paraSITE (Bill S.)
Maker
Michael Rakowitz
(American, b. 1973)
Date1998
MediumVideo
Credit LineAcquired, as requested by the artist, through donations to the Coalition for the Homeless and Heartland Alliance by the Chauncey and Marion Deering McCormick Family Foundation, the Mary Hasten Foundation, Robert Feitler, and Brien O’Brien
Object number2015.32.2
Object TypeTime-Based Media
On View
Not on viewIn the 1990’s, Michael Rakowitz made a series of custom-made, portable shelters for the homeless that would inflate when attached to the outtake vents of urban buildings. Rakowitz describes the collaborative design process:
“Bill S. requested as many windows as possible, because ‘homeless people don’t have privacy issues. We want to see potential attackers, we want to be visible to the public.’ Six windows are placed at eye level for when Bill is seated and six smaller windows for when Bill is reclining.”
“Bill S. requested as many windows as possible, because ‘homeless people don’t have privacy issues. We want to see potential attackers, we want to be visible to the public.’ Six windows are placed at eye level for when Bill is seated and six smaller windows for when Bill is reclining.”
