A Picture Tells 1000 Words
Montreal, November 2003

This is designed to be seen from a distance as a pair of eyes. As you walk closer the picture loses its clarity, words appear, and the picture of eyes becomes a story about eyes. The story has no conclusion - you only know how it ends because the words have created a picture - two eyes opening themselves to the world.

The scan wasn't too great. Here's the story in case you can't read it above:

There lived a girl who had never opened her eyes. Many miles above earth, a bird spotted her. Come young one , trilled the bird. Open your eyes so you can see me soar through the sky . But the young girl did not open her eyes for the bird.

The bird flew near the sun and sang about the girl who had never opened her eyes. Perplexed, the sun waited till evening. Then, at his most majestic, he bellowed: Girl, open you eyes, see me set in all my glory . But the young girl did not open her eyes for the sun.

Frustrated, he sank into the sea. There he told the creatures of the deeps about the young girl who would not open her eyes. The sea felt sorry for the girl, and waited till high tide to get close to land. Young girl, you are missing much , it rippled. Open your eyes and see the beauty of my waters . But the young girl did not open her eyes.

The sea retreated and told an old man fishing in its depths about the young girl who would not open her eyes. The old man thought all day, and when he had caught his share, rowed back to land. I am an old man , he told her, wrinkled and worn. The world is a hard place, full of sorrow and fury. Best not to open your eyes, best keep them shut as you have always done .

And after the old man had spoken, the sea, the sun, and the bird watched as the young girl raised her head. For the first time in her life, she...