Pass

(2004 – ongoing)

A participatory performance presentation.

Versions performed: Pass (Toronto), Pass (Dundee), Pass (Rotterdam), Pass (Kingston), Pass (Reykjavik), Pass (Halifax), The Prestidigitator, and xPLURAL.

A radio transmission without a transmitter.

Tactics of diffusion that bypass the hardware can enable one to transgress the authoritative imperatives one usually attributes to telecommunications.

A participatory exercise at communication which incites multiplication through breakdown.

Basic setup: audience and performer sit in a circle, performer starts passing around standard size pages of paper (see script below). The pages never have more than one written line, sometimes they have just a letter, sometimes nothing. The rhythm of the passing varies, sometimes the pace fosters readability of the text, sometimes it hampers it. Sometimes objects and images are added to the circulation. Sometimes plants are used. Portions of the script change depending on context. Each horizontal line stands in for a page. Participants invariably end up writing (see transcripts of participants’ writing following script below).

________________________________________________________________________
just pass this sheet to the person to your right
________________________________________________________________________
that’s right
________________________________________________________________________
keep
________________________________________________________________________
on
________________________________________________________________________
doing that.
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this
________________________________________________________________________
is a
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a transmission,
________________________________________________________________________
a transmission exercise.
________________________________________________________________________
feel
________________________________________________________________________
free
________________________________________________________________________
to
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[next sheet with pencil]
________________________________________________________________________
… … … … …
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(don’t take your time)
________________________________________________________________________
now
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look into your neighbor’s ears
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this is part of the research.
________________________________________________________________________
(pass stethoscope pics)
________________________________________________________________________
now (again).
________________________________________________________________________
I know that, by now, things might have ________________________________________________________________________
gotten out of order
________________________________________________________________________
you might be out of order
________________________________________________________________________
and that
________________________________________________________________________
you
________________________________________________________________________
might have doubts about
________________________________________________________________________
the merits
________________________________________________________________________
of this exercise
________________________________________________________________________
or about
________________________________________________________________________
its relevance to
________________________________________________________________________
…
________________________________________________________________________

(blank page)
________________________________________________________________________
(blank page)
________________________________________________________________________
(blank page)
________________________________________________________________________
is this the “quiet
________________________________________________________________________
contemplation of a
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destructive
________________________________________________________________________
act”?
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or something to do with a
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bullet lodged
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in the
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inner ear?
________________________________________________________________________
or a bullet somehow strapped on like ________________________________________________________________________
a muzzle, muting
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our mouths?
________________________________________________________________________
here we are without answers and
________________________________________________________________________
in
________________________________________________________________________
relative
________________________________________________________________________
quiet.
________________________________________________________________________
just the sounds
________________________________________________________________________
of paper passing back
________________________________________________________________________
and forth.
________________________________________________________________________
(blank page)
________________________________________________________________________
that
________________________________________________________________________
sound of fleeting papers
________________________________________________________________________
passing you by
________________________________________________________________________
could get
________________________________________________________________________
louder if
________________________________________________________________________
we had to go faster
________________________________________________________________________
a
________________________________________________________________________
n
________________________________________________________________________
d
________________________________________________________________________
f
________________________________________________________________________
a
________________________________________________________________________
s
________________________________________________________________________
t
________________________________________________________________________
e
________________________________________________________________________
r
________________________________________________________________________
a
________________________________________________________________________
n
________________________________________________________________________
d
________________________________________________________________________
f
________________________________________________________________________
a
________________________________________________________________________
s
________________________________________________________________________
t
________________________________________________________________________
e
________________________________________________________________________
r.
________________________________________________________________________
back to
________________________________________________________________________
a slower pace, now out of breath.
________________________________________________________________________
you now may be asking yourself

