This engagement with context has always been very prevalent in my artistic practice. It stems from a need to relate myself in regards to who I am and where I am. The new message has these thoughts in mind.
I’ve appreciated the interesting responses to this question. This group of people have taken the question and expanded on it.
A month ago now, Call and Respond made a one night test connection with the Working Relationship, a curatorial group in Ithaca, NY. They have been asking questions about the duality of contemporary art. With this in mind, I asked the following question -
I’m making a trip up to Ithaca this weekend to catch up with a few friends and talk with a group theworkingrelationship.com – Several weeks ago, Call and Respond had a preview there, with a great response. Now I’m going back.
In the past few days, I’ve been thinking more about this project as a conversation. Each of which is contained in a moment. Now, I’m wanting to have a more sustained effort to engage a group of people. With this in mind, I’m going to ask this meeting of the minds to work with me to develop this project. As they meet monthly, I’m going to ask them to be a focus group of call and responders. They will help to produce the questions and responses for the next year. My curiosity is peaked by what might grow out of working with a specific group of people on this project.
I hope they go for the idea.
As my attention has been turned away from the production side of call and respond for a few weeks, I have been reviewing some of the responses that have come in. What I’ve come to grasp is a greater understanding of the dilemma that I am placing people in with this project.
To hear (and understand) a question over the phone and then respond is not an easy task. (ie I’m getting a lot of hang ups. Don’t worry there will be a post of them soon). This has lead to an exploration of different types of questions. Sometimes you are making a simple choice. It is almost a yes or no answer, though gives some insight into your way of thinking. In other instances the questions lean heavily philosophical, which demands time for thought, before an answer is given. Lastly, the message is not a question at all. It is just a statement. So, I’m trying to find a balance in all this to explore how people might engage each other.
My major object in this project is to produce a contained dialogue. One that happens immediately and does not leave a lot of time for thought. The reaction in it self is the answer.
So, if you are reading this and trying to get a handle on what the hell this is all about, call back and just say whatever come to your mind.
Last weekend Call&Respond visited Ithaca thanks to my good friend Karen Brummund.
At this moment there are several responses to this project that need to be post. I will get to that this weekend.
Also, I’ve been thinking about how the project might expand organically into other territory. Look for a sound installation coming to you in the near future.
I just had an initial run of new cards completed.
It is a big jump forward from the original effort.
Here they are -
As of late, I’ve been wondering about this idea of home. Having relocated in the past year, I’m starting to grow roots and am not sure how I feel about that. Do I really identify with my present location? There is also the question of the local versus the regional, even national. Hmmm…
Again, it seems as if people are continuing to have difficulty responding. Sarah’s poem gave several points to engage and how you just need to say something.
