Utility & Beauty, 2025. Tactile photo collage with “swell” capsule paper, acrylic paint, copy paper, foil, sandpaper, adhesive, mounting board, cradled wood panels. 16”x40”x1"

Seven separate pieces fit together into a touchable tabletop, making a flat surface with two layers. The top layer is made up of tactile prints collaged onto six square wood frames. The prints are variations on a theme, creating patterns made from sidewalk navigation guiding surfaces. The six squares easily fit together in several configurations, with parallel lines of grey, brown and blue. When visitors lift any of these squares off the base layer, they reveal a bright collage beneath. On the dark grey background of the base layer, find tactile materials in the shapes of orange and red poppies, blackberry blossoms and circular utility covers as for local water services. These are plants and objects that may be found growing through or embedded in sidewalks.
Available at Ruth’s Table as part of Radical Resilience: Holding the Line, August 15 to September 26, 2025.