________________________________________________________________________
how long
________________________________________________________________________
is
________________________________________________________________________
this going to last
________________________________________________________________________
?
________________________________________________________________________
I don’t know
________________________________________________________________________
and the paper trail continues.
________________________________________________________________________
it might never end
________________________________________________________________________
(pause)
________________________________________________________________________
I am your guest speaker from the Center of Communication ________________________________________________________________________
Disorders, (a reclusive branch of the CRTC).
________________________________________________________________________
this is going nowhere and getting dizzy.
________________________________________________________________________
the starting premise was:
________________________________________________________________________
take
________________________________________________________________________
daily conversations and
________________________________________________________________________
see how they change when you change, ________________________________________________________________________
see them change when you change…
________________________________________________________________________
change the parameters of
________________________________________________________________________
conversation
________________________________________________________________________
…
________________________________________________________________________
and then somehow that got distilled ________________________________________________________________________
and became a simple action
________________________________________________________________________
“just pass this sheet to the person to your right”
________________________________________________________________________
increasingly, I get more
________________________________________________________________________
pleasure from talking
________________________________________________________________________
about a piece than out of the piece itself.
________________________________________________________________________
this piece collapses the two: it
________________________________________________________________________
talks about itself.
________________________________________________________________________
feel free to talk about it too, on this next page
________________________________________________________________________
on this next page,
________________________________________________________________________
a prior group were told they could write
________________________________________________________________________
that page that just went by.
________________________________________________________________________
I know that,
________________________________________________________________________
by now,
________________________________________________________________________
things might have gotten out of order well, remember that
________________________________________________________________________
LEARNING TO SPEAK WELL IS AN IMPORTANT AND FRUITFUL TASK
________________________________________________________________________
repeat after me
________________________________________________________________________
(the page speaks)
________________________________________________________________________
turning the transmitter off
________________________________________________________________________
will not end this broadcast.

PARTICIPANTS’ WRITING

Pass, The Idea of North, Halifax, Nova Scotia January 2006.
Don’t Leave Yet OK DOKY stop making me laugh send your phone number This is Fun. ceci n’est pas une pipe no soy de aqui no de allá pero siento como…….. Are you sure you’re reading this? I’m not. It’s a nice silent sound and then? etc, etc etc There’s a wonderful hush in this room There’s a wonderful room in this hush A R P My name is set me free yeah! yeah! My house North CALL ME PASS OVER! What? I’m Rebelling by not Speaking… passé composé KISSES I hears cool noises echoing! YES why do you have me sitting this way? you evil man why yes it after which way is vertical? SSAP Hi Robin PASTE your lovely openings there’s a wonderful hush in this room more pages please! pass vertical next time Been there Past is Present PASS TENSE pass saps apss asap Surprizing game. help! where is that going? nowhere. where is nowhere? blink + pass — no time to read. stop too much too soon OH NOO! yum, yum argh! 6/10 pass there’s a wonderful hush in this room I just bit off my thumbnail I read something then pass it, then read, then forget it.. + on + on + on walking & walking I love paper why is he sitting with his back against us? perhaps he was told to Hello Goodbye… dogs bark at strangers You weren’t there. You couldn’t Pass the grade. In the corner. ? ? SPØRSMÅLSTEGN ! I WILL SURVIVE! survive what? forget me not — please and now you’re back from outer space Qué? que espació I should have changed that stupid lock with a book, he did it with a book – lost dignity at last, this paper returns to me To me too UNENDANGERED X 7.5/10 short cut MITT PÅ Passing me around Sing Oo 9.5/10 RED Green THE NARROWS Rhonda REVELATIONS PASS COMPOSE Pass est composé move it. there is never enough time except right nnow. The soft soud of rustling paper is very soothing bark bark slow DOWN confusion this noise, this racket is disturbing my job, pass, pass pass what! outside the circle is like being dead. why an audience? (soon) (later) bark bark 9/10 i thought so no way Rebel, Rebel Do not comply. Last time you saw me you did’t even recognise me or even notice it was you and me because everyone else was there!

