Senstad's installation Diaspora USA Chapter is based on the remains of a hurricane Katrina-damaged shotgun cottage in New Orleans. The still derelict cottage was the site of her installation The Light House at KK Projects (2007/08), curated by Koan Jeff Baysa, and the source for the video piece,Light Writes Always in Plural, Light Displacement Section Three (2009). This current installation refers back to the original on several levels, and the video trilogy Light Writes Always in Plural Section One, Two and Three will be projected onto cardboard boxes and rubble within the space. The items used to closely recreate the New Orleans installation are taken from memory and photo-documentation. Senstads collected objects and paraphernalia, reflect the vacated domicile and its displaced inhabitants. The gallery walls, serving as the exterior of the cottage, are covered with the still-evident flood waterline and spray painted inspection signage, TFW (Task Force Wildcat) used to indicate date of inspection, number of dead people found in the house, number of dead people removed from the house, and the name of the agency that performed the inspection.
As the world teeters from one crisis to another economic, environmental, viral. etc. Diaspora USA Chapter assaults the viewer with a stark visual reminder of our species ephemeral existence.
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