THIRSTQUENCHING ACTION!

I'd apologize, but after 50 hours of conciseness I think I deserved 14 hours of not.

So no apologies there.


And if you visit the UCEN you will see why.

Hehehehehehehehehehe.

Anyways, I enjoyed this project.

I, even more so, enjoyed the opportunity it gave me to help (read: harass) random passers by. With a free drink.

The anonymity provided by my homemade radiation suit is intoxicating. The courage that an air filter, large sunglasses, and several coats can provide is astonishing.
(It draws a train of through to internet anonymity, but with a more imposing appearance. An appearance that inspires the appropriate amount of dread that internet anonymity should, but that is just my opinion.)

To clarify, I did this:

Offered free non-irradiated water to any hapless passerby who was in need.

Managed to give out some liquid refreshment to a total of seven people.

Three don't really count, because they were in my class and knew who I was.


Four actual bites, honestly, is surprising to me.

In fact, one of the conesuers gave me a gift in return for my water providing services!

A bag of almonds.


Specifically, these:

You will notice that the bag is almost empty.


That is because these things are crack.


The man who gave me them told me did so because he respected me being out there, doing what I thought was right.

I was, but I think he thought I was more serious than I actually was?

But that doesn't matter. What matters is the amazing generosity I garnered by giving away water, despite my look.


Here are some more pictures.

And that's it.

P.S. With the proper application of cumin and salt, a roasted almond becomes a thing of wonder. In roughly twelve minutes I have become so thoroughly smitten with these delicacies that, it is with a heavy heart, I confront the realization that they will soon be all gone. I loathe to finish the bag.

Places:v

I hateses it.

We hateses it.

WE HATESES HATESES HATESES ITSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!


Whatever it is anyways. A disliked place for my piece that is.


Basically, anywhere with sun and no people.

Ironically, a good place to have an actual nuclear facility.
Or maybe a place created by one?

Or even the breakdown and cataclysm of one?

"Gorsh, Mr. Bolton. Ya sure are gettin all morbid with yer writins."

You bet your inebriated ass I am Lefty. That is my job.

I have to be prepared to be "the survivor" for two hours and hand out my goodwill water.

(Radiation free guaranteed! Or your not money back.)



Yeah, this isn't much of a problem. In fact, if I had not chosen to set up a stand for this iteration of my piece, I could have been walking around handing out water.

That would have had an entire "traveling wasteland salesman" motif to it.

Another trope that I am quite fond of.


But lugging around water is a fucking bitch, so no way Jose.


And that's it.

Places: ^

Favorite place?

Well I'm just torn between two issues.


A meaningful place.

Or a place with lots of people, for human interactions.



Conveniently, my project devices meaning from human interaction.
In the same way that if a nuclear holocaust happens, and no one is around to die from it, does anyone give a shit?

Something tells me that the silicate based dirt wont give a hoop or a holler.

Just something.



So, I'm going on the main UCSB pathway, near the career center area. There is this really nice spot with shade from the tree.


Seeing as I will be in a number of heavy coats, I will be hot as fuck.


Also I will be elevated in temperature.

*Crowd laughter*

But seriousness, I am prepared to be UNCOMFORTABLY WARM, so I chose a spot where I could, hopefully, bear the full 2 hours.

I still expect to be baked like a durned potato after all is said and done. Not to mention that I have to go put up a public art piece at the UCEN immediately after.

That should be a hoot in that getup.

Even funnier may be me convincing the UCEN office peoples to let me do it in that outfit. I'll probably take it off before I talk to them.

Just a thought.

Anyways, we will see.


And that's it.

Eraborate.

So I get to dress up as in my rad suit.

I really like the concept and reactions I get from people, but as I need to do more interaction with this continuation, I plan to take it a little farther.

Since I have never lived through a nuclear holocaust, I do not know for sure but, I'd assume someone who had would have a certain destitute skittishness about them.

So, I will take on the actions and mindset of someone totally devoted to survival. Every action I need to take during the day will be done with the mindset that, if I do not complete it, it would be detrimental to my life and continued existence.

