InfoE.A. KAHANE was the mastermind behind an expansive free outdoor installation at the Historic Newport Town Spring in Newport, Rhode Island. Created in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic and presented before vaccines were available, the installation took place entirely outdoors, when public life was limited, and people could only be seen gathering safely outside. The images below show various stages of the site, which was completely transformed from its original state. Grass was planted, and a path was created, allowing visitors to walk through the space dynamically. The installation follows the old adage, “if you build it, they will come,” and they did. Visitors, wearing masks, experienced the site and shared images on social media. Welcoming friends both old and new, Kahane was present for most opening hours, sharing stories with those who remembered the 2016 parade. The exhibition provided an opportunity to connect, not in the same way as the original parade, but in a new and equally personal way.
The photographs, 125 in total, were around the perimeter at 60” x 44”, and the spectators were printed 24" x 36", as if they were watching the parade. Live bagpipe players brought the images to life. All the photos were printed in the artist's studio on material that could withstand the natural elements. This body of work is now part of the archive of the Newport Museum of Irish History and is in the permanent collection of the Newport Historical Society.
