Deck of Cards (2020) — A Benjamin Patterson Fluxus Movement Interpretation, Live Performance

This project is in collaboration with Mary Ann Badavi.

4 Performers, 1 Conductor

Instructions:

  1. Each performer gets a deck of cards with a phrase on it. 

  2. The performer will start to flip through the cards, reading each phrase multiple times per directions before flipping to the next card.

  3. Each deck contains a shuffle card, the Queen. When the performer flips to that card, they should shuffle their deck before beginning to flip again.

  4. The performance concludes at the direction of the conductor, around five minutes.

* This performance will be recorded. 

Digital Lacework

I was exploring the handmade vs. machine-made method. I was inspired by the filet lace-making pattern — a handcraft technique that was replaced by the machine during the Industrial Revolution. I was looking to use this lace pattern to recreate new work to assimilate patterns of nature. I used a laser cutter as the fabrication tool to keep the fine lacework details. Materials explored during the process include upcycled wooden canvas, handmade paper with fallen leaves pulp, and biodegradable corn foam.

Chain of Thought Toolkit

I often use a mind map exercise to find the interconnectedness of topics in my research. I was also inspired by the Equitable Future card game design to bring together people who aren’t used to talking about equity in a group setting and spark engaging and fun conversations through a framework of speculative fiction.

The Chain of Thought toolkit I created is intended to be a group participatory exercise to generate conversations and emphatically listen to our communities’ challenges and problems that an individual might feel. I hope through telescoping in and out of the prompt and speculative solution, individuals and communities can have a better grasp of actionable goals to lead to a more significant change in the system. 

    1. The Prompt Card—Brainstorm as a group and list out 6 current societal challenges or problems within your community.

    2. The Now Card — Pick a number from 1-6, use the chosen number prompt as the challenge to unpack. Follow the color-coded numbers on the right to guide your group through the next question.

    3. The Future Card — As a group, pick a Speculative Solution from the Now Card as the prompt. Follow the color-coded numbers on the right to guide your group through the next question.

Mind map inspiration.

Rough sketch.

Final design and filled out prompt kit.

This project is in collaboration with Mary Ann Badavi.

  1. How might we cultivate more awareness of traffic flow safety in public space to include everyone that is using the space?

  2. How might we cultivate a culture where alternative transportation and people coexist harmoniously?

Instruction Sets for Stranger

    1. People specifically come just exercising (biking, running) or walking through the plaza to get to the other side of the park. People were typically alone or in pairs.

    2. Most people will jaywalk but still look both ways. Cyclists/runners did so less. People are aware of street crossing etiquette.

    3. People travel through like it’s an open space, rather than an intersection or road crossing

    4. Space observations: Minimal traffic signal, traffic lights not in use. Spacious open area for cyclists, walkers, runners, skateboarders, and cars entering and leaving the park.

  • Minimal traffic signal, traffic lights not in use. Spacious open area for cyclists, walkers, runners, skateboarders, and cars entering and leaving the park.

  • White Erase Foam Boards, attached with 3M Command Strips.

    Observations:

    1. It was very windy.

    2. Most of the signs fell off after 2-3 hours.

  • We installed a temporary chalk sidewalk.

    Observations:

    1. Most cyclists noticed the new crosswalk. Only 1 stopped to let a pedestrian cross.

    2. Pedestrians were using the crosswalk. They stayed within the lines, even for people that walked into the park, they took wider turns instead of abruptly turning into the park.

    3. Organized chaos still exists.

    1. It doesn’t take a significant change to help pedestrians and cyclists coexist and navigate more safely.

    2. Creating more structured guides and extending the network of lanes could make a better, safer ecosystem.

    3. We assume that when we put more signage in one area, people will continue to follow those directions beyond the remaining path, but that is not true.

    1. Call 311 to see if we can put back the crosswalk.

    2. Reach out to DOT/Vision Zero to propose bike lane and crosswalk integrations.

    3. Research on how we can provide more data/community suggestions for 311 for the Major's team to review. Currently, on Friday at WNYC, the Major is on air for people to call in with their concerns.