ERIN ELYSE LONG
ERIN ELYSE LONG
Created for the matrimony of Jenn Emerling and Roque Rodriguez
Photography by Anna Zajac
Special thanks to: Maecie for painting and decorating the arches with intricate doodles and providing countless hours of moral support. Graham for building the base to raise the tunnel up, climbing roofs, and getting your hands dirty. Angelica for dying the most beautiful streamers to add another special layer into the color streamer spectacular. Bryan, Alexa, Chloe, Juan, Barrazie, Matt, Thong, Bee, Meg, Kara, Crystal, Lauren, and others thank you for your papier-mâché skills and and helping to create the most colorful streamer canopy of dreams. And finally, the biggest thank you to Jenn & Roque because without their love, none of this would be possible.
Step inside the tunnel of wonder and whimsy! As you explore, it is my hope that you will discover a colorful explosion of joy, and find love within yourself and the environment around you. Inside the “Túnel de Amor” or the tunnel of love, you will be showered by a cascading streamer-explosion canopy nestled between quirky paper mache arches. A paracord runway anchors the structure, helping to guide you through the maze of color. I encourage you to pick up some heart shaped sunglasses to color cast your vision and change your perspective while inside.
This Install is inspired by the organic wonder of Salvation Mountain, a large scale, site specific installation hidden deep in the desert of Imperial County, California. I have had the privilege of visiting this special place a few times in my life. Each experience has been unique, but I am always simultaneously bewildered and enlightened by the maze of color and chaotic structures of this vast, earthly installation. Leonard Knight created his original masterpiece out of adobe clay and donated paint as a reminder that love is everywhere, inside of everything, and all around us.
When I had my first wedding call with Jenn, we discussed her plans to create something special for her and Roque’s wedding day. I am inspired by their life together, and the idea came to me after our conversation in the form of a daydream. Salvation Mountain holds a special place in Jenn’s heart as well, so it seemed fitting to use it as inspiration for this magical day in their lives. As we gather together here today celebrating these incredibly compassionate and loving people, my hope is that this installation acts as a portal between them and the extraordinary community that surrounds them.
To make an installation about love is challenging — trying to capture the essence of a feeling that can’t always be seen. But sometimes we are lucky to see love expressed in many different ways. After everything we have been through in life, it is love that brings us together and love that will help us get through the darkest of times. We all need joy, hope, love, and a little tenderness right now. My hope is that as you walk through, you will have an apperception of love, and as you leave the tunnel you will bring that light and love out into the world with you and share it with others.
Additional Photography by Jenn Emerling