Wish Tower

Wish Tower is a project conceived by installation artist Maggie Nowinski produced in collaboration with sound and video artist Matt Waugh. Wish Tower includes large-scale sculptural video projections along with videos presented on analog TV’s and HD monitors along with a 12ft tall scrap-wood tower sculpture reminiscent of a temple or shanty shelter. Meanwhile, an audio component choreographed across over 8 channels includes vocalizations and sampled sounds relating to the visual content. In the room are also votive candles and texts.

The conceptual core of this installation emerged from the artists’ vintage single-match collection of matchbooks. Through Wish Tower, this collection was replaced by wishes solicited mostly through craigslist (nationally and internationally), offered anonymously, and gathered through an online form. Additional wishes include contributions from visitors who were encouraged to submit a wish and select a single-match matchbook. While there are still matchbooks unaccounted for, there are still wishes to be collected and wished. During some open hours, Nowinski incorporated a live performative element in the installation environment through live “wishing”. During these times, wishes were recorded and mixed live back through audio channels.

Wish Tower begins to address notions around wish-granting, the meaning of wishes, singularity and collectivity, and the personal value placed on objects collected. The installation environment creates a moody space and facilitates a process of letting go by way of appropriated and improvised ritual, contemplation, humor, and the act of wishing. Videos incorporate rugged, imagined landscapes, and portraits of single matches are celebrated along with the quality of the individual wish, and the power of collectivity. 

“Since 2000, I have been collecting matchbooks with only one match left. All of these matchbooks reached their state of singularity before I found them - almost daily between 2001-2003. Since 2007, my collecting has slowed significantly. It is time for the single matches to reach their potential. Each wish contribution allows the matches to express singularity while adding to a collection of wishes and assists me in a process of letting them go.”-  Maggie Nowinski