Pass, Tone Deaf, Kingston, Ontario October 2005.
Paper chase fun… How do decide what to write and why? A houka smoking caterpiller Peanut, yellow, green Noise Ha! eek cogito ergo sum Bzzzzz I like Sister Act. So do I, Tallie you’re cool! too much at once IDIS 211 is cool yes it is Yo, shut yo trap. Whatever Happy day! Yeah! Fear of the dark has been conquered And we are in the forest! And the beat goes on absorbant and yellow + porous is he. Ok Bring back my bonnie to me. And follow the yellow brick road. Que dice and I will follow you ain’t no mountain high enough Take it. Enjoy it. It’s yours. Not at all All mine? You shouldn’t have…. No.. it’s mine We can all share! Gimme Gimme Never Gets You can bank on it CHEW, CHEW, CHEW SNIFF, SNIFF gaufaw Shut up Go crazy Gorgonzola the fight Crach Bang Wallop gonk Red paper No. Ruido Life is a long stream Siempre cabe esa posibilidad Otime! life is long take your time 4:15pm Mountain Standard Time there was a summer of love And On smells like fudge life is wistle [whistle while you work Hitler was a jerk Mussolini bit his peenee And Now it does not work] an extreme collective slip but no fall hello! MY NAME IS _____ … Seymour — O Reily Qué pido? Beth Giles Jennifer? I forgot V Miranda Gertrude january antoine Gary Diane Laurie Richard Elibelli BIRDIE Lisette Che Sponge Bob S.P. Fidel Castro this is going to take a while What do you want? To sleep Me neither Confusion a while is good. to eat chocolate white and nutty you mean marizan? this essay could use more structure this is traffic jam — circles REALLY? end of fantasy? maybe no fantasy to dull ? lovely 70’ group dynamics keep on wanting to move forward, but slower than you ought to __ never last encore + continuing story THE END! Really? never give up omm___ encore! empty thirsty ON & ON & ON & ON Cream puff Casper Milquetoast balderdash & waiting Mañana ain’t no valley low enough Pants dance fire-lance Mmmmm…. cream puffs…. What the hell? THE END. ? message in a bottle want to go back to the woods COURTSEY ney-isy! bittles! Now we’re entangled why are u ok It takes a very rainy day to drown a duck! Fo’ sure! Matt R. take some photos! Smile What for? It takes less energy than frowning! And it increases your face value 4D why And on and on and on … The piano has been drinking, the piano has been drinking these is my first performance.

Pass, The Idea of North, Kling & Bang, Rekjavik, Iceland June 2005.
GOT More NEVER ENDING HOW LONG is this going on! More FOREVER & ever TO Pass this to the LEFT. Thank you! anyway lots of Beast Rider! Longe on would WOW CANADA! on ice! the idea STORY I don’t wanna do this any more Has this not an end? More Ok Switch the direction? I use my penis for a weapon Tralla la la la la lu lu AGH Iceland somebody PASS So What! Migone Conceptual Healing? There’s not time to say anything and less to say worth saying! To Be and Not. True. Pass Happen Silence is sexy Skátar vokka! I’ve just been mindfucked SOUND what Pass waste of paper and waste of time Glenn Gould HAS ok.. ég bjóst alveg vid pessu. og hvart svo? Tjaning! Ég Var Hér 10.06.2005 on if Nu Sense ? Ha Kolli vinleactu mér? (Bjami) So Long Yes!

Pass, Graduate Seminar: Performing Failure, MFA Studio Arts Program, Concordia University, Spring 2005.
distraction blank NoT TO Tell Spasm (DOT) White (re-dot) #FFFFFFFF (oups) take one this ASSEMBLY LINE OF THE ASSEMBLATE 0II0 0II0 0II0 0II0 0II0 touched geometry. eat see feel touch eel roar Let’s go outside I agree but who It passed you The greatest class of term assasin yes many variations too many. It Boggles my mind speaking of Boggle, it is a fungame, I suck at it I can’t spell not I’m stuck Welcome Just play along Bridgette. DON’T FAIL THIS CLASS! Please shut up. Mutinerie.

Pass, Murmur exhibition, TENT – Rotterdam Film Festival, Holland, January 27, 2005.
SLOW empty. even more quiet language silence square it will + andy geong geong enjoy! of course! For How long xxx do I know a song? not at this moment well here is goes How many are we? how long? 78 pages + 1 dream on on on well, and then she said I can’t think of a finish there won’t be! and butterflies in the sky? keep flying Sense and what more! 5 pencils to my right not anymore! OK HI EVERYBODY! READ ON ON! Hurry please and so on 1st page keep wondering O.K. for the next one see just add: rather slowly the end! (almost) OOPS! Sound how empty are we? don’t know quiet here silence once more funny?

