retreat. The footage is abstracted from the original to reframe it as a meditation.

hopefully this video will be posted at Zed soon where you can see some of my work... search for 'squish'

Related works:

Doug Aitken, Bill Viola, Coldcut, Hexistatic

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video: city/country meditation

any feedback would be much appreciated!


"City/country meditation" draws from a conversation with an old friend who I ran into by chance while traveling in New Zealand. We ended up having a conversation that went hours into the night. His position was that he had met God in isolation, in nature, and that it was not really possible for anyone in the city to know or understand God. I countered that if knowing God through "creation" was the only way, how could you write off people and the city, where people gather? This meditation is a meditative comparison of meditation in the city and in the country.

hopefully this video will be posted at Zed soon where you can see some of my work... search for 'squish'

Related works:

Doug Aitken, Bill Viola, Coldcut, Hexistatic

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bottled jesus

any feedback would be much appreciated!


a potrait of jesus made from small bottles filled with dye. made for my ART, SCIENCE & NATURE class but also thesis related.

Related works:

Maurice Bennet (toast portraiture), accidental sightings at Re:Jesus.co.uk

click here to see more pictures...
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Quotes:

"The Museum often takes the place of churches and what they offered in the past.
It is a space where you can try to find your presence."

- Pipilotti Rist, Outer & Inner Space

"The connection between club culture and installation is no accident. . .
The ambience in clubs is at once introspective, immersive and social;
these spaces provide compelling examples of human activity which may cross
over into the production and reception of art."

- Installation art in the new millennium

"The need for ritual and the practice of ritual have not declined,
on the contrary, they have intensified and increased
as institutionalized forms have lost their appeal and effectiveness."
"What is the experience of ritual after all?
Is it not the act of entering into the presence of the Holy?"

- Bani Shorter, Susceptible to the Sacred: The Psychological Experience of Ritual

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