Shrine

Shrine appears as a stylized set of touch-sensitive votive candles (LED paper lanterns). A central stained-glass–inspired projection above the piece responds to participant movement.

Shrine creates a ritual space where the participant is encouraged to reflect on a wish, prayer, intention, or spell (etc.), and make an offering (if they feel so called). After the optional offering, they are instructed to light a candle by touching the tip of one of them. This ritual makes the intention more tangible, "activating" it, mirroring what I saw in Catholic churches growing up.

This installation can be customized to fit your event; there have been many iterations which have been tailored for individual themes.

Sustainability is a focus in my practice. This installation is constructed entirely from upcycled and discarded materials: broken electronics, paper bags, to-go chopsticks, salvaged LEDs, and found furniture. One of this pieces iterations involves crows made from bike tire inner tubes. Making the piece from discarded materials (and in some cases, trash), symbolizes how we are all able to alchemize the parts of this world and our experience which we find disagreeable or no longer useful, and turn them into something more useful or beautiful using our attention and energy. The world can be a terrible place but we are able to transform it into something better.