5 minute read. Content warning: Performance anxiety
chatGPT Summary: Kay reflects on their open house plans at FLEET Granville Island, highlighting the balance between structure and experimentation, questioning how performance, translation, and engagement intersect in accessible and non-verbal artistic spaces.
The open house plan – conduct an artist “talk” in silence, hold space for mask users and lip readers at different times, play my trombone silently but with passion before an audience, publish the twine mapping game I’ve been working on, share my draft “manefesto” on radical silence, display one of The Unseen works, host a shadow puppet show, watch a sunset, share what I have been working on, don’t panic.
Most of the above, I have figured out, and I’m feeling pretty prepared for tomorrow. I’m nervious about the accessibility of the trailer, but I have done everything I can (I think) for anyone who makes the trip. My paper model of the space is drying and I have installed braille and RFID tags, as well as QR codes on the model and within the space that will allow people to check out different stations whether or not they are going to come into the trailer or not. It also allows for access to the wifi rather than using data while travelling the trailer. As far as mapping, I feel like I was successful in what I tried to accomplish this month.
My partner has agreed to read my script, which is available as a transcript for download, and I’m still wondering if I’ll translate it into ASL; however, I’m also tempted to play my trombone while he reads. It’s a raw thought, but it’s all about translation – I am blowing through my instrument while words I wrote are read by another. Should I direct my instrument towards him so that it is more clear what I am doing? Is that too abstract? Should I play the instrument with the intension of making a sound, or should I allow his words to be the only intrusion into the otherwise quiet? Whatever I decide to do, I am glad to have this space to try, and dream.
I hope it isn’t raining tomorrow…
Transcript for an “artist talk”
Throughout October 2024, Kay Slater occupied the FLEET mobile studio at Granville Island to explore creative access and wayfinding using a combination of AR (augmented reality) and low-fi techniques, such as sketching and mapping.
In the first week, Slater focused on acclimating to the space, moving around the island, and gathering measurements and notes. They were in the space daily and updated their Instagram with a daily journal. Their blog was updated throughout the week and is ongoing, albeit more slowly, as they cannot access wifi within the trailer. They completed a large-scale work within their The Unseen art series, which they write about on their blog. They also added Calyptros (a hanging ivy plant visible through the window) and a few baby spider plant clippings from the grunt gallery parent plant Comos.
In the second week, Slater worked on expanding a shadow puppet script to perform at their open house event (Oct 25th), building miniature models to brainstorm accessible additions, creating a draft of an island-wide text game, and mapping the island for wayfinding using Transit, Bikes, Cars, Mobility Devices, and unassisted on Foot. Two more large-scale works were completed, and they brought their trombone into the space. This addition came after two weeks of reflecting on what it meant to practice non-verbal, radical silence and the agency it provided. Acknowledging internalized ableism, they began practicing trombone again for the first time in more than 15 years, liberating themselves from the idea that to be hard of hearing was to deny themselves sound to better live up to the expectations of both hearing and Deaf culture.
In the third week, it was full steam ahead in production mode, culminating in a public open house event where Slater hosted a non-verbal artist talk and silent concert, hosted a community sunset viewing party, and performed the first iteration of their shadow puppet show, Discovery Passage. They also debuted their text-based game, which mapped the island and encouraged visitors to practice sensory description of the Haunted Island. A print series was made for sharing, but Slater learned quickly that the trailer was too cold to set the ink and paint properly and as such offered their artist prints on a slide scale/donation if any visitors were interested.
In anticipation of different visitors, Slater created a self-directed tour that can be accessed by scanning their small-scale model (or a tag stuck to the patio doors) or by tapping or scanning the various RFID/QR codes throughout the trailer. Additionally, you can click here to begin your tour.
We are now in week four! Slater continues to work on the various projects they started while in residency. They can be seen frantically grasping at the final moments of sustained making time before October ends. They will begin packing up on October 30th and be entirely out of the space by October 31st before the next residency artist begins the following week.
This month, Slater has engaged in their ongoing voice-off project, promoting non-verbal communication in public spaces. This project encourages communities to recognize and validate non-verbal, gestural, and signing interactions as meaningful and complete forms of communication. Practicing radical silence involves choosing to be non-verbal in a society that often equates speaking with intelligence or efficiency, thereby challenging the societal norms and frustrations that arise when communication does not align with verbal expectations. Kay will not speak throughout October while in the trailer or on Granville Island, and they welcome you to engage non-verbally if you want to learn more about what they are up to! You are also welcome to observe and peek in!
For daily updates and progress, follow along on their blog or Instagram. Kay’s bio, artist statement, and visual description are at kdot.ca.
Technology note:
I continue to test the use of AI within my writing and artistic practice. I used chatGPT to create a summary and reading estimate, and recommend some content warnings for this blog, and Grammarly to assist me in spelling and grammar.