Train/Niart

Act I

I went on a walk last Saturday. I found my way to the train bridge by the football field. I sat on the bridge and read a book. As I was reading a train came along. I laughed out loud when I saw that it was carrying about twenty brand new John Deere tractors. I sat back and listened to the rattling of the rails and the rush of the wind. As the engine passed under the bridge it brought a great wave of heat. 

I started reading the Fluxus workbook at bit later and found the performance "Symphony No. 6 Fluxversion 2." It said to arrange or discover an event, score and realize it. I had just discovered the event of the train, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to build off of that. 

Act II

I asked Benjamin to collaborate with me. We decided to return to the bridge and record the sound of a train passing. We sat and recorded until we couldn't hear the train any more.

 

Act III

We sat across from each other and played the train sound forward through my speaker and backwards through Benjamin's. Staying present with him in the moment was surprisingly easy for me. I'm not afraid of making and maintaining eye contact with people. I have a feeling I could do it for a long time. 

I thought our performance went well. I'm not sure that the signs were needed. I think the performance would have worked just as well without them. If we were to re-perform this I would have a more solid ending planned and use a light that sits on the floor that would illuminate the performers equally.