Pass, Graduate Seminar: Performative Writing, Department of Performance Studies Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, Summer 2004.
puppy call it whatever, call me! open here at your own risk platapus I love this! I want one paper meets mind and mind meets voice then absent present is always by our side like a sexy holy ghost holly hock holly shit holly shoes + holy shit just don’t stick where it’ll hurt I have a wart on my writing hand now we all do and my phoenix rises ashes sprinkling to the ground The park sure is pretty why cursing now? in the morning how long will this go on? over screamings, yes, but are meetings possible, or does one have to mind the gap? this is facism. how do you spell that? i shouldn’t be in grad school. why does it end when he wants it to end. you think yall are sexy. good morning guys. oh you think we are still going. Big love to P.S. 2004— I second it. It doesn’t have to. Why do fools fall, crusty bread, + musty nuts that’s a hole a whole hole SNAKE! Bite! stocking snakes crawling on the floor with my dust bunny even when they aren’t looking for you? where do they search? this is a fresh start. Shalom! Is this a conversation or a soliloquy- either way I’m talking to self! Time sucks H presses my nuts to pea not butter we’ve been here before hook me up Hole is also a band horizontal = yummy yum! where? who? or ever bitch slaps Big fat love yo Really? to go please sir go home Your mom’s mom oh come on we all know it’s joe mama One day, today book fart achy back acting like over And the celebration commences ! Blammo! Kaboom! SPIDER! Baby… yip yip yip salacious nipples syrup loathsome POW crumbum some some OBAMA! piripiripiripiri but enuff of that i hate MTA walk I love it like my own kin or her own kin or chocolate puffs of brotherhood kindergarten Paste poodle DOG! you make me tired I don’t like MTA either I wish I was a mezzo-soprano all towards the lower right hand corner OVER enough with diagonal writing I want pizza all of a sudden ANT! How about regarding what exactly? are we talking do I know you all? nope nope. well… paper, of course the tree holocaust as many might call it! yes! so many lovely newspapers had to die Regarding words ahh, graphite + all those… um graphites that perished. blah green tea Made a habit of letting people know where you are? I hate puppies such a strong statement for a child enough for a man made for a have grrrr puppies bad they break my heart each chamber splits apart “run like an antelope out of control” – Phish Don’t find me People are good. I didn’t know that Ann Frank said that. People are mean. I didn’t know that before Ann Frank didn’t say that Tired of words Baby doll I love you Je t’aime what do you mean by that? This class is filled w/ freaky deakys! If you write that you’d better sign it croissock me too baby doll I’m lost where is my cock ring oops Dinner time is now H’s in the stew in the kitchen with Dinah H’s here puddle CAT! not lost but found I want my croissant Now! Never! cock croissant enough about the phallus! lets go “inner space” (ewwww!) have a glorious Summer I can’t wait until fall. Do you see me? I’m right behind you, so no I’m right in front of you, so you better It’s still sunny. No it’s raining the weather bores me to death what day is today? OVER the discourse changes to a very kind of abstract thing to which I am secondary yup yup befuddled whats the fourth after tertiary? Pent up frustration pissed doodle PENGUIN! struggle surrender already! ok I will never surrender happiness is contentment and I’m in Bliss (I, I, I, me, me, me) Gross I’m tired of work Whistle while you work + if you give blowjobs for a living? hum. then you can pay the rent you are a pig and I am your master. PIG! “oink oink” piggy nose weird bacon for breakfast, lunch, midday snack & dinner -don’t forget dessert -and the after-dinner drinks! happy days Ug says : me start this one. come on, move on me continue continue me Zhen is on strike strike that Audrey is a tattletale scab is a wonderful shera I feel here at home, not me no one say the carny go words like shit, like hot air. I’ve seen you before On the inside It is impossible not to say “I love NY” who are you quoting? I stomach New York and my stomach=heart My stomach grumbles humble grumble grew Rugby diddle giraffe yes! no! n’importe quoi! The table is dirty dirt has so much supporting it. what is “dirty”? is that dirty w/2 r’s? mooka lacka heeki come on ya wanna… STOP MONKEY Bar boredom or possibly or impossibly static or changing electricity all through the body toes to hands + back down who has a thing for writing diagonally !?! not me. or me. the perhaps possibility of shit happening to your shoes + best declentions. shit on me on a tree France goes on strike nearly every day-not because they’re lazy (France that is) but because they’re so gosh darn angry. grrrr like a WOLF! dolphin show oh ya, well I’ve got 2! OVER and I’m still holding a piece of string… performance or shredding Lateness makes me nauseous nausea makes me puke Dude! all this in night sky, Big dipper means summer time corny chicken soup cock coop heavy quotidian elephant! tea, stimulated by boredom ça suffit ! Part 78797 This was a beautiful artwork till the audience came in. Let’s all leave. Count the dead and move on! Across the River boys!

