"looking for guides to an alternative" by summerfield

"looking for guides to an alternative"

is a performative work in which mr. johannes zits will be weaving a long strip of cloth over the course of several days in the financial district. the cloth used for the weaving will be cut from a business suit that he is wearing. this performance is as much about opening conversations as it is about the object that is eventually woven. cutting up the suit while he is wearing it will not only bring attention to the tailor's skill, care and time but also drastically changes how his authority and status are perceived over the course of the 6-day weaving period." NXNE art.

this guy had been doing this at this site since monday, and for the life of me, i couldn't understand what he's trying to do. what i know and understand is that he's almost half-naked and tomorrow at lunchtime, i'm going to go there and see if the police will come and get him should he try to finish his weaving and become completely wrapped in his birthday suit.

women seemed not only curious but mesmerized. men laugh it off. 'staff' sat down with her drawing pad and sketched mr. zits as he slowly undressed himself.

no, i don't have a drop of artistry in me to understand art. although i must say i took this photograph with camera in one hand and an ice cream cone on the other. switched the lens on auto-focus and shot this whilst licking the ice cream. don't worry, the ice cream was non-dairy. :-)
@northy - he will be in your turf next week :-)
June 14th, 2013  
This is soooo funny! Not just the image, but your write up of it. It reminds me of David Sedaris' essay books like "Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy" and "Holidays on Ice"....same tone. So so funny. And they are right when they say that truth is stranger than fiction...I thought you made up Mr. Zits as his name, but now I see that that IS his name! I cannot WAIT to see how Mr. Zits is faring tomorrow! :0) Fav for this utterly hilarious "slice of life" story/pic.
June 14th, 2013  
uhm... okaaaaaaaaaay... ok - YD square next week? i will definitely make a point of seeking him out ;p love the expressions you caught on the faces of those watching him... what kind of ice cream?
June 14th, 2013  
@espyetta - that's why i love you, MB. you're so easy to please! maybe i go find a little spider. :-)
June 14th, 2013  
@summerfield No! Spiders are not this entertaining! but next time I DO find a spider or cute bug...guess what I will be naming him?
June 14th, 2013  
@northy - hahaha! sorry, it says in that board "ryerson quad june 15 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m." i would reckon he'll be in his "magic cup" by then.

heavenly hash, the divinest of all ice cream.
June 14th, 2013  
@summerfield rats... that's saturday and i have plans... can't wait to see your pic for tomorrow tho'!

(i beg to differ about the heavenly hash... ever had muskoka mocha from kawartha dairies? 2die4!!!)
June 14th, 2013  
@espyetta - mr. johannes zits!!!
June 14th, 2013  
@summerfield As The Dude says in "The Big Lebowski" I am more "into that brevity thing" so I will go with just "Mr. Zits!"
June 14th, 2013  
Now, I know that you cannot by dairy free "heavenly hash" at the mall. Humph!
June 14th, 2013  
@northy - i agree with you, but that's made of dairy, my heavenly hash i'm so lucky to find it but for a limited time only and it's non-dairy.
June 14th, 2013  
kass @russianblue you shot this guy yet?
June 14th, 2013  
He looks very serious, not a glimmer of a smile! It must be one of those shows where the men take all their clothes off and sit on women's knees!
June 14th, 2013  
Quite bizarre. I'm sure he has a good reason for doing what he's doing! Is it something for charity? Would love to see what he produces.
June 14th, 2013  
The processing is also very cool.
June 14th, 2013  
"Now, I know that you cannot by dairy free "heavenly hash" at the mall. Humph!"

@espyetta - that's because you're not in toronto. here you can buy/ get / see / find anything, even men who weave something out of their business suit.
June 14th, 2013  
very nice
June 14th, 2013  
Nice candid capture. I love the selective lighting/coloring. Oh, and the "heavenly hash" sounds so heavenly.
June 14th, 2013  
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