In this installation 1000 clear balloons, each blown up by a member of the Wheaton College community, are suspended overhead in the Walford Galleries, inviting the consideration of human breath.  Because latex oxidizes, a white layer of powder coats the surface of the balloons over time. The conglomeration of translucent material transforms into a mass – a sort of solidarity –  that protrudes into personal space. On the floor, 200 untethered balloons remain accessible for tangible play.

The second room displays videos of students and faculty members holding their breath as a way to perform the stories of alienation that often go untold. These same participants share their search for belonging in hopes of achieving true solidarity.

Joonhee Park is Associate Professor of Art in the Wheaton College Art Department. He studied Film Studies at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea and received the M.F.A degree in Film Production from Ohio University. Joonhee worked as a military intelligence officer, commercial film producer, and film professor before joining the Wheaton College Art and Communication faculty. Films he directed and contributed to have been screened worldwide at festivals from Croatia to New York. As an active filmmaker and media artist, his research interests lie in visual storytelling, personal media and digital art.

This exhibition is free and open to the public. The Walford Galleries are located on the 1st floor of Adams Hall and gallery hours are from 9:00am–4:30pm Monday–Friday. For question or details, email Gallery Manager Sheldon Till-Campbell at sheldon.campbell@wheaton.edu.