Pass, Undergrad Seminar: Performing the Body, Drama Department, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU, Spring 2002.
Adrian Piper rocks my world! She scare me. She’s your mom. Have you written on your any of your cards? Send some cards from the back to the front It would help me out Anything you desire -keep dreaming sweet Relevance? It’s art it’s fun. THAT’S SO DESTRUCTIONIST — am I getting wet? I dare you to scream – do something other than write on cards + pass them Why don’t I? Why don’t you? double dare you but in my mind! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Write on cards think about swollen glands so what are you doing/going to do? do what you feel I’m gonna dance, dance, dance I am going to be a star I am going to sit and watch i’m. um. i’m. um. i don’t really know please flip card for an interpretation of Green Eggs & Ham pass cards on the road mmm, yummy. the road? What time did you wake up? 10:14 AM 9 8:30 AM 11AM, August 5, 1980. It was a tuesday 12 30 pm 7 30 but then 11 30 10:00 Ahhh 10:10 AM 8:15 AM 7:15 7 (yuck) 8 then 8:09 then 8:30 then 9:15 then 10:35 Glasses say a lot about one’s personality I think I’ll eat some now. Q: Recipes for Failure A: 1^ (A-B-(AAB) or OR an open flame and a blind man 1 cup insecurity 2 table spoons of self doubt 1 pinch of narcissism 1/2 C. Chocolate Chips Shit! Damn! vulgarity is unnecessary FUCK “DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?” these are the only dreams they know No. they probably have nightmares about blackouts No, I know this one, they dream of cowboys Does it quack? Why yes, yes it does!! If you squeeze it. Only when you ask it to Quack come on over Come on over baby Wild nights! wild nights! —were I with thee— Wild nights would be our luxury! pass cards of you weinraumer’s inner realm okay you’re very observant Aren’t we all in our own way? go out in the park and get a rock BE THE ROCK. see if the rock can tilt its head I AM A ROCK Virginia is for lovers Maryland rocks! Columbia, MD! Does anyone want to go for a drink after class? I’m already drunk I’m already stoned lucky Are you paying No, not really NO How many passports are there in this room? I have mine for those sudden urges to get out of this godforsaken country Full of stamps I don’t have one. Passports seem scary at this time. My passport was stolen in Amsterdam Mine is in California w/my mom (so that’s ok) my passport is in hell where it should be —no reason to prove my identity when they can see my face. Stand up and sing a song. (your favorite song). let’s do it together? it’ll be less scary I’m scared. me too. does writing provide a cover? Does writing inhibit physical courage while fortifying intellectual courage? the chicken crossed stage left to pick his nose and pull his hose; he had a wedgie or the egg? censorship? self censorship? what do you think. Tiggerophile: An adolescent Christopher Robin Oh…. kaay….Dear lover, I like your humanity. It turns me on. (This is to be written on gum wrapper and passed to a dear friend) presumes such a presence. what if ya have no friends Friends, be careful of my shoes. I bought them yesterday. Uh-oh this is the capital of france Why? not? smile must we tap dance go crazy? Do cheesy poofs Blue. Why do we just keep passing these cards? Does anyone resist? I am tempted Just do it. Now What’s my favorite fruit? Tisch Welcome to Tisch… Where else could one do shit like this— I like to eat fruit. Pineapple is my favorite kind of fruit. dance, now. What is special about endurance of pain? Did you know the convent, Mary Knoll, where Linda Montano was a nun is in my home town? It is also home to sing sing prison. hmmm… Are you tired of hearing us speak? BLANK is above What are those minuscule tattoos on Christof’s wrist? love bites Check you cell phones What is “grapefruit”? i still read 17 magazine. I’m sorry. thank you for admitting that The big Make some noise ok. sky Quit hogging cards They are here to be passed. What doesn’t kill you will only make you sleep to 3:30 the next day. Very true Why don’t people have more consideration and move faster? Because