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The Erma Hayman House is a place to tell the stories of historically underrepresented communities.
I created a temporary installation on-site that includes a mural, and what I call “lilac installations”.
MURAL: THREADS OF LAND is a large floor to ceiling mural in the main gallery space. It is like a historical collage containing photographs, my handwriting, wallpaper patterns, and historic influences. It interprets, through seven key moments, the story of the land on which the Erma Hayman House resides, from the region’s Indigenous People to Mrs. Hayman’s time onsite all the way through the urban renewal period of the 1960s and 70s, which significantly altered the neighborhood’s historic footprint.
LILAC INSTALLATIONS: Lilac blossoms cover the porch ceiling. I made these out of mylar and chipboard and hung them from chicken wire (thank you Kristen Hill for the suggestion!). A giant lilac is in the main gallery. Made with large branches John found near the river, the blossoms here are also mylar and chipboard. Outdoors, purple metal lilac blossoms look like they’re escaping out the windows. Ken McCall created these blossoms out of aluminum.
Why the lilacs? Erma grew a lot of things and there’s a beautiful lilac growing near the corner of the house. During the construction work, everyone from city staff to contractors to neighbors were concerned about this purple lilac plant and who was watering it. To me that really demonstrates a strong sense of community.
Find out more about Erma Hayman and the Erma Hayman house at ErmaHaymanHouse.org.
Photos by Arlie Sommer
