Featherlight (foul falls) September 26, 2014
Cave painting was brought to life by the unexpected use of construction lights and bird sculptures created from repurposed plastic bags in this outdoor installation by Jenn Houle. In featherlight (foul falls), Houle combined colored light, wind and history in a one-night event on Friday September 26, 2014 from 7:30-9:30pm.
The namesake is borrowed from the Featherlight model shotgun, manufactured by Ithaca Gun Co. during its 104-years of production above the falls. Lead and other contaminants remained after the plant’s relocation. Lead ammunition also enters the ecosystem after hunted animal remains are consumed by scavenger animals.
Sculptures of bald eagles (part-time scavengers) are represented in featherlight (foul falls) to remind viewers of how the actions of nation and industry building impact us today. Hydropower fueled the first industries yet simultaneously polluted major river ways. Jenn Houle focused red and blue spotlights beneath one such abandoned site in this multi-media installation. Funded in part by the Cornell Council for the Arts with volunteer support from Friends of the Gorge.
Special thanks to Carolyn Benedict Fraser, Ahmed Ozsever, Lia Sutton, William Staffeld and Connie Wong for photographing and documenting the event and work.