they have no legs you insensitive bastard. Why does everyone giggle when the teacher is silent? Because we don’t know what to do or say. We’re scared. uncomfortable w/ silences they find him stunning It heightens his allure uncomfortable with themselves Does anyone have any music they could play? What was the reading about? Damned if I know. Yoko Ono That’s good to know Linda Montano Yoko Ono pass cards amicably why? so inefficient? poop. efficiency. Blah At least it’s not a lecture Sweet Jesus You fail. F for the day I’ll admit… I don’t get most of this class Tasty Treats I hate math recipes for failure 1) pretend to pour water on electric equipment 2) Tell the teacher just what you really think of him Help! Get out of Jail (class) Free Imagine all the people – I miss John Lennon How profound I miss me! Some one tried to light my coat on fire at Strawberry fields Grace the white way with your own mind. play the piano and open the windows have a bed-in I didn’t know my mind could walk Thursday. Hi, my name is Angela and I’m a bisexual-identified umlaut. Mötley Crüe rocks! glad your in touch w/your bi-sexuality cross Huh? is this religious? Or angry?? It’s not worth it unless I can feel my alveoli bursting. I was going to read those! whisper a secret secret to the person beside you. ask them not to tell. There’s no one behind us! Obsessive Compulsive Disorder + Bulimia + Self-Injury = True Love Oh god! pass cards pass art SHOULD WE START WRITING? oh yes my babe ah oui, mais seulement en Français – the language of Christof Is there something specific we should write? Ideas? No It is definitely a nice day. Yes! Oh Baby So walk at side and have a smoke Last night I dreamt that I was sentenced to jail for 20 years, because I accidentally killed a dog. I woke up sobbing. were you crying cause the dog died? You obviously have a problem What are you doing after class Going to another class Baggott Inn. Dingy, Cheap, Sinful… What did you eat for lunch? poo What’s your favorite kind of cereal?? does oatmeal count as cereal? Yes, it’s hot. Like half the girls in this class. Toast Corn Pops (but without milk, otherwise it gets soggy too quickly) LIFE Chew your pen. What does it taste like? Lead? Lead is in pencils Ink maybe? Plastic it tastes like ranch potato chips. lead is for pencils clitoral eye? Oh Gross Very Nice! that kind of scares me I sleep naked sometimes. My roomates hate it. I do, too. If everyone walked around naked. It wouldn’t matter. Marina Ambromovic When I’m bored of someone I think of them naked + it livens things up Why? do you not like your clothes? I wish I was naked all the time. I sleep naked all the time I sleep. But also, I like clothes. And they keep me warm. Will you please erase the blackboard, someone, please? Is it because I lied when I was seventeen? Why are we here? I don’t want to fear life but I do! And I hate It! Don’t hate. Because we are lucky. Why are some people “cat people” and others “dog people”? Some people are jealous of a cat’s coolness – they can purr I can purr you into the ground and I’m not cool Who cares? Isn’t it wonderful to be in a public place where no one knows who are! I’m glad my pens not pink. Its liberating. If we could change Direction would we regret the path we left behind? What path would you choose the left one Why did you do that to me? He told me to It didn’t hurt that much… Yeah it did!!! Sorry Whatever. You know you never really cared. How will we get there? Southern Comfort Art = lonely camel stairs to heaven Bart = Funny title, author, question, all or none of the above Are you afraid? Don’t be. Do something that scares you. Its all relative Good point I like dogs so do i. Marc’s virginity virgin at this age in nyc? poor kid – well there’s enough females in here anyway who’s Marc I don’t know the names of half the people in this class —Good point class piece explain to the class how what is on the board relates to performance art (use only gibberish when explaining) The world is 100% perception. What is on the blackboard is performance art because we relate to it goodle dald be tam dat tre la.