Box 20: The Dilemma of Language, Tubs and Nail Rack, 2006-2007

Box contains materials as used in the installations of the art project “The Dilemma of Language." The Dilemma of Language was in process from 2006-2007 and first displayed in a hallway at the Auraria Art Building in 2006. It was later adapted to three other environments in 2007 including the Auraria Library, MSCD Center for Visual Arts (CVA), and one other.

In this art installation, two people sat across from each other at an extendable table. One person (the inscriber) wore mittens (no articulation, intentionally), and was told to stitch an "i" in the corner of a silk handkerchief. They would then hand the handkerchief to the other person (the eraser) who would put the handkerchief into a bleach solution. They would then decide who to deal with the fabric and where/how to move it.

In this box there are two white tubs that collected the bleach solution when it was poured over the silk handkerchiefs by the Eraser. There is also a square wooden frame with many nails sticking up out of it. The silk handkerchiefs were placed on this frame (before the installation), a pencil was used to press the fabric into the frame, and then rulers were used to draw lines around the handkerchief. This process created the holes that the Inscriber used to stitch an "i" into the handkerchief.

**Use caution when handling the contents of this box: the nail frame has a lot of nail ends sticking out of the top of it, it is very sharp and pointy and should be handled with care**