Some were annoyed,
some were curious,
many of them didn't notice they were there.
For this installation, I placed over 300 jelly-filled balls inside 150 fragile plastic casings across a busy street in Chicago. Arranged in a loose grid embedded within the flow of pedestrian traffic, the work existed quietly at ground level, nearly invisible.
People walked through the installation without noticing it at first. The moment of awareness came only when the casings fractured underfoot, producing a clinking sound. That sound marked the encounter: accidental, fleeting, and irreversible.
For approximately one hour, I remained on site, attempting to restore the installation, returning the displaced balls to their broken containers. The effort was ultimately futile. Each attempt at repair gave way to further fragmentation, until the entire work was gradually destroyed through repeated passage.
The piece reflects on unnoticed presence, fragility, and the quiet violence of indifference within shared public space. It asks what it takes for us to become aware of what (and who) we overlook.
Dedicated to my friends on the streets of Chicago. I miss you. I hope people begin to notice you, to speak with you, and to recognize the depth of who you are.
