Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Poetry, Performance, Postering












POETRY PERFORMANCE REHEARSAL

Once all the cloths were completed, we gathered around and assessed our work. We talked about which one was our favorite and commended one another for our hard work. To plan for our final installation/presentation on Monday, we all created a group poem based on the form from Juarroz’s poem. We all agreed that in answer to our question, all people need true love, but...and each person had to finish the phrase with their own contrary warning, question, fact, or sentiment regarding love. The poem goes something like:

All people need true love,

But true love is hiding in the clouds.

All people need true love,

But true love does not exist.

All people need true love,

But true love is hiding in the dark.

All people need true love,

But true love is hiding under the rocks.

All people need true love

But it is difficult to find

We practiced this poem together, saying the repetitive line in unison and then each student shouting their own original line.

POSTER MAKING

We decided as a group that we had to figure out how to invite people to come to our Monday presentation and be involved in the process. Everyone made a poster with their stencils and then wrote their own original poetry line on the poster. We didn’t add more information on purpose. We wanted the community to feel a sense of mystery and sense of curiosity.

POSTERING THE COMMUNITY

A few students stayed after class and decided to poster the images around the community an impromptu group postering outing. This turned out to be so much fun and one of the best aspects of the projects. The students, led my Martin, went from place to place asking if they could staple the posters. Almost everyone said yes except the man who worked at the local “trensito” who just shook his head no. Trensito means little caboose and I heard later that this space is a gathering spot for local men to have a drink. So maybe he didn’t want anything to do with statements on love. Two women who worked at a tienda down the street from the school had a lot to say about true love. Rae had been video taping our whole postering process, so I ran back to her and said that she had to return to the ladies and get their viewpoints. She went with Xiomara to interview them.

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