artHAPPENING

Conducting, processing, recruiting, mapping, drawing, carnival-trucking, dress-uping, art-ing, poeming, eating, spinning, newspaper-hatsing, censusing.... so many things happened at last Friday's event and it was a success I think. It was kinda weird because it just started all of a sudden, and even though I wasn't totally ready it was already going without me. And the flow was happening differently than I thought, and everyone was interpreting the event as they would, and I suddenly realized I had to let go of some of the control, and just let the event happen as it would. It was hard to remove myself from the role of organizer and overseer of the event, and actually participate or do some of the things we had set up. I had to keep letting go of how I thought everything was going to go.

BUT. I had a great time conducting, and entering people into the event via the HEIGHT CENSUS. I loved seeing the beautiful sashes and newspaper hats walking around the room, the amazingly official Conductor's Badges shining on the Conductors' chests. People dressing up was a great highlight, seeing the costumes change as the night went on.

So many people from my life showed up and it was so great to see you all -- thank you. My advisor came and stayed for almost an hour and left with a big smile. My reslife family came. Hampshire friends and people I'd been wanting to catch up with for a long time came. And new friends came and brought their energies and excitement. Thank you to my conductors--- I can't wait to work with you again soon. Thank you to Julia and David and Haley for supporting me so much in making this event happen and trusting and believing in me even when it meant wearing a newspaper hat and for making me bigger than I can be even while wearing high-heeled red cowboy boots.

Pictures by Derek Goodwin.