Umbrellas Stripped Bare, 2001

Broken umbrella fabric, thread and cable

6 ft h x 50 ft w

Broken umbrella metal and wooden handles

6 ft h x 6 ft w x 6 ft d

Installation at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, New York

The fabric, spines and handles of broken umbrellas are reconstituted into two corresponding sculptures. While the deconstructed objects have been rendered “useless,” they still respond to the outdoor elements. The assorted fabrics have been sewn together to form an immense and colorful banner that catches the wind and light. The bare ribs and handles form a spiny mass, reminiscent of the chaotic struggle with storms that the umbrellas have endured.