Witness, 2020
"Witness"
April-June 2020
"Witness" was a 2-day private performance recorded on Zoom during Covid-19 quarantine.
The performance resulted in a performative drawing, also entitled "Witness." This performative drawing is 1 in a series of 7.
Images from each of the 7 drawings are included here, as well as photographs of the performative process for each drawing.
The process
-A 22 x 30 inch piece of paper is on the ground, secured by one rock (the witness).
-The witness remains in the center of the paper for the duration of the performance/process.
-A fire is made.
-Rocks are put in the fire. They are fired.
-The fire goes out.
-The rocks are removed and placed on the paper.
-The charcoal from the fire is gathered.
-The rocks are covered in charcoal. ( I color them all black.)
-Charcoal is removed from the rocks by rubbing them against the paper. (The drawing is made this way.)
-Tea is served.
-I drink some tea.
-Tea is poured over the witness.
-Each rock, one by one, is washed by the tea, assisted by my hands and clothing.
-The rocks are placed, one by one, on the paper.
The same rock (the witness) is used in each drawing.
New rocks are fired for each drawing.