The Collectors was part of an exhibition entitled “Here and There” curated by ten Seattle-based artists. The show explored artwork in public places versus art in traditional venues. Each artist created a temporary piece of art in a public setting* as well as a corresponding work at the Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA.)

The Yesler Houses, three historic Victorian houses at the corner of 23rd and Yesler in the Central District had been dormant for years. As a resident of the area, I was struck by their presence as metaphors for and witnesses to the continuous changes occurring in the area and gained permission to create an ongoing artwork that brought the houses back to life.

Over the course of several weeks, I excavated the interiors of all three houses, combing the basement floors, going through piles of construction debris, and collecting any objects that remained. The installation at CoCA consisted entirely of everyday objects and material excavated from the houses and served as material traces of the presence and absence of those who lived there.

*For the correlating public work, please see PUBLIC ART, Yesler Houses/The Collectors