"Taking Flight" from the Dammasch State Hospital Series
In October of 2005, I gained access to the now-defunct complex of buildings formerly known as the Dammasch State Hospital. Dammasch was the sister hospital to the Oregon State Hospital, where One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest was filmed. It was also the site for various experimental approaches to mental health including electroshock and psychotropic drug therapies, and seclusion in 5-point restraints.
The first time I entered the hospital, I was struck by its haunting presence, and over the course of many visits, have shot about 725 images. In December of 2006, the buildings are slated for demolition; those will be the last images I get of the facility.
The image above was shot in the "Tank Room," which is
down the hall from the morgue and is a brick and poured concrete room
with metal braces affixed to and encircling the room. The braces used
to hold oxygen tanks. I was very struck by this space. In particular,
the braces' function as a metaphor for the physical restraint ot human
beings seemed especially important to me.
In November, this image and 19 others may be viewed at Rites of Asylum, a show of 20 of the images I shot at Dammasch, and a small mixed media installation fabricated from objects i gathered from the old hospital.
If you live in Portland, Oregon, please do join me on the first Thursday of November at:
830 NW 14th Ave
Portland, OR 97209
