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This is the second “time capsule” post, highlighting some of the artwork I did around the turn of the millennium. See the first post on my Bitstream series.

For those following along, of the materials I had used in the Bitstream series, I was most captivated by plexiglass. At work I became known as the plexiglass guy because I would walk in with found plexiglass a lot of the time. I discovered that it’s good to be known for obsessions, because it’s easy for people to be nice to you since they know exactly what you like. Case in point, a friend of a friend was moving into a new office, and the previous tenants had left a 4′ x 8′ x 1″ slab of plexiglass behind. Since she knew about “some guy” that loves plexiglass, I was given first dibs to pick it up. Of course I said “yes” and recruited a colleague to help me bring it to the office. Well, it turns out that a 1″ thick sheet of plexiglass is really heavy. So here’s me and this other guy walking up 5th Avenue near the Flatiron with this 4×8 foot sheet of plexiglass. I’ve done a lot of things to get weird looks, but this was the first time the weird look was followed by very fast dodging! We were like a semi-truck lurching down the sidewalk, and I think people knew based on the strained look on our faces that we weren’t stopping for anyone.

### Artist Statement

What is the relationship between the mathematical concept of the identity and the language concept of identity? In math, $I$ is the identity if for any $A$, $I * A = A$ and $A * I = A$, where $*$ is some operator. This series attempts to juxtapose the meanings of the two identities, whereby the distinction must be made when viewing the piece: which participant is the identity?

Embedded within this discussion of the identity is the classic dialectic between Parmenides and Heraclitus; one must ask what is the significance of change and not change when interacting with the piece?

#### identity 7D0.2 (tribute to eva hesse)

Date: 2000
Materials: Aluminum, steel cable
Dimensions: 2′ x 2′ x 8′

#### identity 7D2.2

Date: 2002
Materials: aluminum, plexiglass, steel cable, bolts
Dimensions: 3′ x 3′ x 5′

#### identity 7D2.3

Date: 2002
Materials: plexiglass
Dimensions: 1344 mm x 742 mm x 24 mm

#### identity 7D2.B (in perpetuity)

Date: 2002
Materials: plexiglass, mirrors, steel cable
Dimensions: 1340 mm x 742 mm x 43 mm