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snow college - art 2950

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Sensory Deprivation - Calli Sumsion

 

Sensory Deprivation, Calli Sumsion

            For my experiment, I decided to focus on losing the sense of sight and some way of touch. When it comes to creating an art piece I am used to drawing with my own hand and visually seeing what I want to create. So, what I did was blindfold myself as I had a piece of paper in front of me, then I would have a person move my hand for me to have me draw whatever they wanted. They could talk to me but could not tell me what they were having me draw. And there was no time limit.

I was inspired by John Cage to make the audience the performers. I was just the instrument.

            I already know with different people it would change the experience. I first had my 11-year-old sister, Quincy, take a turn. I did not realize how tight it would feel but because I didn’t know what I was drawing I didn’t worry about how I should move my hand or if I was doing it right. Then I had my 16-year-old siter, Dannon, go right after. It was honestly quite entertaining for me with both sisters. And I’m still confused, but the whole time Dannon kept telling me to relax but it was impossible since she was squeezing it so tight. As they were both using me as a puppet, they were mostly struggling with themselves than me.

            After each person’s drawings, I asked what the easiest aspect of the experiment. Quincy said that because she knew it was an experiment and it was not her hand, she had fun just trying. Dannon thought the whole time it was hard. The hardest thing for both of them was the fact that they couldn’t feel exactly what they were doing.

            I think I always knew but I never realized how much touch can change everything. Just by bending the wrist or curling a finger, it can make quite the difference. Or Quincy felt that it was hard without feeling her own nerves moving with the pencil.

            Quincy had so much fun that she drew a purple frog on a 3 eyed mushroom. And I loved it so much that I recreated it in my own style. 




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