Bridge of Sighs, 1989
Vacuum cleaners (32), steel tubing, electric timing switches
25' span

The upright vacuum cleaners in this piece are on timing switches, which activate them for two minutes every quarter of an hour. During that time, they inhale and exhale, wheeze and scream furiously, producing sighs of longing, aching, and ecstasy. The work was inspired by mention of the Bridge of Sighs in Venice in the novel Time Will Darken It by William Kennedy. Bridge of Sighs was first shown in the Special Projects Series at PS 1, Long Island City, New York, in winter 1989. It was later exhibited as part of “Awards in the Visual Arts 9” traveling exhibition.