[Vision2020] "The State of Things" (2006)

[Tom Hansen]

Greetings Visionaires -

Video/Audio art courtesy of artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese

On Saturday, April 29th of 2006 the artists Ligorano/Reese installed a
temporary sculpture in the garden of the Jim Kempner Fine Arts Center,
located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

Sculpted in ice and spelling out the word "Democracy" in block letters,
the installation reflected on the political state and the transience of
our cultural values at that time. Measuring 20 inches high and 120 inches
in length, the word melted over 24 hours. The sculpture cracked,
diminished, and ultimately disappeared, leaving as its final trace a
puddle of water.

The sculpture focused on the impact of the Iraq war, how censorship,
surveillance and torture transformed U.S. society. According to Nora
Ligorano, The sculpture is emblematic of the times our democracy was in
danger of wasting away at an imperceptible rate. Marshall Reese adds,
"What stands out with this piece is that for the amount of time most
people view art 1 minute or less the sculpture wont seem to change, yet by
day's end, it will be gone - disappear."

"The State of Things" (2006)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-ybRc9bC1I

Seeya on Saturday, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown