I stayed with a former stranger for three weeks and explored the potential in a random connection. The following passage is an excerpt from the book, I am the Bubble Make me the Sea II, made about our time together.
I was in an odd part of town when I drove by the violet home. I had just purchased a sewing machine, which was out of character to say the least, not the purchase part, but the sewing. Three minutes later, compelled by a gut feeling, I turned around. I peered in a window. I was drawn in; it felt as if I was supposed to be there. Three days later my fight home was delayed. To occupy time, I went back. I was in full investigation when we met. She was escorting someone out as I was looking in. She gave me a tour as if she had been expecting me, completely natural. Three days later I dialed her number, asked if she'd be interested in working with me, she agreed and three days later I flew back to begin our time. I didn't know what would transpire; I only knew that it would be a sort of meditation on a strangerly connection. Day 1 - She handed me a copy of the book Siddhartha. Did she know I used to call people Hesse prior to my knowledge of the author? Part fairy tale, part reality, this collaboration between two mediums (gave) heightened possibility to each.
I view this project as a meditation on possibility, a search for an opening, and an exploration into the collaborative consciousness of two people. Given our society's dominant ideology of individualism, my work consistently focuses on the idea of connection and the dynamics of negotiating the self in relation to others. I'm intrigued by the tableau that is our constructed modern day environment, our isolated lifestyles and our resultant feelings of lack and persistent urges to seek "natural" connection. Strangerly Connection is an optimistic response to this condition, in which I propagate Zady as a guru because of her trust and reliance in the universal connection of all beings and energies. 2008
(originally projected as a meditative piece 49:00, version II for screening or monitor display 9:02)
index of subject's library collected by my mother, artist book
three stills from video
blended life timeline
