Crush Cards

2004

Cards, envelopes, ink, wooden holders

Collaboration with: Diana Parrington

Dimensions: Variable dimensions

Type: Replenishable installation

This project sprang out of a desire to get people talking to the people it’s hardest to be honest with: crushes. The crush (or the encounter) may have lasted one night, or have been stretching on silently for months, so Diana and I designed a to-the-point method of saying what you are too shy to say.

Inspired by 4th grade note passing, we set up the installation with a limiteless supply of cards and envelopes. Diana carved and stained the wood holders with her father. To our surprise, we refilled the installation several times before the evening was out. And more than one person came up to me afterwards to admit they had found a crush card which had been slipped into their bag or pocket.

We deemed the project a success, and look forward to future projects which continue to follow a similar mode of audience interaction.

Crush Cards installation view
Crush Cards installation view
Detail of cards and wooden holders
Detail of cards and wooden holders
Audience interaction with the installation
Audience interaction with the installation