Point of Origin
This evolving multidisciplinary series takes cues from the connections between sound, behavior and human emotion.The sounds of aviation, such as military planes and helicopters, have long been part of the fabric of my life. My father served as a military pilot and I grew up on or near military bases.The sounds that carried my father away to serve on an aircraft carrier for nine months and to serve in Dessert Storm, resurfaced on his return.These sounds represent nostalgia, as well as both hope and fear.
In San Antonio, I lived under the direct paths of military training routes and the air ambulance system, and in Houston I find myself looking skyward again, following the red helicopters of Memorial Hermann’s Life Flight crews. My concerns for those inside, sparked memories and growing curiosity led me to Memorial Hermann to begin a conversation about a collaboration, and, with their data, I began my evolving “Point of Origin” project, seeking to honor those involved in these life-saving missions, bear witness to the patients in their care, and record the routes from the five bases that support the Houston area.
This series currently includes data driven textile and thread sculptures, photographic self-portraits, data driven kinetic sculptures, animations based on patient vitals, that draw upon personal observations, cartography, and the mechanics of the helicopter and those involved in the nearly 330 flights completed in just one month of Life Flight.
Point of Origin connects us through our shared human experience and creates spaces for contemplation and engagement regarding our individual health, our global health, and our health care system.
Mechanics of Flight, West
PVC coated polyester, pine, string
60 x 63 x 10 inches
Transitory Observations - South #1, 2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
16 x 23 inches
Transitory Observations - South #2,2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
16 x 23 inches
Echo 1, 2020
Archival pigment print on metallic paper - one patient’s heartrate and breath rate collected on Life Flight
20 x 24 inches
Echo 2, 2020
Archival pigment print on metallic paper - one patient’s heartrate and breath rate collected on Life Flight
20 x 24 inches
Echo 3, 2020
Archival pigment print on metallic paper - one patient’s heartrate and breath rate collected on Life Flight
20 x 24 inches
Inspiration/Expiration, 2019
4 channel algorithm generated sound installationof recorded artist’s breaths, 4 speakers, audio mixer, 2 amps
Dimensions Variable
Black Box, 2020
Thermal printer, paper, wood, Arduino - heart rate andbreath rate data collected from eleven patients on Life Flight
7 x 5 x 7 inches
Recorded Breath, 2020
Archival pigment print
24.5 x 29 inches
Recorded Beats, 2020
Archival pigment print
29 x 24.5 inches
Pulse Wave 1, 2020
Hand woven stainless steel, stainless steel, thread -one patient’s heart rate and blood pressure collected on Life Flight
14 x 20 x 5 inches
Pulse Wave 2, 2020
Hand woven stainless steel, stainless steel, thread -one patient’s heart rate and blood pressure collected on Life Flight
11 x 18 x 2.5 inches
Life Support, 2020
TPU plastic medical sleeves, steel actuators, acrylic box,Arduino, LED lights, electronic components, wood, breathrate and heart rate data from four patients collected on Life Flight
Variable dimensions
Vitals, 2020
Graphite drawing on mylar - heart rates and breathrates of five patients collected on Life Flight
69 x 12 inches
Mechanics of Flight - East, 2019
PVC coated polyester, pine, string
62 x 69 x 10 inches
Transitory Observations - North #2, 2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
16 x 23 inches
Transitory Observations - South #3,2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
16 x 23 inches
Mechanics of Flight - South, 2019
PVC coated polyester, pine, string
58 x 64 x 10 inches
Transitory Observations - EAST #2,2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
22 x 30 incheS
Transitory Observations - West #1,2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
22 x 30 inches
Transitory Observations - West #4,2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
22 x 30 inches
Transitory Observations - East #4,2019
Debossed monoprint on Lenox 100% cotton paper
22 x 30 inches
Mechanics of Flight - North, 2019
PVC coated polyester, pine, string
60 x 63 x 10 inches