Also, too bright light will hurt my eyes, due to nuclear winter, so I will tend to never look directly at any light source.


I really hope the circumstances that lead to a nuclear future never occur.
I hope the reactor in fukishima doesn't leak into the water table.


And that's it.

Okay proposals.

Heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Hmmm...

I kinda already know what I am going to do for this, but I need to develop the attitude a little more.

I'll come up with some backups just in case.

1. Reverse Everything: The way I walk, the way I talk, the way I write, the way I do anything. At least for everything possible. You would need a mirror to read my final. I assume they would be cool with it. It's not easy, but I think I could. I can already do the writing trick partially. It would take me a few moments to compose my words before each attempt at speech.

2."Silencio": Refuse to speak. Also, can not write out communication (Beyond the final). Must communicate with crude approximations of sign language and facial expressions. Head nodding/shaking is okay. Attempt to communicate as much as possible. I think I could do this. I also think I am more capable of pulling this off than most people, due to my nature. Duct tape on mouth.

3. "Radiation survivor": Full radiation suit to protect self. Respirator, several jackets and windbreakers, hoodie, heavy jeans, sunglasses. Freakish appearance. But the pink makes it more realistic and less dystopian. Hehehe. I kinda knew I would do this one for a while.


And that's it.

Rt dump Six.

I think people will either get a kick out of it, or be really freaked out.


I look forward to either.

The freaking out due to my unusual hazmat appearance. ( As my roommate put it, "Dude you are gonna, like, get tazed.")

The kick out of it from the absurdity of the situation.


Hopefully, a select few will get the connotations of how hard living with nuclear devastation is and the connotations this piece has with it.


Oh, for those who weren't here for the previous explanation...

I will be dressing up in a home cobbled together "hazmat" suit that involves dark sunglasses, my air filter mask, several coats, and my police boots.

And I will open up a "Free non-irradiated water" stand on one of the main pathways.

It should be fun.

And hopefully inflict some thoughts.


And that's it.

Nice weather.

So the assignment was to "Alter an everyday action in a physical public environment and document what you did, public reception, etc. How did it change or enhance your understanding of the space and activities within it? Elaborate. Be prepared to discuss what you did in class on Thursday and pull up your blog documentation via the projector for a 3-minute presentation. This will be a precursor to a major assignment later in the quarter regarding public/personal space."

Okay.

I decided to change what I wore.

Clothing and all that.

I wore an extra three jackets (two with hoods.)

My police boots.

Fingerless gloves.

My respirator. Which I normally use for mixing glazes.

And sunglasses.

I looked like this:

I then sat in the middle of the main bike circle from about 4:30pm until 5:00pm.

I got a lot of looks, a ton of glances, a boatload of stares, and a lot of other synonymous terms.

Here are some shots.

Thanks to my friend for taking the shots.

It was interesting sitting there, trying to strain my ears for any comments that people would say.

Beyond confused whispering between some groups, the clearest thing I could hear came from two gentlemen who passed me riding bikes.

More accurately, one was riding a bike while the other held on to his shoulder and rode his skateboard.

I believe he said, "Woah, what's going on here?" before speeding past.

I also saw a pair of (what I assume to be) older women visiting the campus to scope out the school.

I think so anyways, they looked "mum"ish.

Apologies, if you were not, random strangers.

But anyways, they were the only ones to physically stop and comment to themselves, while pointing at me.

I not that I minded. I mean, generating a different reaction was the point.

But most people only glanced while continuing on their way. I probably didn't see most of the glances anyways, since, with the hoods up. I had a real limited field of vision.

It was a very strange experience, to sit there and watch everyone zoom past.

I had wanted to dress like this to say something about radiation.

I don't know how many people got that feeling.


It was fun being in my own thing for once, I don't really know if I'd call it an artwork.


Oh well.

And that's it.

P.S. Yes, it was fucking hot. I was in two winter coats and a windbreaker.