During three weeks in New York I turned Central Park into my studio. I conducted a lot of research before my departure from San Francisco – from fictional novels I collected quotes referencing Central Park. On a map I marked all the places the quotes referred to. Upon visiting Central Park I proceeded to do the following steps:
I visited all the markings I made on the map.
On the actual spot of each marking I made a drawing of what I observed.
I wrote the specific quote on each drawing.
I cut out and folded the drawing into a geometrical, sculptural shape.
Inside each shape I wrote the address: http://quotingcentralpark.blogspot.com
I documented and left the drawing in the park.
Some of my drawings ended up in the trashcan (I am quite sure of it), but some found its way to curious observers (that I am definitely sure of). I made a total of 71 drawings, based on 71 quotes from 12 different novels.
“This was New York, but it had nothing to do with the New York I had always known. It was devoid of associations, a place that could have been anywhere.” (Paul Auster, Moon Palace)
“‘It’s the perfect place for dad to spy on you from his study, you know.’ She squinted into the trees, pointed at the building looming over them from across the street.” (Quote from Claire Messud, The Emperor’s Children)
“And so I ran around and around the Reservoir, four times around, twice a day – the last lap luxurious with pain, my head lolling, the tall buildings of New York appearing to topple over me.” (John Irving, Hotel New Hampshire)
“I went up to people and asked if they knew anything that I should know, because sometimes dad would design Reconnaissance Exhibitions so that I would have to talk to people.” (Jonathan Safran Foer, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)
“The snow in Central Park looked old and dead, but my hart was very much alive and pounding in my chest.” (John Irving, Hotel New Hampshire)
“We walked along under the trees; e few still had their leaves, clean and greener now after the morning’s rain, and Rube said, looking around us, “This park itself is something of a miracle of survival, too.” (Jack Finney, Time and Again)
Back in San Francisco I made an installation version of the project. The piece was in a show at North/South Galleries in Oakland.
