Do Not Assume

“Do not assume that because I am frivolous that I am shallow, just as I do not assume that because you are grave that you are profound.” - Attributed to Rev. Sidney Smith, 19th Century English theologian

Do Not Assume is an installation in which a quote, divided into phrase fragments and engraved onto placards, was attached to the backs of five consecutive seats in a row at the Santa Fe Playhouse.

“A ventriloquial gesture that projects the artist’s words onto the chair-as-dummy, Coit has secured for herself not only the prelude to the show but also the last word as the lights come back on following any performance.” - Jennie Hirsh, from “Before and After Language: The Art of Madelin Coit”