Constellation

2010/11

In this piece, I investigate several realms of existence of fifty-five very large rocks, which I’ve labeled as cairns, found in yards around Cedar City, Utah. I was at first drawn to these cairns by their sheer physical presence and their multiplicity in our town. Many of these rocks looked awkward in the landscaping, yet somehow seemed deliberately placed. I began to wonder the back-story to many of these rock cairns that seemed to have coincidentally begun to present themselves to me around town and if there was some sort of greater meaning to their whereabouts. By conversing with the owners about the cairns’ origin, photographing and then mapping each one, I took on the roles of both an historian and a cartographer. Then by taking cues from the ancient Incans, who are believed to have laid out their capitol city Cusco in the shape of the puma, mimicking the constellation Leo, I became an astronomer looking up to the stars for a greater connection.

a: Fifty-five 4×5 inch photographs of large rock cairns found in yards of Cedar City, Utah residences arranged according to their geographical location. (with overlap)

b: One 32×42 inch photograph of stars sharing the same geographical arrangement as that of the rock cairns, map folded.

c/d: Installation Views (no overlap)

e: Arrangement Detail (with overlap)

01-05: Selection of individual images of rock cairns.