Artwork copyright Norman Courtney. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Norman Courtney. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Norman Courtney. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Fragmentation - Reassembly, 2001-2002

Norman Courtney
(American, born 1947, died 2017)

Location: Western State Hospital, Lakewood

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Fragmentation - Reassembly is a conceptual sculpture created by artist Norman Courtney. The design references the ideas of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. In Lacan's psychotherapy model, a patient's fragmented thoughts are reassembled into a healthy "whole" state. The artwork is comprised of a bench and an arched passageway, symbolizing the Western State Hospital's mission to move patients out of the mental health facility and back into the community.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Department of Social and Health Services.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Norman Courtney (1947-2017) created sculptural installations for public spaces. Discussing his public sculptures, he noted, "It is important to reach out and involve an audience and to engage them in ways that they might not expect."

Courtney was based in Seattle. In 1978, he founded the glass program at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle. He also taught at Pilchuck Glass school in Stanwood, Northwestern Washington, from 1974 until 1992.