FORGOTTEN LANDSCAPES

2017 | Temporary Public Art | Interactive Virtual Reality Viewing Box
Project Description
Forgotten Landscapes portrays a series of deserted Austin city landscapes which will be shot at the last-known whereabouts of a missing person. Based on local news archives and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), the piece revisits several cold cases related to women, children, and minorities.

The landscapes are carefully devoid of any human activity or interaction, and place the audience in a panoptic viewpoint with which to inspect the scene. Forgotten Landscapes is an interactive machine which plays a sequence of 360 degree VR video. The piece is typically experienced by one individual at a time. Without the audience’s participation, the piece won’t properly function.

The design of the piece is modeled after Edison’s Kinetoscope which is an early motion picture viewing device. The small viewing machine shows 360 degree videos of landscape. The audience navigates the video by turning a hand crank on the side of the machine to revisit the unsolved cases.
Forgotten Landscapes is commissioned by TEMPO 2017, a temporary public art exhibition presented by the Art in Public Places(AIPP) in Austin, TX. We would like to thank to AIPP program, TEMPO project manager Anna Bradley, artist Dharmesh Patel, and metal fabricator Humberto Trevino.
Viewing Schedule
  • October 8, 15, 22, 29, and November 5, on Sunday between 10 - 2 pm
  • @ Bartholomew District Park (Near splash pad)

  • Saturday Strut Opening event - November 11 at 11 am
  • Toddler Trot (Special tour for families with young children) - November 17 at 11 am
  • Sunday Stroll Closing event - November 19 at 4 pm
  • @ Holly Shores and Edward Rendon Sr. Park at Festival Beach
Installation Documentations
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Last Reported Locations
The selected landscapes are last reported locations for missing persons.
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Krislyn & Sidney
(missing since 2016)

Last seen at 745 US-183 | The Landing Strip
Click here to learn about his/her case.


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Roxanne Paltauf
(missing since 2006)

Last seen at Budget Inn Near East Rundberg Ln.
Click here to learn about her case.

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Jennifer Joyce Barton
(missing since 1976)

Last seen at Near East 11th St. and Waller St.
Click here to learn about her case.

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Brenda Moore
(missing since 1976)

Last seen at 1900 block of Coleto Street
Click here to learn about her case.


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Debra Kay Stewart
(missing since 1976)

Last seen at 1000 E 41St. | Sear's Parking Lot
Click here to learn about her case.


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Tanisha Watkins
(missing since 1984)

Last seen at 2100 block of Thrasher Ln.
Click here to learn about her case.