It's only a paper moon.

It's only a paper moon. Blacklights, fabric, bean bag styrofoam, mechanized fake fire, nature sounds cd, glitter, paper, cardboard and acyrlic paint.
Dimensions variable, 2008.

"It's only a paper moon"
- the Ella Fitzgerald version

"I never feel a thing is real
When I'm away from you
Out of your embrace
The world's a temporary parking place

Mmm, mm, mm, mm
A bubble for a minute
Mmm, mm, mm, mm
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it

Say, its only a paper moon
Sailing over a cardboard sea
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Yes, it's only a canvas sky
Hanging over a muslin tree
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me

Without your love
It's a honky-tonk parade
Without your love
It's a melody played in a penny arcade

It's a Barnum and Bailey world
Just as phony as it can be
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me"

It’s only a paper moon is a simulated campground at night. The campfire is an electric fan with lights. Designed to be interactive and inviting the seating are bean bag’s of upholstery fabric shaped to look like downed trees and rocks. The night sky is mimicked by the dark blue paint with black light reactive stars. The whole space will be lit with the campfire and one large black light hung from the ceiling.

Using the iconic template of the campground constructed with the familiar materials encourages viewers to take on the expected social conventions of the campsite. The archetype of the campground is a specific kind of social structure, part nature appreciation, part people-centric entertainment; a natural site of group interaction. Through the use of aestheticized props like the logs and by incorporating recognizable materials like upholstery fabric and black-light the intent is not to trick the viewer into believing that it’s a real campground but to set up another social space parallel to the idea of a campground. Taking inspiration from theatrical set design and amusement parks, It’s only a paper moon examines the necessary suspension of disbelief that accompanies interacting with something that’s clearly fake in a genuine way. It examines the relationship between commercialized forms of spectacle and their real use value for social networks.