There are Many Ways to Ask a Question, 2026

This piece is about transformation and inquiry. The found objects were salvaged from the abandoned estate of a wealthy 20th century family: raw and burnt coal, an improvised well pump and tubing, and a piece of roundleaf bittersweet vine. The built components include lighting, lenses, and 3 plaster castings which have been coated with paper pulp made from notes that were taken by visitors to this site who were prompted to think about the past, present, and future of the estate grounds. As an assemblage, I hope it prompted viewers to look closely (through the lens), step back and think (via the projected light), and ask questions about why I selected these particular materials to tell a story about a crumbling estate with a complicated past and many possible futures.