The Weight of Our Living
2024
Stones, concrete, Corten steel, flora, wood
Maja Park, Philadelphia, PA
Inspired by reflexology footpaths in Taiwan’s public parks, The Weight of Our Living asks visitors to remove their shoes before treading on an undulating surface of rounded stones. An adjacent curved seating element creates a space for repose and reflection.
Thank you to the house sparrows, whose spring birdsong trilling from the bough of the trees, pulled me, however slightly or briefly, from the despondent well of murdered children or the family trying to survive the end of the world yet again in Gaza or the gunfire down the street and everywhere else in America or the rising tide. Yes—yes, and also our song, and your neighbor Lorraine greeting you from her window by calling out hey baby! or how’s my baby? or there’s my baby!, and that gleeful person you saw dancing across the crosswalk to a tune only they could hear from their headphones, they remind me. Thank you.
photos: Constance Mensh
Acknowledgements
The Weight of Our Living would not have been made possible without the generous attention and deep care of friends. I and my work are possible only because they make it so.
I am especially indebted to the company, thoughts, and labor of:
Nicolo Gentile
Jenna Staffieri
rod jones ii
Ryan Scails
Patrick Farrell and EAS Landscaping
The dedicated humans at the Association for Public Art and the Parkway Council
Forever in gratitude, thank you.