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Kilometer
For my kilometre, I go on a walk every morning with my dog, and figured that with the 1 km walk I could show what it’s like to go on a walk with us. The twist I wanted to add was seeing both perspectives, me and my dogs as well as putting music on both POV’s.
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Turning the Gestures of Everyday Life Into Art by Katja Heitmann
- Describe the work discussed in the article and the unique challenges – as well as the unique gifts- that come with attempting to archive personal movements.
- This article discusses how Katjia uses dancers to study and recreate movements of everyday life into an art piece that mimics the unique way one’s body moves. The unique challenges started with the fact that the dancers could not photograph, film, or record in writing anything from the interviews, they needed to memorize and become one with the specific authentic gestures made to become one with capturing human data. Another challenge was the archive being ongoing and live, meaning the dancers could not clock in and out, they couldn’t stop otherwise the artwork was considered gone. This could cause fatigue or body aches, so they would need to persevere through. The volunteers who were a part of the piece never realized the movements they had made and reflected on them, which also allowed them to discover new things about themselves, and some even made adjustments to their everyday lives because of it.
- Discuss one or two examples of movements in the article – what strikes you about them?
- What strikes me most is Broek who had “anxiety hands” and constantly cracked his knuckles. The gesture of cracking knuckles is such a common thing among those who have anxiety and, I also can relate because I find in high-pressure or uncomfortable situations, I crack my knuckles to pass the time or take my brain somewhere else with the sounds.
- Describe the habitual movements/unconscious gestures, tics, etc. of 3 people you know well. How do individual body parts move, and how does the whole body interact? What about facial expressions and the emotional valence of the movement? How does body type inform the movement? What do these examples of small movements mean and imply?
- My boyfriend plays first-person shooter games on his Xbox a lot. I noticed that when he gets really focused in rounds he opens his mouth the smallest amount and closes it slowly. Usually, when he focuses on others body movements are completely still and, his facial expressions are blank.
- My brother, whenever he says something in a group setting that isn’t totally addressed to anyone, will say what he wants to say and then look at everyone who is close, but it’s in a way that still isn’t addressed to people, like an open response question or statement.
- My best friend, when she is reading, will bite her hair or play with it. I feel like it’s a way of self-soothing, or alleviating boredom or anxiety when doing something as simple as reading.
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Field Trip Assignment
During the AGO, I found 2 pieces that captured my attention. The first piece I liked was “Bic Lighter”, by Tarralik Duffy on the first floor of the exhibition. The take on the lighter and the cigarette she made is almost a comedic joke, they are supposed to highlight a sense of playfulness and humor but I took it in a different direction and saw it as a complete hit on a sensitive topic. I like this piece because in my head it was giving more of a warning or highlighting on the topic of smoking and the severity of it. It has become one of the everyday objects used and I think that is sad, but for her to use it in a comedic sense was slightly refreshing. Although it’s a sensitive topic for her to take this in the direction of enlarging and making the pieces out of foam as a type of plushie is a cool idea. The second piece was made by Narcisse Virgile Diaz de la Peña called the storm. I love this piece and was instantly captured by its beauty. I love the color pallet and the brush strokes used to portray a sense of darkness in the storm. I love the use of dramatic brushstrokes and the string natural effect it has on the piece. The combination of the dominating stormy sky on the open lands is so pretty. As well as the use of the framing adds to the dynamic of the piece and brings out the sun casting light onto the paths in the middle of the piece.
One Feat, Three Ways Video
Progress video
Audio Assignment
“Rhythmic anxiety” is a sound piece exploring the rhythmic patterns of anxiety-driven fidgeting. It is composed of layered sounds created by tapping my foot, drumming my fingers, and playing with jewelry—small, unconscious actions that often go unnoticed but reveal a restless mind. These sounds come together to form a beat that feels both structured and erratic, mirroring the way anxiety can create a sense of order within internal chaos. At times, the rhythm is soothing, like a subconscious coping mechanism, while at other times, it becomes overwhelming, reflecting how these habits can spiral. The title, Lost in Chaos, captures the experience of being trapped in these repetitive motions, where fidgeting is both a release and a symptom of unease.
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Open Gallery
Walking around the gallery was an interesting experience as it allowed me to see all the artistic styles and learn about different artists. It was also fascinating to discover what some artists are currently working on and what others plan to pursue after graduating. Hearing about their creative processes, including trial and error in developing techniques, provided valuable insights and helpful tips for future artistic endeavors.
One piece I particularly enjoyed was part of a series of paintings that captured the atmosphere of a women’s restroom with striking accuracy. The artist’s incredible attention to detail and creativity brought the scene to life. Speaking with her was insightful, as she shared valuable points about working with oil paints and showcased other thought-provoking pieces that pushed artistic boundaries and thought outside the box. It was also nice to see how each piece she showed different mediums, like the series painting, she had a wall of pictures of women’s purses and lastly put together a scene like restroom that made me think any girls messy set up when getting ready.
Unfortunately, I can’t remember the artists’ names, but these are some of the pieces I enjoyed seeing. Most are pieces with great attention to detail that bring certain elements alive.
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Portrait Project
Portrait of Jon Audino (My dad)
I made an audio piece composed of clips of my dad playing his favorite songs on the guitar along with the music in the background. This is one of the best representations of my dad because throughout his life he has loved music and can portray parts of himself through song in a way he never could through words. Each one of these songs he grew up with and continues to play all the time at home. This is a little bit of a longer video but I wanted to incorporate some of his best sessions with these songs and give a sense of who he is through music and also a small sound of what it’s like to be in our household on a regular day. I incorporated some clips where he knew I was recording and some he didn’t know and I even caught him singing a couple of lyrics! In some of the clips, he also messes around a little bit which were the ones he didn’t know I was recording. I did that because he was quite nervous to be filmed. Overall, I think he did a really good job working through the nerves, and I think this piece came out well with capturing those candid moments which shows an authentic touch that really brings out his personality and love for music, I hope you enjoy it!
The songs include:
Wonderwall by Oasis
Go let it out by Oasis
Bad by U2
One by U2
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Soul to Squeeze by the Red Hot Chili Pepper
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Conversation starter Buttons
I created these buttons to encourage social interaction and engagement. Each button features an open-ended, thought-provoking question designed to spark conversation, break the ice, and make it easier to connect with others. Whether the prompts invite humor, personal stories, or deep discussions, they help turn everyday interactions into engaging and meaningful moments.
Starting conversations can be challenging, especially for those who aren’t naturally extroverted. These buttons serve as an approachable and fun way to initiate discussions, encourage curiosity, and make meeting new people less awkward. They can be used in classrooms, social events, or casual settings to create spontaneous and dynamic interactions.
I appreciate how these buttons promote interaction in different ways—whether through laughter, storytelling, or thought-provoking ideas. By wearing or displaying them, they invite connection, making social experiences more natural and memorable.
