"Holding water" is a sculpture installation built from the pages of hundreds of romance novels, accented with glasses of water, light and pansies. It's intent is to represent the separation as well as parallels between the fantasy lives of homosexuals and heterosexuals , to recall the feeling of innocence and isolation a young boy had growing up gay, to invent meaning in a world that is seemingly all heterosexual.
This installation is an attempt to make certain issues both specific and universal. It attempts to speak to my family as well as those who know nothing about me. It attempts to be about everyone. It seeks emotion and response. It can be walked around and encountered up close, or from low benches at a distance. It represents an idea of fantasy and escape. It is a place to recover feelings isolated inside of us.
"Holding water", through lighting and material, creates a magical space that is both private and public, allowing many people to feel alone in the crowded room. The sculpture is both innocent and worldly. It is a jumping off point, where one can feel comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time.