Project 3: Performative Object

Make Way

December 12, 2018

2’x2’x2.5’

Fabric, thread, wooden dowel, foam pipe covering, jingle bells, bike bells

Union Square Subway Station

6-minute performance

I walked through the subway station and rang my bells when I encountered crowds to make people move out of my way.

Reflection:

No one enjoys navigating crowded subway stations. If you’re short, you’re constantly being pushed and ran over by aggressive walkers. If you’re lost, there’s nowhere to pull over and reorient yourself. If you’re in a rush, you’re constantly being made late by slow walkers. Luckily most people in NYC are average height and know their way around. Everyone, however, is effected by slow walkers.

Although “pedestrian rage” is rising, studies find the pace of walkers is decreasing a few feet per second every year. Why is that? It could be the latest mantras about living life slower, but no exact reason has been pinpointed. Regardless of the cause, it is an issue, and a medical one too; slow walkers are more likely die young and/or from heart disease.

Instead of irritating slowpokes or making them late, I chose to create a wearable object that would use non-aggressive noise to let people around me know I’m coming through. In addition to jingle bells, my object also has bike bells so that people would connote my project with a bike and make way for me. My piece extends my body by using a foam tube to create personal space around me. My goal was to have people take notice of my presence and let me through.

I performed my object in the Union Square Subway Station at midday. It was quite empty, so it was difficult to find crowds that needed to be pushed through. Every time a train let out, a crowd of people would come up the stairs, so I used that as my target audience. I walked the opposite direction of the crowd while ringing my bike bells. In response, people would stare, dodge me, change the course of their path, and one woman may have been following me.

It was strange to walk around wearing my performative object. It was out of place with its surroundings and it drew attention to me, but it was kind of rewarding when people looked at me curiously and noticed the craft of my object.

I overall feel like my performance wasn’t super successful. Partially because it wasn’t crowded, and partially because my group was rushing to get through everyone’s performances. I would like to try it again at a busier time, it might be more effective with more people around.