Monument to a Missing Island, was a site specific sculpture presented in 2016 as part of the exhibition FLOW.16 in Randall’s Island Park, New York, NY. The work commemorates the destruction of Flood Rock, an island in New York’s East River, on October 10, 1885, by means of the largest man made explosion in history prior to the Atomic Bomb.

The supply chain was clogged. The island was interfering with commerce. The shipping channel needed to be opened up.

The residents of the city gathered along the waterfront, brass bands played, and an explosion felt as far away as Boston was triggered by the hand of a young girl chosen for the occasion.

One side of the Monument read:

THE DESTRUCTION OF FLOOD ROCK

OCTOBER 10,1885

And on the other:

AWAY IT FLEW, THAT VIEWLESS SPARK,

TO LOOSE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND CHAINED DEMONS

BURIED IN DARKNESS AND THE COLD, SALT WAVES UNDER THE IRON ROCKS….

FOR A TREMBLING MOMENT THE SUBLIME SPECTACLE

STOOD SHARP AGAINST THE SKY

LIKE A MIGHTY VISION OF DISTANT SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS.