Here. There., 2010
Wood, steel, paper, telescope, mirrors, and vinyl

Here. There. consists of three basic parts: a ten-sided wooden structure with steps, a perimeter structure featuring Madison Sanborn maps, and phrases created from vinyl lettering. Installed according to the cardinal directions, the dais—onto which viewers step—displays a solar diagram. Visitors can sit on the rotating platform to read the phrases, which explain civic and personal histories of Madison.

For this work, Emmons has created a series of opposing but related ideas and emotions, including monumental vs. incidental, visible vs. invisible, personal vs. institutional, mnemonic vs. emotional. Ultimately, by asking viewers to first engage with the work and then use it to view their surroundings, she urges us to look closely and critically at both architecture and environment.

Carol Emmons audio