Photo by Dani Ramirez
Written by Dennise Arriaza
A liminal space is a place of liminal transition, an empty place that already served its purpose. Popular spaces can be empty playgrounds or abandoned buildings. Youtuber Cresendex provides these definitions and further explains, “that if you think about life really is just one big liminal space between your birth and your death.”
Even without knowing the history of CI, it is evident that this campus has a past. Much of the architecture has been preserved, allowing for its history to shine through. In a previous article titled, “Opinion: Is CI Haunted?” written by Steven Mynott, there is a brief explanation of CI’s past: “When it first opened on Oct. 12, 1936, it was the largest state hospital in the United States. Patients with mental disabilities were treated here until the hospital’s closure in 1997.” At times, the spots on campus can make one feel uneasy because, while something might be empty, we know that it was once full of life in the past.
Photo by Dani Ramirez
Much of CI’s campus has remained untouched or is still a work in progress. Some buildings are empty and simply cleared out, while others still hold remnants of the history within their walls. These spaces on campus are interesting to look at because they can feel like a window in between our time and the time of the past. The school’s past will never fully disappear. A dark staircase leading down to a door can be found near Del Norte parking lot. This image appears terrifying because it is unclear where the staircase is leaving, but that is what makes it even more intriguing. A staircase to nowhere gives the effect of a liminal space and a pace caught between a transition of time. Looking in through the window, it looks dark and desolate. The air looks stiff but lifeless, making it appear boring and exciting at the same time, a time that will never come again. It is unclear to the general public exactly what lies behind those doors, but a glimpse at spots like these serve as reminders of our campus history.
Many of the courtyards on campus still contain small empty grass areas surrounded by broken windows and ramps leading to locked doors. At times liminal spaces can hold nostalgia and allow someone to look back into themselves and their past memories. An internet phenomenon known as “Dreamcore” blends familiarity with the strange. This could be used to describe memories of old school pictures. These can be places that look so familiar to something we had at some point in our lives. The image pictured below showcases an empty courtyard on campus near the entrance of CI. This location carries a sense of familiarity with the campus structure and other similar buildings we might have faced in previous years of school and other campuses.
The interest in liminal spaces can appear different for people. To some it could just be the interest in the slight uneasiness that comes from something eerie and unknown. The unknown and things noted as scary can be intriguing. In a way, its rareness can make it interesting to others to lean more into scary things that can test us as human beings. Take a moment to notice and admire what is around campus and allow yourself to find appreciation for the little things, even if they are a bit scary.
