Anchored Journey: In Between is an installation featuring 3,000 handcrafted paper boats, each carrying personal reflections penned between 2000 and 2015. Set against the backdrop of a vast desert, this work delves into the complexities of time, highlighting the intricate dance of growth, decay, and transformation.

The project traces its origins to an early spring evening in 2000 in Tucson, Arizona. As I was leaving my art studio which was located by the train tracks, a yellow piece of ruled paper fluttered to the ground, catching my attention. Initially thinking it was one of my misplaced notes, I picked it up to find the word "KEEP," scrawled in bold black ink across the center. I had no idea where the note had come from or who it belonged to, but the simplicity of the message resonated with me, compelling me to hold onto it.

In reflection, this act of keeping transformed into a thoughtful practice. I began to save various sheets of paper that I would normally scribble on, folding them into boats even amidst the desert landscape. Each page became a vessel for my unfiltered thoughts—random musings, calculations, to-do lists, sketches of poetry, and unmailed letters. They embodied my aspirations and emotions, encapsulated in simple forms that mirrored their transient nature.Looking back, these choices align with a period that was both disorienting and crucial. I had outgrown my earlier creative endeavors and found myself grappling with uncertainty about my artistic direction. Many days were spent wrestling with feelings of inadequacy, leading me to document my thoughts and clarify my intentions as a means of overcoming creative barriers..

On many days, these folded pages of jumbled longings and mundane tasks were the only things I created. They stood as a testament to my artistic journey, capturing moments of introspection and endurance during times of creative stagnation. This ritual has persisted over the years, representing at least a third of my life at the time of this installation. The collection has traveled with me through various homes and studios, steadily growing in volume. It is only recently that I came to recognize them as a cohesive body of work, symbolizing the fleeting experiences of existence and expression.

It is important to present the collection in a way that defines the years they embody and it felt right to display the paper vessels as if they were a fleet navigating the stunning high grasslands of the Sonoran desert, close to where that first piece of paper serendipitously arrived. Here, the sun and the monsoons will gradually transform what has been created: the boats will unfold, the words will fade, and the paper will weather and break down.

Anchored Journey: In Between will be installed on-site from May 1 to May 7, 2017, thanks to the generous support of Land With No Name, an art space and residency located about 45 minutes southwest of Tucson. The project will remain a part of the landscape until it is fully worn away. Additionally, regional desert wildflower seeds will be planted around the area, ensuring that the site will be marked by their blossoms for years to come.

Photo Credits: Ted Springer and Emily Nyburg