ArtistMatthew Barinholtz
Floating Home
Date2010
MediumWood and wood veneers on engineered panels
DimensionsOther (Panel): 48 × 144 in. (121.9 × 365.8 cm)
Other (Boats): 12 × 4 × 4 in. (30.5 × 10.2 × 10.2 cm)
Other (Boats): 48 × 20 × 20 in. (121.9 × 50.8 × 50.8 cm)
Credit LineDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Commissioned Project
Object numberDCCAH2010.005
ClassificationsSculpture
Locations
- St. Elizabeths Hospital (1100 Alabama Avenue SE)
DescriptionMatt Barinholtz’s work, Floating Home, is made up of fourteen carved wooden “boats” which are suspended from the ceiling. Barinholtz, who has worked with many homeless and under-privileged young adults, says that his inspiration comes from his experiences in helping these individuals return to a life off the streets by teaching them his woodworking skills. He helped those who had previously “floated” through their days, “from couch to couch, door to door, shelter to abandoned building” and who had fallen into a lifestyle of drugs, violence, and other crimes. He said that “Saint Elizabeth’s physical transformation is akin to the achievements I have witnessed in my students-to move beyond a legacy of perceived disconnection from the community, on the ‘other side of the river.’” The boats represent this connection to the community, this time for the patients of St. Elizabeth’s.
