"Double Take" - Acton Arboretum, Acton, MA, 1996
Above: Steel, Vinyl, and Aluminum.
These signs were sited adjacent to a stagnant pond.
These signs were sited adjacent to a stagnant pond.
Above: Steel, Vinyl, and Aluminum.
These signs were sited in a grove of pine trees.
These signs were sited in a grove of pine trees.
Above: Steel, Vinyl, and Aluminum.
These signs were sited near an old stone wall.
These signs were sited near an old stone wall.
I placed signs at various sites in the Acton Arboretum. At first glance they described an object or condition. However; when the viewer compared the generic image with the actual object or condition they discovered contradictions between what they saw and the symbol on the sign. The purpose of this project was to question the nature of symbols and how they influence our thinking and our view of the world. These works show that symbols do not necessarily describe but can actually confuse or deny an actual situation.
Over the years I've been working with symbols to describe how they function, influence and describe our culture. For example the male and female figure/symbols have become accepted internationally not only as rest room indicators but also as definitions of gender. The figure of the "girl" in a dress has become more and more accepted as it has, at the same time, become less and less descriptive of women and how they dress. Regardless of how we view women millions of signs through out the world describe them as little girls who wear dresses.