Carrying The Weight (2018)

A practice in endurance and interconnectivity, “Carry the Weight” was created in an effort to allow others to vent frustration and fear in a way where they could hopefully find a relatability to other anonymous individuals. Simultaneously I as an individual was striving for connection by willingly shouldering as much grief as others were willing to give me in an emotional and physical way.

The Performance took place over the course of three full days (72 hours). For the entirety of the duration I dragged a podium fitted with small wheels using a harness and rope tied around it everywhere I went, including classes, for lunch, and even to bed. Atop the podium was ascribed “I CARRY the weight of the world on my Shoulders Please Write your troubles so I may carry them for you” joined with four black markers for writing. It was then that any viewers who came up to observe the podium would be invited to write anything at all that may have been troubling them, no matter how deep or surface level. I would offer them a pen and then turn away so they wouldn’t feel the pressure of my gaze and I could obtain their anonymity to the best of my abilities. To that effect I would also refrain from reading any writing until the end of each day. 

The performance culminated in a de-harnessing at the 2018 SIM Big Show, where I was finally able to finally take off the harness that kept me tethered to the podium. The podium was then left as a solitary object and the harness was left spread out, reminiscent of a chained butterfly, to symbolize all that I carried over the three day period.