The Expanding Web Of Life Performance

Idea Instructions I had today for a performance along the Canal

(a designated route - free to walk, stop, sit, move, interact)   - TO BE REFINED!

Try to make eye contact with as many people as you can and say hello to them if they look at you.

If you see someone say hello to you, say hello back, and give them a great smile!

Sit next to the next person you see on a bench.  Draw a picture for them, and then give it to them.

If someone gives you a drawing, introduce yourself and have a conversation with them.  Then turn it over and draw a picture for them and give it back to them.

At some point along the way, think of something you’re really excited about – and … (….?!  //….)

If you see or hear someone excited, copy them how they … (jump / shout for joy.. other?! )

Bring something flat and metal (CHECK TO FIND SOME RELEVANT EXAMPLES OF EVERYDAY OBJECTS) and put it somewhere on the floor where there is some empty space. 

If you see a pie tin or metal thing on the floor, stand on it, and tap a rhythm (dance) for at least one minute then leave it there for another person.

If you see a shaker or something you could make a sound with, pick it up and play a rhythm until you get to the next bridge.  (NEED TO LEAVE SHAKERS AROUD.. OR OTHER EVERDAY NOT VERY VALUABLE SOUNDING THINGS, or give them out)

If you see someone playing a rhrythm with some instrument or object or body part, go up to them and move to their rhythm until one of you stops and you part.  AND/OR make sound with a body part or object along to them.

If you see someone with a camera, go up to them and ask them if you could take a picture of them , for them.

Bring a photography camera with you and wear it around your neck (Make sure it works and has batteries in it).

Sit down on a bench.  When you see someone come into view,  tap your foot to the rhythm of their steps, and then hum (SONG) to the beat of their step until you can’t see them anymore, they’ve walked away into the distance.

If you see someone sitting and tapping their foot, smile at them.  (You are probably walking past them)

If you walk past and hear someone sitting there humming, hum in harmony to their hum until you can’t hear them anymore, walking away from them.

Bring a poem with you.  Sit down by the side of the canal, or on a bench.  (CHECK SAFE RELEVANT SPACES) Read it out aloud, just in time for the best part to be heard by someone who is walking past.

If you see someone reading a poem, stop and listen until they finish and leave, or just until you want to leave (OR YOU COULD ALSO HUM A BACKground tune to it or make a rhythm to it or move to it.

Take your guitar with you and stand somewhere comfortable along the way.  Play (A SONG – CHECK RELEVANT SONGS TO SING)   (OR HAVE SONG LYRICS ABOUT to give away)

Bring a musical instrument with you, hide it away while you’re walking.  When you past a bridge, take out your musical instrument, play it until the next bridge.  (CHECK THE DISTANCES AND OTHER RELEVANT MARKERS)

When you see someone stop, you spin around a full turn and then keep walking .. 

If you see someone spinning around, spin around a full turn too.

Stand somewhere with some space, stretch your whole body and limbs out in the way you do when you are just waking up – keep stretching until you’re warm..

If you see someone stretching, go and stretch next to them.  Introduce yourself and have a conversation with them while you’re doing it.

If you see someone you know, wave to them.  

If you see someone waving at you, go up to them and hug them.

Sit down somewhere comfortable, lie on your back (or sit comfortably) close your eyes, think of the person who is your best friend and who you love the most for as little or as long as you want to. 

Splurged out from the mind of Jan Lee - from everything that has happened so far in this project!

Last night, before a music gig, I found a ‘stage’ on the dancefloor - it was a pattern about 1.5 metre square with paved rings circles.  Strangely people were standing all around it but no one was stepping on it.   Then the DJ started to play an old rockabilly song…  Perfect!  Jumped onto the hopscotch twist and shout don’t step on the cracks square and met my friend along one of the circles..  Another couple came and dipped their feet in and out of the pattern and twisted their hips..  I love that song Jonny B Goode.

Jan

Walking through crowds of people

Singing ‘Satisfied Mind’,

Creating some space.

Sama

‘Box Baby’ Performance

A cardboard box, from which protrudes two legs, a nose, an ear, a hand and an arm.
People crowd around it, laughing, poking, holding, watching. 
Someone pinches a limb.  A giggle from the box.

Someone blows air onto its skin.
An hour later, the box still has its limbs.
It sits there, a thick heat rising from the box.

Its stillness, its presence, its absurd commitment to the cause; it pulls a wash of empathy from its onlookers -
Someone gives a protruding leg a comforting massage.

Being an audience at a performance in a squat, a weekend ago.

Nose Game (2 players)
Play in a trendy bar, with loud music and a dancefloor.

Instructions
1 Be on the dancefloor
2 Stand facing your friend
2 Point your finger at each other.
4 Have a duel fight wiith your fingers by trying to press your friend’s nose button.
5 You’ll win if you get to press their nose.
6 You’ll win if they don’t reach your nose.
6 Bonus Win- Have a duel fight around a group of people standing on the dancefloor (they’ll love it)

Stranger’s Nose Game (1+ players)
Play in a trendy bar, with music

1 Trust yourself and your finger
2 Trust strangers and their noses
3 Try to press as many stranger’s nose buttons as you can, while not bumping into anyone or injuring them, or spilling much of stranger’s drinks.
4 Play duels with strangers who play back.

Important Rules of both games:
1 Be aware of others and the space around you always - try not to bump into or injure anyone.
2 Do it in a way so that stranger’s get your game.
3 Acknowledge strangers for being part of the game at the end (for example, handshake, say thanks, smile..)

Initiated by Kate Sagovsky & Jan Lee at an extremely loud and trendy bar in Kingsland High Street last Thursday.

I’m waiting for a friend.  It’s a beautiful sunny morning.  People sit on bench tables in the square in front of the station near food stalls.  I enjoy running my eyes over the groups of humans and the spaces in between them as I please.  I am noticing that people are noticing that I’m noticing them. The game is, who am I noticing, and what individuals, groups or encounters draw my attention?  Why am I attracted to them?   I notice how even these moments of eye contact are a beautiful & subtle dance of acknowledgement & interaction..  the beginnings of more to come?…

Jan