Requisitions
2019
I stamped a set of washers with the names of Far Flung Forest participants, which were then distributed at the opening rituals. Over the course of the weekend, the Forest posted various REQUISITIONS!!! in the library. The requisitions varied widely, from logging the lies of the lichen on the property to reporting back on the qualities of a leaf.
Completing a requisition and writing to the Forest about it resulted in additional washers for the ring. I'd respond to the note in the voice of the Forest and offer up the washer. One of the challenges with this project was that I didn't adequately anticipate how demanding it would be to reply to each requisition. I also didn't anticipate how popular my typewriter would be, so I found myself jockeying for space behind the keyboard as well. By the end of the weekend, I was responding to participants collectively and setting up washer self service stations. Both of those worked well, and it was a good reminder of the mutual trust that drives experiential art.
I experimented with a variety of washers and metal stamps before deciding on a final fabrication. I liked the heft of steel very much, but it didn't stamp very clearly. Aluminum stamped clearly, but was prohibitively expensive for this project. I settled on zinc, which worked quite nicely.
I often get a rush of creative energy late at night, but metal stamping is very loud. It was interesting to execute a project that required me to work almost exclusively during the day. Each washer was stamped with a word or symbol, then dyed with metal paint. I used steel wool to polish off any excess paint, then hung the washer on a keychain for easy distribution.
The goal of the requisitions was to give participants a variety of self-guided ways to engage with the event and property. Often, so many artists create so many offerings that there's an overwhelming number of things to do at any given time. My hope was to give people an opportunity to explore whenever they had a moment, that wouldn't conflict with the scheduled events.
I created enough washers for each participant to complete each task. Not every participant did, so I've been slowly disbursing the leftovers around telephone poles on Alameda.