HCH Light Installation, 2010

Flourescent shop lights, transparent paper, chains

This installation is about the history of a building on St. Edward's campus, Holy Cross Hall, designed to engage its current users with their space. Part of my research included interviews, and from them I learned about Joe the Barber, an Austin barber that had a shop in the basement of the building. Joe would come once a week to cut students' and faculty's hair. He was Italian and would sing Italian opera while he cut hair. Having never heard of Joe until my research of this building, I wanted this installation to educate the community about Joe as well as pay tribute to a figure that touched the lives of those who knew him. The four lights are intended to be reminiscent of barber shop poles.​