| What does it mean to occupy a public
space? What happens when one inhabits a space in unusual or
unexpected ways?
With the above questions in mind,
I wanted to more intimately explore and inhabit the city in
which I live. Working alone, and with groups of up to thirteen
people, I chose a number of sites around the city of Montreal
that have personal significance. Arriving on site with a set
of common intentions and predetermined (although unrehearsed)
actions, we would then occupy the space in subtle, yet pointed
ways. With a sculptural approach, I mindfully crafted each
of these performance interventions to carefully consider the
location and resulting visual/spatial impact of our presence.
These time-based, in situ pieces become active reflections
on the human component and agency within the realm of public
space. They function as meditations on presence, place and
interaction — with each other, with other passers-by
(our "accidental" audience), with "nature" (particularly in
an urban setting), architecture and duration.
How does one inhabit one's interior
world?
Behind closed doors lies a realm
only visible to invited guests. Wanting to expose unconventional
aspects of this private space, I decided to photograph my
dishrack. I was interested in the varying shapes that took
form each time I would complete a new load. By photographing
my dishrack I am capturing this evolving, organic sculpture.
As I started to print these images, I realized that in effect
I was also acknowledging and valuing another kind of "performance"
that is otherwise invisible. Concurrently, but with less frequency,
I have been photographing my body in the mirror's reflection
— documenting yet another quotidian, private performance
and another slowly transforming shape.
In this project of public/private
performance, photo and video serve to create myriad self-portraits.
The interior dishrack/mirror traces and exterior interventions
all reflect various aspects of myself and the many worlds
in which I live. And through these documents while I am capturing
the "here and now" I am also attempting to mark passages of
time within this constantly shifting and transforming world.
As much as one may desire a multitude
of experiences and experience a multitude of desires, preoccupations
and lifetimes in one life, can (or can't) a person only truly
be one thing at a time?
Performances were
done with the participation of:
Janine Armin •
Jon Asencio • Laura Atar • Warren Auld
• Sylvette Babin • Lance Blomgren •
Constanza Camelo • Uri Carnat • Isabelle Chagnon
• Sarah Ciurysek • Natacha Clitandre •
Jan Desrosiers • Gabriel Doucet Donida
• Louise Dubreuil • Bruno Dubuc •
Lorrie Edmonds • SB Edwards • Nicole Fournier
• Anna Friz • E.G. Fuller • Kevin Gascoigne
• Olaf Gerhard • Kélina Gotman
• David Jhave Johnston • Pascaline Knight
• Julie Lassonde • Christine Lebel •
Michel Lefebvre • Jacinthe Lessard • Susanne de L.-Harwood
• Marnie Macdonald • Dayna McLeod •
Nathaniel G. Moore • Joanie Murphy •
Lou Nelson • Luca Palladino • Daniela Pinna
• Virginia Preston • Eva Quintas •
Lys Stevens • Mahalia Verna • Kelly Lynne Wood
This project was done
with the support of the
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec |
 |
"Body Extension"
Eleven people lay, as comfortably as possible, with their
beloved bicycles on the side of the mountain at Parc Mont-Royal
for one hour |
 |
"Drug"
Six couples (of varying sexual orientations) stood on
the sidewalk, kissing, in front of the Export A tobacco
factory for one hour |
 |
"Welcome"
Four people stood on the sidewalk in front of the H. Lalonde
& Frère carpet store holding welcome mats for one
hour |
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