[ home ] [ XML ]
News & Events
At 6pm on September 14, I will give someone money
21 cities at once performed, curated by hope hilton and nat slaughter, is a a performative, global network where participants create public intersections to occur simultaneously around the world.
At 18:00 eastern standard time on September 14, multi-disciplinary participants from 21 cities around the world contributed individual public projects that comprised one connected, simultaneous event.
21 cities at once performed is part of the Conflux festival
: : : : : : : : :
At 6pm on September 14, I will give someone money.
: : : : : : : : :
I gave money to someone.
I gave money to a stranger.
I gave money to a stranger outside my apartment.
I stopped a stranger walking by my apartment and gave her $20.
I stopped a stranger wearing a brightly colored dress and asked if she would do me a favor and take a twenty dollar bill. She agreed. I handed it to her, my boyfriend took a picture of us and she tried to hand the money back. No, no! I said, you keep it, that’s the whole point! Oh, she said, eyes, round,”thanks.
I woke up from a nap just after 6pm and realized I had to give money to someone. I found my boyfriend gave him twenty dollars, took a few pictures of him, but it just wasn’t satisfying. I was feeling sleepy and shy. I went down to the street, boyfriend trailing after, and I put a twenty dollar bill on the sidewalk. He raised the camera and said, I can hardly see it. I grew impatient with myself, why not just hand it to someone? Stop being so shy and squirrely. I looked up and saw a young woman walking toward me in a brightly colored dress. She looked friendly enough and was watching with a quizzical expression. Can you do me a quick favor, I asked, and take this? I held out the bill and she said, sure, adjusting her bags. My boyfriend took a couple of quick shots. It’s an art thing, I said. I figured, she said. Thanks, I turned to go. Here, she said, holding out the bill. Oh, no, you keep it, that’s the whole point. Suddenly she looked really surprised for the first time. Oh! Thanks! Wow. I scampered back into my building and ran up the stairs. I realized I should have told her about the twenty-one cities, but by then it was too late.
