Poet Walk (The Diamond Forest)

Artist Jessica Higgins

November 6, 2002 to December 10, 2002

Opening reception November 6, 6-8 PM

Lance Fung Gallery is proud to exhibit Poet Walk (The Diamond Forest)

a large scale intermedia project making a radical transfer of text

into space. In this one woman show artist Jessica Higgins extends

ideas of textual organization beyond the two dimensional constructs

associated with the page, or pattern poetry, and the book, or

architecture of concision. Here the artist’s “text” takes the form of

a forest of haikus suspended on threads under branches in diamond

formations allowing for a non sequential reading of text and space

simultaneously, much like the experience of reading space in a forest.

The viewer encounters suspended branches framing a forest of hanging

text particles derived from original haiku works Ms. Higgins brings

to the installation. As we move through the space, new texts randomly

occur before us. The traditional five seven five metrics of Haiku are

mapped to triangular zones of poem-space. Her background in

Performance Art and Installation informs a graceful viewer

interaction in a diamond forest of signs and references.

Committed to working with the essentials of art in unique ways,

Jessica Higgins’ work is grounded in intermedia, site-specific

installation, and performance. On occasion she has included olfactory

elements to provide multi-sensory dimensions. Additionally in Poet

Walk she exhibits clear boxes termed “thought assemblages.” They

contain ideas or notions as miniature installation works in small

structures serving as shelter.

Her interest in the metaphysical results in an unique combination of

materials, thought and expression of structure. “My installations

express feelings and ideas through personal and physical connections

with unusual people, objects and materials.” Accordingly she also

presents a shrine entitled Blue Pilgrimage, which houses palm sized

objects brought to her by the other Lance Fung Gallery artists during

a pilgrimage to a building in Upstate New York. The building exists

on a site known to the public as Poet’s Walk. The ritual is

documented within the shrine on a palm sized video monitor housed

along with the objects.

With Poet Walk, The Diamond Forest, Jessica Higgins broadens a

dialogue around book, page, action and space taking place between

many global participants such as concrete and pattern poets, American

intermedia publications and the thriving legacy of Poland’s urban

anthologies. The show opens November 6, 2002 6-8 PM at Lance Fung

Gallery, 537 Broadway NYC.