Collecting old and used objects has always been an interest for me. The creation of sets for movies and plays using props is something I hope to explore more. I went to a local ephemera shop in search for items that reflect the old west, for my own installation.

Reading many stories and accounts from this era, the 1850s-1880s, I created a simple narrative of my own, placing myself in that time... igniting this desire inside of me to live in a different time, to explore and live different lives. I created and bound the book myself, and certain images are from books I've collected. Below are chosen pages.

For the installation, I created an imagined old west cabin interior. For the wall, I painted on paper, creating a wood grain texture. I placed the book on the table and a chair next to it, inviting viewers to sit within the installation and read. For me, this project was diving into a subject that has recently interested me. It all started with a novel I was reading for pleasure, and resulted in an exploration of self, adventure, and diving into the unknown.

 

Note: my aparment has the slightest hint of "antique shop smell" in the air from the ephemera I collected... and I love it.