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A project with texts developed by Rebecca Solnit
 

Homeostasis means; The tendency of a physiological system to maintain internal stability, owing to the coordinated response of it's parts to any disruptive situation or stimulus. In the context of this exhibition the title cynically alludes to the degeneration of systems which; "Support every working American's God given right to own a home" (Jimmy Stewart in "It's a wonderful life.")

The project dealt with local real estate issues in a number of ways. There was a literal presentation of 12 graphs and lists which were directly reproduced from local planning and research documents. The documents clearly delineate the local affordable housing crises. Behind each document; were recorded audio texts dealing with a humanistic understanding of home, housing and economics. In the center of the room were two installations, which dealt with the issues in a lyrical manner. The first was subtitled "Renters". Consisting of rows of plexi-glass houses slowly leaking water (income) into hot steel pans. The sound, humidity and disappearing water alluded to the economic problems of renting.

The other end of the room held "Equity", a large plexiglass house was connected to many plastic tubes creating a siphon. A drip system delivered a drop of water at regular intervals into the chimney of the structure. The rising water in the house was duplicated by the rising water in each of the 50 tubes. This project alludes to the interconnectedness of real estate prices and the constant upward climb of equity for the lucky property owner and on the converse the decline of affordability for the renter.

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