Story Wall, 2018
27 wall-mounted etched and kiln fired float glass ovals, video, rotocast resin monitor housings, fiber optics Outpatient Building Concourse, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, Downey, CA

LA County’s Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center is the one of best places in the United States for treatment and care after a brain or spinal injury, illness or disability, offering hope and the highest level of treatment and rehabilitation. Rancho is also an amazing, supportive diverse and inclusive community.

I was commissioned by LA County Department of Arts and Culture to create an installation for the new Outpatient Building that could help communicate Rancho’s long history of innovation and patient centered care, Rancho’s mission to rebuild full and rewarding lives and Rancho research programs’ achievements in medical science and technology. The goal of the artwork was to deliver the Hospital’s message to visitors, staff and to families dealing with a life changing traumatic experience.

I spent 8 weeks as Artist-in-Residence onsite in Downey, learning everything I could about clinical medicine at Rancho; Physical, Occupational and Recreational Therapy; Rancho Wellness and Peer Mentor programs. I poured over historic images in hospital archives, and collected photographs and video from Rancho participants. I made scores of drawings of this close-knit community of people overcoming challenges together.

In the summer of 2017, I traveled to Germany to work with Franz Mayer of Munich art glass fabricators to translate my drawings into glass. I also edited four channels of video that play in the piece, featuring Rancho sports, creative and performing arts; groundbreaking scientific partnerships with CalTech and USC in the fields of robotics and neuroprosthetics; video I shot onsite, and video filmed by Rancho community members showing their lives from their point of view. I am deeply grateful to this diverse and inclusive community who shared their lives and stories with me.

Installation photographs by Lee Thompson

I am grateful to the MANY people who helped support this project with a special thank you to:
Pauline Kamiyama
Rochessa Washington
BJ Tanberg
Eirik Blydt-Hansen
Michelle Berne
Charles Whitehead
Jorge Orozco
Rancho Wellness Community
Rancho Peer Mentors
Rancho Recreational Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy
Rancho Pathokinesiology Lab
Rancho Foundation
Dr. Charles Liu
Andersen Lab at CalTech
Art Glass Fabrication: Franz Mayer of Munich
Monitor hubs and installation: AFX division of Sign Effectz
Media Art Services, video integration
Jenn Donaldson, installation assistance
Rancho/Caltech/USC Keck Medicine Neuroprosthetic research