LAURIE FRICK | 7 stages, 6 categories, 264 ALS patients

This piece was built in conjunction with the Carolinas Medical Center, with the director of the neuromuscular clinic, using proposed staging data for ALS patients. The goal was to characterize a disease which defies pattern, using 7 stages of severity across 6 categories of symptoms with 264 patients ranging in age from 25 to 84. I included professions and ages, and worked to find pattern in the data with the belief that it wasn’t chaotic or random, but had an inherent organic and human feel. Installed at the Medical Center in Charlotte, NC November 2010. CLICK to see images bigger.

7 Stages, 6 Categories, 264 ALS Patients - final stacking of the blocks built from population data of ALS patients at the Carolina's Healthcare Neurology Center

7 Stages, 6 Categories, 264 ALS patients -- close detail of slices of 2x4 wood slices, pigmented and burned with ages and patient professions

Cut wood blocks, pigment, wood burned on clinical table. 60in x 72in x 16in

Stages of ALS for 264 patients in the study, professions and ages added on the ends of the blocks

72" wide x 16" deep x 60" high. Cut and sanded slices of 2x4's, pigment dyed, wood burned text, piled on clinical table

Stages of ALS, stacked blocks during the building process

Stages of ALS, 6 categories, 7 levels of severity, 264 patients, close detail

Stages of ALS - detail

Stages of ALS, 2010 | detail of professions of 264 patients in the study

7 Stages, 6 Categories, 264 ALS Patients - final stacking of the blocks built from population data of ALS patients at the Carolina's Healthcare Neurology Center