Riddle: “What is the biggest thing in the whole universe, yet can fit inside the palm of your hand?” Answer: “Nothing”

Both boxes are unattached to balance beam. The large box is 3 feet tall, 1.5 feet deep and 2 feet wide. The small box is a 1/4 scale model of the large box. Both boxes have tops that are hinged and unlocked. If the viewers want to find out what is inside the boxes 3 people are needed: one to hold each end and one to open the boxes. Care must be taken otherwise the boxes will fall off the balance beam. Both boxes are filled with a marshmallow cream product called, “Fluff”.

The exterior cabinet is 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep, and 2 feet tall. There are two scale models of it on the inside (the small one is inside the medium one). Each of those cabinets is on runners and can be pulled all the way out of the larger cabinet (though not shown in the picture…I didn’t know much about documentation back then!).

When the viewer first encounters the piece the second hand of the clock is bouncing of the red button, the light is off and the door is closed. If the door is opened the viewer will find a hole at about eye level. Looking into the hole the viewer sees what appears to be a star filled sky. This is achieved by having two mirrors facing each other inside of the clock. Both mirrors have many small holes drilled in them allowing tiny beams of light to enter the clock and reflect of the mirrors into infinity. The viewer would see their eyeball as opposed to the lens of the camera as is shown in the picture.

If the viewer presses the red button the clock is set into motion and a very bright light is activated inside of the clock thus making it impossible and painful for the viewer to look inside. The cabinet is glowing at this point, as all the holes that were letting light in now are letting light out. Once the button is pushed the piece cannot be restored to its initial state and due to the intense heat of the light, it slowly catches fire and decomposes itself.

There are two cabinets in the room that are joined by an electrical cord. The smaller cabinet is a half scale model of the larger one and there is a light bulb placed in between them. As viewers explore the piece they see that the top of the larger cabinet can be removed, the light bulb can be screwed into the top of the smaller one, and can be placed inside the larger one. Once the smaller cabinet is in place inside of the larger cabinet a bright light is activated.

After the light is activated and the top is placed back onto the larger cabinet an image is projected to the ceiling. What I found more interesting was how the light looked as it emanated from the cabinet. This image stuck with me and inspired “Four Right Turns” and the two cabinets that I made for “Apt. 218 in The North Beach Housing Projects… ”

As I was unsatisfied by “A Thought vs A Feeling”, I decided to change the piece into these Nesting Cabinets.

Four Right Turns

When the viewer entered the room the only light that could be found was emanating from a cabinet that was 2 feet wide, 2 feet tall and 2 feet deep. As the viewer opened the door to cabinet they found that there was a half scale model of the cabinet inside. As the door to larger exterior cabinet opened the door to the smaller interior cabinet closed. As the door to larger cabinet opened the light inside of it slowly dimmed off and the light inside of the smaller cabinet slowly turned on.

Before the “North Beach Housing Projects” in San Francisco were torn down a one night show was done in utilizing the vacant apartments. I was in the space performing (wearing my “uniform”) for the duration of the show (eight hours).

When the viewer first enters the apartment there is no light in the first room (the kitchen) and the door to the street shuts automatically behind them. Across the hall there is the living room that is being illuminated by a very dim light. All other light has been completely eliminated from the apartment so the disoriented viewer naturally goes to living room drawn in by the faint light.

On route to the living room the viewer unknowingly walks by me as I hide in the dark dressed in black pants, black shoes, black, tie, black tie, black belt, black socks, and white shirt (my “uniform”). Inside the living room the viewer finds a small cabinet that has light radiating form behind its door. When the door is opened there is a small swing-set with a strawberry cupcake in it oscillating back and forth. On top of the cupcake there is a lit birthday candle.

In the top drawer of the cabinet there are new cupcakes. In the bottom drawer there are cupcakes that have had a candle burn down on them. Every eight minutes I walked from the kitchen to the living room, removed the cupcake that was in the swing-set, placed a fresh one in and lit a new candle. This went on for eight hours. As the viewer explores the rest of the apartment they find that the doors to the two bedrooms and the closet are locked and there is a faint outline of light coming from behind it (bare in mind that the photo is REALLY over exposed…but you get the idea).

Upon further examination the viewer can feel that the doorknob to each room is slowly rotating by itself. This is not something that could be seen. It could only be noticed by carefully placing ones finger on the doorknob. If grabbed in the normal manner one interacts with the doorknob it will simply feel loose as it is clutched to stop spinning when a gentle touch is not used.

In the bathroom the viewer finds a medicine cabinet with (again) a faint outline of light coming from its interior. Inside the medicine cabinet there is a light-house and a searchlight made from pill bottles that are slowly turning and shining beams of light across the bathroom.

On December 12, 2001 I ran a sidewalk cafe at a local restaurant in San Francisco. Patrons were invited sit on an undersized table and eat off of one of the eight oversized chairs that I constructed. Due to the size of the table if the diners were to be comfortable they had to rest against the persons back that was behind them. I hired a waiterss and I performed/worked as the busboy in my “uniform”.

This was the final installation/performance that I did surrounding cabinets and furniture in spring of 2002. Due to the size and lack of support the shelves of the bookshelf sagged quite a bit. The entire bookshelf was suspended by hidden brackets making it appear to be levitating one inch off the floor as it was being pushed down by gravity.

Please note that though this a handsome picture, that I am out of uniform!!…this was a test shot that came out MUCH better than any of the final shots… oh well). March 2002

This piece was made around the same time that “Weight” (back pack full of concrete) was made. I included it because these two pieces combined together were the “research” that led me to “Burdens” (the book shelf piece). Also, it was one of my further attempts to pare down the formal elements (ie…lights, mirrors, motors, craft..ect.) of my sculptures.