i was here

I Was Here is a site-specific installation created for the Deering Estate, exploring the layered histories that have shaped this land over thousands of years. 

Beginning with the first inhabitants, the Tequesta people, who lived here as early as 2,000 BCE, the site has borne witness to waves of change. Over time, Bahamian settlers arrived in the 19th century, followed by the Richmond family, who developed the property in the late 1800s, building the Richmond Cottage and establishing a pineapple plantation. In the early 20th century, industrialist Charles Deering transformed the estate into a winter retreat, preserving its historical significance and natural beauty. Today, the Deering Estate stands as a cultural and ecological landmark, its history continuing to evolve. 

Hanging delicately from the branches of a banyan tree, the piece is an ethereal assemblage of printed images on organza, tulle, and thread, measuring 18 feet tall by 8 feet wide. The translucent fabrics overlap like temporal veils, adorned with maps, symbols, and abstracted patterns that evoke the stories embedded in this site. 

The title, I Was Here , draws on the universal impulse of children and teens to inscribe their presence in the world, echoing the timeless human need to leave a mark. This installation honors the enduring imprint of those who came before, while inviting viewers to reflect on their own connection to place and history.