The Watchman. The Need to Report was Overwhelming and Frivolous, 2019.
The Watchman likes to live in his home and watch. He is very suspicious about the world around him. When he was a child, he witnessed two incidents. One was a car crash outside his window, the other he stumbled upon a dead body while walking on the sidewalk. In both incidents, he had to talk to an adult, who wrote down reports. The Watchman was so inspired by such an act, that he was compelled to start reporting everything he saw. He created a mental home around himself. These memories are hidden away in his shoulders. Every day he writes down what he sees, thinking that it will be important to someone else in the future. However as the viewer looks upon his roof, they notice that his notes are random fragments of events that would not really be helpful to anyone besides himself. The Watchman is stuck in this loop as a statue, but the viewer does not have to be.
In South Suburban College Faculty Show January-February 2023
May 1-July 31, 2021 The Watchman was displayed at the Portage Public Library
November 21, 2020-January 24, 2021, The Watchman was selected for South Shore Art’s Munster 77th Annual Salon Show
The Watchman was selected to be stationed in Deerfield, IL Village Hall for a year, from September 2019-2020. There he left sticky notes for viewers to write down their observations.
If you would like The Watchman to visit your building/school/gallery/museum/event you can fill out this form.
At the Opening of Deerfield’s openhouse. September 19, 2019 
At the Opening of Deerfield’s openhouse. September 19, 2019 
At the Opening of Deerfield’s openhouse. September 19, 2019 
At the Opening of Deerfield’s open house. September 19, 2019 
Notices written by attendees of the Deerfield Open House. September 19, 2019 
Notices written by attendees of the Deerfield Open House. September 19, 2019 
Notices written by attendees of the Deerfield Open House. September 19, 2019 
Notices written by attendees of the Deerfield Open House. September 19, 2019 
Watchman on display at the South Shore Arts’ 77th Annual Salon Show! November 2020-January 2021! Watchman at South Shore Art’s 77th Annual Salon Show Novemeber 2020-January 2021! Munster, IN. Watchman on display at the South Shore Arts’ 77th Annual Salon Show! November 2020-January 2021 
Watchman on display at the South Shore Arts’ 77th Annual Salon Show! November 2020-January 2021 The Watchman at Portage Public Library May 1-July 31, 2021. YA Section Portage, IN. 
At the Opening of Deerfield’s openhouse. September 19, 2019
The Watchman was on view at Deerfield, IL Village Hall. At the site, you can write something you have noticed.
Here are some of the responses from the Deerfield opening.
Copyright Emily J Casella 2022
emily j casella 