Michael Arata

Close up view of Aqueda Arias, 2 years old in 2001, now 5 in 2004.  Still missing? alive? at home with Mom and Dad, sisters and brothers? 
Living in another state? who has ever heard of Longview, WA and why would one disappear from there?  Michael's piece begs too many
questions on a personal level vis à vis each viewers experiences and background as well as, on an artistic level.  Can we honestly call it his
piece, an artwork, or is it just something he appropriated? and is no better than the pizza advertising on the flyer...  Is he helping us to find
Aqueda, making us aware of her "lostness" and does he really care? do we?  Michael said that he originally thought to display several different
children together on the same wall, but decided against it as he felt that it might dilute the message - The medium is the message -
Marshall McLuhan.