passages: miami 2005​

Sound and video installation about Cubans crossing the Florida Straits. This work was a video and audio installation done in memory of the Cuban refugees that were part of the Mariel boatlift.​

The Mariel Boatlift officially began April 15, 1980 and ended October 31, 1980, with the arrival of over 125,000 Cubans to Southern Florida from Port of Mariel, Cuba.​

The video projected two images of open water horizon lines that moved up and down against each other, in and out of sync. The audio was a recording of a 37 year old woman recounting the day she left Cuba as a 12 year old.​

She spoke about meeting her father at the dock, riding on top with the captain until the seas became too rough and being sea sick down in the lower cabin until they reached Key West.​

The videos were projected onto the wall of a passageway between storefront buildings that led to the parking lots. People walking through the space were able to hear the recording as they past by the video images.​

video: Conrad Gleber sound: Stella Sung