Worldmaking Questions:
Here they are again this time I answered them specific to a planned practice that is meaningful to me.
1. View:
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What is the big picture? I have been given a lot of
resources, How do I share them in a meaningful way. The plan is to create a
social public environment for the sharing of knowledge and skills. This will be
accomplished by setting up a workstation in a public space with foot traffic. A
sign will read something like “I will help anyone make anything” or “I will
teach you something if you teach me something.”
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What is the paradigm (of values) behind it all? The cash economy certainly works and creates
a certain kind of value, but there are many other forms of value and wealth
that can be created and shared. Also the sharing of skills is empowering.
Finally, I really like people, socializing is one of my favorite hobbies. This
would allow me to get my social fix in a productive way.
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What are the main values that it is in opposition to? Specialized
knowledge, social interactions that are mitigated so that the interaction
generates revenue for third parties.
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What model of action are you using? Action, social
dialogue, making.
2. Intention:
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What is the practice’s concrete intentions? To share
skills that I have found to be valuable and enriching to my life. To engage in
a process of learning and creativity.
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What are the practices implicit intentions? Reframing
of common space and time spent in it. Instead of a plaza being a place for loitering
it becomes a classroom, a productive space. Learning, and the sharing of
knowledge and skills can be an community based leisure activity instead of
highly individualized and isolating. A stronger smarter community may emerge.
Also self-directed skill based learning/making introduces joy to the pursuit of
knowledge.
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How do you differ from the intentions of a single piece
and the whole of the practice? Each manifestation would be specific to the
social interactions of particular moments. All fall under the overarching
framework and intent.
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3. Speech:
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What do you need to communicate to allow the work to
have a context? The community building intent of the work. I will probably also
need to be clear that this is a non-monetary endeavor to avoid licensing
hassles etc. Also my station must be approachable. Steve Lambrecht does this
well when he does his piece, “I will talk to anyone about anything.” He uses a
hand painted sign. The environment must be inviting.
●
What terms and concepts do you have to develop?
Articulation. Speak well about what I am doing and in terms that are friendly,
inviting and accessible. E.g. It is difficult to be democratic if one sounds
authoritative.
●
What spaces of dialog is your work involved in? Public
social space specific to the local environment. Pickering square seems like a
good place to start.
4. Action:
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What are the practices associated with the work? Social
interaction. Teaching, learning, creativity. Specifics arise with individual
requests for making.
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What are the key actions involved in making the work? Teaching, interpretation, planning, research,
making.
●
5. Livelihood:
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What are the actual life practices associated with your
question? Sit in the square, learn, make things, make friends.
●
How do you make a livelihood? Job through the
university and picking up shifts at a group home. If the described practice
began to generate more interest, could probably apply for grant funding. This
sort of thing is likely to build stronger community/ reduce crime a number of
cities will find these kinds of projects. There is probably enough research to
make a valid case for funding. It is very important to me that the public can
access my service without having to pay – I would probably accept donations or
trades but I really want this to be engaging and accessible.
●
Where do you need to work? Pickering square seems good.
It is trafficked by the types of people I want to reach. If successful, others
will here about it and show up.
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What does this consist of? See big picture section.
●
Who are you working with? Whomever wants to work with
me (I will reserve the right to refuse to work with anyone though)
6. Effort:
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Perfection: What does perfection look like in regards
to this work? A healthy community where members strive to live as their best
selves. In Washington DC there is a drum circle thing that has happened every
Sunday in Malcom X park for a number of years. Now Sundays in this park are so
much more than drumming – people come to play a variety of games, do yoga have
picnics etc. Perfection in my work looks similar: the transformation of unused
public space into a social environment for activities and growth. In this ideal
situation, the square becomes no longer just about my station but rather spurs involvement
of other actors and activities as well.
●
What are you actually striving for? (For the art and in
your own life). That will not fit here. If I am strong, diligent and carry
through, you may be able to visit me in a decade or so and I will try to show
you.
7. Mindfulness:
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How do make sure all the parts of this practice are
part of the same general logic? (It is important to imagine that your thoughts
and your actions link up so to speak). Reflection, solicitation of feedback,
looking for indicators of success or need for improvement.
8. Concentration:
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Where should you locate your effort? (It is easy to
shape your practice into existing methodologies but given your problem in a
pure state where should you locate your activities -- imagine that it is not in
art as we know it...) Everywhere: art is not for museums, it is for living.
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