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generationwednesday — Trigger Potential
Published: 2004-07-01 06:49:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 460; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 69
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I know this is long, but bear with me.Here I am in the body suit I made for my thesis project (titled Trigger Potential) I did last year.
It was an installation/performance/sculpture/video /audio piece. There is a mask, two pendulum shaped "boots" a fochaimail chest piece and the arm pieces. The left arm has three forged tendrals with high power magnets in the tips. The right arm has four window weights (three hang down) making this arm alone weigh close to 40lbs.
I dawned the suit at the market, filmed it, recorded audio, and created an installation in the gallery showing the finished products.
This piece was all about restricting movement, much the same as our many psychological issues restrict our movement through life. I couldn't bend with the chest piece, the mask narrowed my vision, the weight threw me off balance etc...
Whew, that's a year I'm glad is over, but would CERTAINLY do again.
As with many of the pictures from this performance, this photo was taken by my friend Anne Quinn.
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Comments: 17
It is so true that most allow themselves to be defined and "boxed in" by their beliefs and perceptions.
"Don't believe everything you perceive"--Me, and probably somebody famous.
Soo many questions! How many hours did you put into the suit and mask? What were the reactions to the performance? I'd love to see the video. What were some of the things you wrote in the capsules? What did YOU get out of the whole experience? Restriction of senses and movement can often have some profound psychological effects--visions, trance, etc. ANy other multimedia projects in a similar vein planned?
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Yeeahhh, perceptions. We are so easily fooled by ourselves and our inability to change...
The whole thing took a year, I don't know the timeline for each piece.
Reactions? Oh, they were extremely varied. From disinterrested to apalled. I found children were more able to seperate the suit from me; and actually approach me with questions-n-such.
Things I wrote? That's one of those things I need to let be a mystery. Sorry...
I got a LOT from all of this (it's an entire year after all). I don't even know how to put it into words, but I learned much about myself and those around me.
Psychology has been a hobby of mine for a time now. This is one of many things I have running through my head. Problem is; It will take a WHILE to bring this all to fruition.
Thanks for your interest.
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I've really enjoyed the psych classes I've taken--my professor has a rather profound sense of humor, and is famous for his quote "Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn't" and encouraging experiments like how to condition your friends and family to salivate on command...
It's not too surprising to me that the children were more easily able to see past the suit--their conditioning isn't complete yet--they're more mentally flexible.
Sure you can share just ONE capsule snippet?
I guess the secrets just make it more fascinating--rather like the ones we hold ourselves...
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I've had professors like that too. One was even a social anthropology professor. Except he didn't just encourage it, he assigned it.
I've actually done more reading on my own than classes. I love the looks I get when I go to a bar, get a pint and bust out some psych book or something equally as "boring".
Conditioning; aint THAT the truth...
-k-, here's a few (but only if you tell me how to do this salivating thing
Some of these were lifted directly from my journal, and some I really don't remember because I never wrote them down anywhere else...
"I feel different, so far away. I try to get close, but I'm a rabid dog. People run in terror."
"I feel like a scab melting under the scrutiny of others."
"I funnel them away from the truth, only the brave who look from a different angle will see it."
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VERY nice! I can relate to a LOT of that--I stick out like the proverbial sore thumb here, and consider it my mission to
"Rattle the Mind Cages" here. (That's from my Renderosity Bio...)
When I go to a bar, I often sketch or occasionally work on chainmaille jewelry--that'll get some looks too.
Deal's a deal--first you get some "Country Time" Lemonade powder, then you think of a key word--an uncommon one, or a common one if you want to be cruel. Say the word to your subject, then immediately put some of the the powder on their tongue. The powder causes salivating. Repeat about 5 or more times.
From then on, the WORD ALONE should bring about the desired response, i.e., salivation.
Let me know if you want the procedure to UNDO it, too...
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hmm.. tempting, but I like the permanence of not knowing. Sort of like handcuffs with no key.
"I love the way your foul little mind works"- Jaffar
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Who, moi?
"I'm not bad--I'm just drawn that way."--Jessica Rabbit
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-k- I gotta go pretend to be productive. It's been a great chat.
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I must fly as well--
the drums are calling me---
MUST GO DANCE!!!
See ya around!
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that is great. what is all that made of, is it steel? and was it hot or cold-forged? im gonna go look at the mask now.
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Thanks.
It's mostly cold steel and brass with leather straps. I welded the steel with a MIG welder. I had to rivit the brass on. And it's mostly decorative anyway. The mask and links in the mail are the only "functial" brass pieces. It took a year to complete...
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Why magnets in the tips of the tendrils?
Interesting idea, I like the pieces together.
The suit made me think of this short story by Kurt Vonnegut
[link]
If you have not read it you should, it is pretty short and an interesting read.
Keep up the good work.
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Funny, I had someone recommend that story while I was making this. I chose not to read it because I didn't want to be influenced by the imagery. It was a challenge I set for myself in an attempt at creating my own imagery. The i preceeded to forget about it. Thanks for reminding me about it. I can see the connection now, and don't feel it would've effected things after all...
Since mostly what I was "talking" about dealt with psychological issues such as disorders and such, many of the elements echo what I feel are physical manifestations of different symptoms if you will. The magnets started off as a reference to kleptomania, but evolved more generally concidering the possible benifits/uses.
geez there's so much in there, it's hard to put it all into words.
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A very creative wat to depict such an idea. This is awsome! 
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Tanx, I'm glad you like it. That took so much work I cringe at the thought of it. The chainmail part was tedious, but simple compaired to the rest. The hardest part was the mask fur-shur.
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That is a really nice way to show those restirctions
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thanks, I try. 
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