Paschimottanasana: Mapping Staten Island 1988

Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Staten Island NY

We must take into account that perception ends by being the occasion for remembering. . .

Matter and Memory, Henri Bergson

Paschimottanasana / Mapping Staten started with a pencil drawing of STaten Island and then overlaying it on the yoga posture Paschimottanasana which is reminiscent of the shape of Staten Island.

The exhibition, Paschimottanasana / Mapping Staten Island is arranged in massive rectangular patterns, covering all the available wall space throughout the gallery. It is constituted from 2,222 modifying printed images that are arranged in vertical rows from light to dark. These rows create waves of changing color and density around each room and along the hallway. Each image contains the name of one of Staten Island's 2,222 streets.

The streets of Staten Island are the physical grid that determines its space and form. Thus as you walk through the galleries the walls create  an environment that sings Staten Island into existence.