Meadow of the Deer: by REIGELMAN

Overview Meadow of the Deer is a site-specific installation of oversized steel deer silhouettes situated within the open landscape of Dix Park. Positioned across a clearing, a stag, doe, and fawn appear to quietly inhabit the site, their forms shifting between visibility and disappearance as visitors move around them. The work draws from Raleigh’s etymological roots—“meadow of the deer”—while more directly responding to the history of Dix Park as the former site of the Dix Hill Asylum. Established in the 19th century, the institution emphasized time outdoors as a vital component of healing, offering patients space to wander, reflect, and reconnect. Constructed from layered steel elements that radiate outward, the sculptures create a dynamic visual condition: from certain vantage points they nearly dissolve into the landscape, while from others they re-emerge with clarity and presence. This fluctuating perception invites visitors to slow down, move through the site, and experience the environment with heightened awareness, echoing both the park’s pastoral character and its legacy as a place of care and restoration. Goals The primary goal of Meadow of the Deer is to create a contemplative, movement-based experience that encourages visitors to engage with Dix Park as a space for reflection, presence, and shared use. By requiring physical movement to fully perceive the work, the installation invites visitors to slow their pace and become more aware of their surroundings. As the sculptures shift between visibility and disappearance, they create moments of surprise and discovery, encouraging repeated viewing from multiple vantage points. The work also aims to subtly acknowledge the site’s history as a place tied to mental health care, without being didactic. Through its shifting forms and atmospheric presence, the installation reflects the experience of uncertainty, clarity, and transition—states that are central to both personal reflection and emotional well-being. Additionally, the piece is intended to function as a social anchor within the landscape. Its scale and recognizable forms create a point of connection for individuals, families, and groups, supporting both quiet contemplation and shared interaction within the park. Process My process for Meadow of the Deer began with site immersion and research into the layered history of Dix Park. Walking the grounds, observing patterns of movement, and studying the site’s topography informed the placement and orientation of the sculptures within the landscape. Historical research into the former Dix Hill Asylum revealed the importance of outdoor space as part of therapeutic practice. This insight guided the project’s emphasis on wandering, perception, and environmental integration. I also reviewed archival materials, including patient drawings, which often featured repetitive and radiating gestures—an influence that informed the layered construction of the deer forms. The design was developed through a series of scaled studies and digital modeling to test sightlines, transparency, and the visual effect of the layered steel elements. Particular attention was given to how the sculptures would appear from multiple distances and angles. Material selection focused on durability and transformation over time. Corten steel was chosen for its ability to weather naturally, allowing the work to evolve visually while requiring minimal maintenance. Fabrication methods emphasize precision and repetition, reinforcing the project’s formal and conceptual intent. Additional Information This project is informed in part by my personal experience with mental health within my family. I have witnessed both the challenges of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, and the resilience required to navigate them. During the development of this work, I reflected on a description shared by a close family member, who characterized severe depression as a “black fog” where perception becomes unstable and clarity is difficult to hold onto. This idea—of reality shifting just out of reach—directly influenced the visual behavior of the sculptures. Rather than illustrating these experiences, Meadow of the Deer translates them into spatial and perceptual conditions. The works move between presence and absence, requiring time, movement, and attention to fully register. This perspective is not intended to define the work, but to ground it. It reinforces the project’s connection to Dix Park’s history while acknowledging the ongoing relevance of mental health as a shared human experience.