In our third site lesson, we were given more freedom to explore and interact with the site on our own. We had to create an “unusual” map of an area and lead our classmates on a misguided tour.
For the map, my friend Charlie and I decided to create a map of texture rubbings from different buildings all around the site. we did this because everyone comes from different backgrounds and experiences these places differently but, when you get down to it, these places are more similar than you think :‘To see the city from one’s bed, from one’s bath, from one’s rooftop – how perfect to live in a city.’ (Etchells, 1999, 76-80)
We then had to create and lead our class on a misguided tour and a small area of our site. Charlie and myself decided to be historical researchers doing a tour of a well where, in the nineteenth century, a killer used the well to hide bodies. we told the class that the memorial next to the well had the names of all the victims that the police found on it. ‘Playing always to the different histories written in urban space – the official historical, the personal, the mythical and the imaginary.’ (Etchells, 1999, 76-80)
While taking part in these activities, ideas began to form in my head about what i could do for my site performance. hopefully soon they will be more solid.
Thanks for this George, good to hear your reflections on your processes.
You state that ideas have begun to form for you? The blog is a great and useful space to start sharing these ideas. Get some thoughts and ideas down, no matter how ‘rough’. By laying them out now, you’ll be able to reflect on them as you learn and discover more – some will inevitably fall by the wayside but there maybe something that you think of that can be developed as you go on. By sharing ideas on the blog (which is a shared collaborative space) you open up your process to others who may offer you an alternative view or suggestion for consideration.