It Happens
Assignment:
Come up with 5 programs for a happening. (Happenings are a type of art wholly different than conventional visual or performance art. They are conceived as outlines of performative actions taken by participants to evoke a response by either the participants or the observers. The actions themselves are encouraged to be spontaneous in their course so that neither the observer nor the participant is certain of the outcome.)
Movement/Style/Genre/Medium: Happenings
My Work
Intentions: Firstly, I wanted to play with the relationship between the participant and the observer. Sprint is a happening with a clear delineation between participants and observers. It comes as surprise to a group of observers and finishes almost as soon as it arrives. Acts of Kindness and Pause blend the roles whereby an observer becomes the participant and then interacts with a new observer and recruits them into becoming a participant. The chain can literally go on forever. Whispers and Connection are intimate happenings with no separate observers. The participants play both roles. Secondly, I wanted the happenings to have positive outcomes for both the participants and the observers.
Other notes: I have designed and ordered 50 “Acts of Kindness” cards. I intend to perform the happening as I go about my life - carrying a few cards with me at all times. I mean…why not?
Acts of Kindness
A ‘pay it forward’ happening.
Location: Shopping mall…or anywhere really
1. Participant performs an act of kindness for a stranger (e.g. opens a door, compliments their shoes, etc.) and hands the stranger a card that reads, “I just did a small act of kindness. Please do one for someone else as soon as possible and pass this card along.”
2. Repeat for 50 different strangers.
Pause
A variation of “Acts of Kindness”.
Location: City Park, outdoor concert (before it starts)…or anywhere really
1. Participant selects a nearby stranger and hands them a card that reads, “Please immediately do one of the following for 30 seconds:
a. close your eyes and just listen
b. bend down and closely examine a leaf or flower
c. touch something and feel its texture”
After, pass this card with a smile to a nearby friend or stranger.
2. Repeat 50 times (i.e. hand out 50 cards).
Whispers
An intimate experience for a group of at least 8 people.
Location/situation: dinner party or the like
1. Each participant writes 6 notes on small (supplied) cards, folds them, and attaches them in random order to a (supplied) string necklace.
a. Note 1: “Whisper me a secret “
b. Note 2: “Whisper me something you like about me”
c. Note 3: “Whisper me a desire of yours”
d. Note 4: “Hug me from behind for 30 seconds” or describe a preferred touch (e.g. hold my hand, caress my head, etc.)
e. Note 5: Your choice. This can be anything (e.g. make a loud funny sound for the group, whisper me a carnal desire, pretend you’re a kitten and purr, whisper me a hope you have for me etc.). Be sensitive to the fact that the person performing the task may be any gender, of any sexual preference, and may be ‘attached’.
f. Note 6: Also your choice.
2. When complete, each participant places their necklace around their neck and arranges it ‘backwards’ such that the cards are on the participant’s back.
3. With gentle background music playing, arrange the group in a circle, facing out, eyes closed. Make certain that the cards are facing the center of the circle
4. 2-3 participants (depending on group size) are selected as whisperers.
5. Each whisperer turns, secretly selects a participant, removes a card, reads it to themself and performs the task for/to the person.
6. When the task is complete, whisperer drops the card and returns to their original place. After a silent count of 10, the person who wrote the task becomes a new whisperer.
7. Continue until all tasks are completed
Sprint
4-6 participants sprint and yell after each other in public. Humor is good, but not required.
Location/situation: Public place, preferably with plenty of people around.
1. First person sprints by and proceeds out of sight
2. 3-5 s later, Second person sprints after them and yells something
3. 3-5 s later, Third person sprints after them and yells something
4. 3-5 s later, Fourth person sprints after them and yells something
5. 3-5 s later, Fifth person sprints after them and yells something
6. Etc.
The yells can be anything the participants choose. Example of a sequence:
• John runs by (crying?)
• Mark runs by, “John, stop, Theresa means nothing to me!”
• Theresa runs by, “Nothing? Nothing!?! Hey dick I’m pregnant!”
• Alex runs by, “Theresa, please, I want you back! I’ve always loved you!”
• Lori runs by, “Alex, hold on, what?!? Who the fuck is Theresa?!?
Connection
A playful and surprisingly intimate experience for groups of any size (though only an even number of people can participate at a given time). This Goings-On is for participants. Observers are unnecessary.
Location/situation: Dinner party or the like
1. Split into pairs of 2.
2. Decide who will lead. The other will follow.
3. Leaders face their partner and offer hands, chest high, with palms facing their partner.
4. Followers place their hands gently against leaders hands, palm to palm and close their eyes.
5. Facilitator starts a gentle song. Matching the rhythm of the song is unnecessary.
6. Leaders move slowly forward (walking with small steps) keeping their hands in front. Followers press their hands against the leaders hands as gently as possible while always maintaining contact. Do not change the relative position of the hands as you move.
7. Followers feel the leaders movement through their hands and move backwards with their leaders. Hands always stay in front.
8. When ready, leaders gently stop and move slowly backward.
9. Followers always move with your leaders.
10. Leaders play with changing direction.
11. When ready, leaders ‘steer’ their partner while moving by making a very slight forward adjustment with one hand and backward adjustment with the other.
12. Play with this connection for the rest of the song.
13. Switch roles for the next song.