1992, 9 minutes

A pillar of smoke was a sign of God in the Bible. This video is a visual and sound meditation on the nature of smoke in the body and in the Southern California basin. It is also a prayer for healing. Created for “Smog: A Matter of Life and Breath,” curated by Kim Abeles, California Museum of Photography, Riverside. The video was originally installed on a series of monitors within a pillar-like, metal-encaged spiral staircase. The soundtrack permeated the entire exhibition with its rhythmic breathing and prayer-like incantation.

Credits: Written, shot and edited by Cheri Gaulke, with original score by Vinzula and featuring Daniela Davies.