Portland Tribune
Portland, Oregon
December 27, 2005
Picture of the Year
Australian artist Zen Parry wraps up in a “security blanket” that she created in the public art project space of the Portland Building on Dec. 1, photographed by Jim Clark. Parry spent 40 hours a week in October crocheting the blanket from Terphane, a clear plastic that she
unspooled from a 10-mile roll. The purpose was to show that, like a blanket that provides no warmth, job security is often an illusion and prevents people from following their heart’s desire. She called the installation/performance “The Office Assistant.” Since then: Parry heads overseas in January. She is reworking the blanket into a “rug of war” series that will include religious symbolism and references to President Bush. Of her October stint, she says 425 people sat and chatted with her, while more than that number visited without sitting down.
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