“There’s a lot going on in this space between.”

The title of this show almost begs to take itself too seriously. That would be, of course, if the quote hadn’t been lifted from a woman referring to her recently acquired double-stuffed Oreo.

Each piece in this show attempts to engage in a conversation about authorship, decontextualization, and the function of consciousness in everyday activities. Utilizing intentionally varied gestures, this exhibition confuses its own artistic equilibrium by challenging the understanding of how, or when, actions become art.

In this space between, you will hopefully find yourself the observer instead of viewer and participant as opposed to consumer.  You will simultaneously be asked to see the unnoticed and become the noticed. This space between is a spot made banal in its familiarity, significant through our accountability, and beautiful by association. This space between is a place to see and to become wholly interested in a remarkable and disinterested world.

Instructions:

Typist sits at desk with electric typewriter, stack of semi-translucent white paper and tape (or stapler). There is one empty seat across from the Typist. The Typist invites a person to participate in a short interaction with him or her.

Shake the person’s hand in welcome. Stipulate that any statements made by the participant must be true.

The Typist puts a new page in the typewriter. The Typist remains absolutely resolved on the task at hand.

“Who are you right now?”

Encourage them to elaborate by verbal and non-verbal cues. Make 3 overt gestures for more elaboration, thought, or information before being satisfied with their answer. Attempt only to repeat the question with more or less emphasis for new meanings, or keep the quest for elaboration minimally verbally. Make eye contact when you are not typing.

Type everything they say, including filler words and stumbles. When they reach a pause, move to the next line on the page. Ask for them to speak more slowly.

Ask them to repeat what they just said at least one time during your interaction. Type the first and second version of their statement.

“How did you come to be here?”

Again, use 3 gestures for more elaboration before finishing. Repeat steps above.

Finish either when 3 attempts at each question have been satisfied, or when the page is filled.

Notes on the piece:

In this piece, I am looking at the individual’s search for self in the (healthy) terms of community. By premising the Truth stipulation, the Typist has no way of knowing if the participant is holding reasonably to that agreement other than trusting their desire to be honest. This always leaves room for choice between the two, to intentionally build trust or to deceive.

While no significant answer to these two questions may be established, this piece reflects the eternal task of asking and seeking with others. The participant may not have asked these questions alone. They likely would not have endured each elaboration or the audible, visual, and mental distractions alone. Almost certainly they would not have remembered alone.

The interaction becomes less about what the person said in response to the questions, and more about how they responded and how that current flowed into the one who received them.

Choosing to transcribe ideas and words through an imperfect person and the mechanics of a malfunctioning analog device creates a visual expression for unseeable human experiences. Current highlights the labor of our lives together and the choices that make them meaningful.