unperformed events

chicago, illinois + seattle, washington
2006-present

Unperformed Events is a series of written vignettes. At present, I have created 46.

Each documents an un-performed experience, an act embodied with a specific intent, for a specific duration.

These events exist in the world. Printed on museum labels, they mark an experience. I attached 186 labels in public spaces throughout Chicago, Illinois and Seattle, Washington; the unperformed events exist in the experience of the viewer.


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Stand perfectly still on the sidewalk
just in front of your house.

for: an empty lot.
duration: 9 minutes














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Lower your face to a metal ventilation grate.
Hum: "ahhhhh."

for: The sparrow that lives just outside my bedroom window.
duration: 1 minute.






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Press your ear against a concrete support
beam, on a railway platform. Attentively remain
until the train enters and
comes to a complete stop.

for: Silence
duration: The length of your wait.






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Stand next to a (living) tree. Take deep breaths
into sections of the tree beginning at the
tips of the leading most branches
and moving all the way down to the trunk.
Extend into the roots.

for: My shoes.
duration: Until complete.





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