I have a crush on an art exhibit – Body Cartography at the Weisman Art Museum. I went to the artists’ talk (with Olive Bieringa and Otto Ramstad) , the terrifying, yet awesome, felt room and earlier this week I went to action movie. It was a personal dance performance. A perfect third date.
I signed up in advance and was handed off to a dancer/artist. He walked me around the galleries, often with my eyes closed. He would tell me when to open and close my eyes and led me through the gallery by holding my hand, or gently nudging my back. At times he’s leave me alone, run to a location nearby and tell me to open my eyes and I’d watch and the art, from a distance.
I was a little nervous at the prospect but it wasn’t scary at all. Turns out it’s comforting to give over and let someone else lead you around.
I know the Weisman pretty well. And I had learned about empathetic kinesthesia in the artists’ talk so I had an idea of what to expect. My dancer (Justin) was very kind and explained the process to me and he looked like Kraig Johnson (Run Westy Run) back in the day. So what’s not to like there.
It is interesting to have permission to stare at someone at close range. As I remember it, we moved side-by-side at first so by the time I really was in a position to stare there was a comfort level and because it was a performance it felt rude not to watch.
I started off trying to anticipate movement but that dissipated pretty quickly. Soon after, there was a pull at times, especially when Justin was close and the movement was easy, to want to mirror the same action. But my Midwestern shyness prevented any of that. But there was a pull.
It’s awesome and strange to have a short, immersive encounter with one person.
Mostly Minnesota 