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Mary Merkel-Hess
Mary Merkel-Hess’s Ember (Reading Be-
tween the Lines) was made as a comment
on the fires that seem to be burning ev-
erywhere. In the upper Midwest, where
Merkel-Hess lives, residents are often
reminded of fire when the smoke slinks
down from Canada and they can see it and
smell it in the air. The fires in Los Ange-
les affected Merkel-Hess more personally.
She has family there and often made trips
west when she was small. “It was my first
big city and held wonders for me - the
ocean, the crazy traffic and open air ar-
chitecture,” she says. “I had reacquainted
myself with LA years ago. when both of
our kids and their spouses were in school
there. All three of our grandsons were
born in LA. I felt the effect of those fires.”
Merkel-Hess’s take on climate disaster is
an ashen piece with smoldering red bits
hidden among the strands.
215mm Ember
paper cord, paper
14” x 16” x 10”, 2025
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