Sit Listen Dream: Performance

My performance piece relates to the alternate realities I have personally experienced through dreaming. I began to record all of my dreams in my first dream journal which I received in 2004. I have continued ever since and I wanted to use this project as a chance to share some of these vivid dreams with people I normally would not talk to.

I set up my mattress in the CFT lobby, right across from the giant rocking horse. I made my bed with a few sheets and spread out some of my dream journals. I removed my coat, vest and pants so I would be left in boxers and a tank top. I wrapped myself in white material and settled on the bed. I wore gray face paint around my eyes. This is what I was wearing in one of my more recent dreams and felt that it was appropriate. I left my journals open and inviting for people to look through. People who were passing by were curious as to what I was doing. Many walked up to me and began asking questions. I invited them to sit down on my bed to make themselves comfortable. I picked a dream or sometimes I gave them the chance to pick a dream that I would tell them about in detail. I took breaks/rests/naps in between talking to people. I would move around to find a comfortable position. Prior to the performance, I printed off some dreams that I had typed up. I spent some time writing these dreams into my journals. After one rest, I sat up to find a male student sitting right next to my bed flipping through some of my books.

The world of dreaming has provided me with an escape that places me out of the context of my regular life. As the students passed through the CFT lobby to travel to their next class or wherever they had to be, I interrupted this path; I am something new and out of place they can experience. I invited them to temporarily leave their busy and scheduled life for a chance to experience and visualize something different and new with a complete stranger. Many students were on their way to class but still made time to stop and listen.

I had the opportunity to speak with approximately twelve different people who listened to my dreams over the 1.5 hours I was set up. They provided interesting feedback, their own interpretations and even began discussing their own dreams. It was a very intimate piece because we shared personal information with each other than many people who are closer to us in each of our lives may not have been exposed to. Dreams are very personal. The students who stopped to listen were very open-minded and curious. I was very pleased with the process and result of this piece and I would like to continue it in some form. But first I will buy an inflatable mattress...

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWGxNHoPO5s