The New York artist on the intersections of her work with Paul Auster's Leviathon.
Personal Instructions for on How to Improve Life in New York City:
Smiling
Smile when the situation doesn't call for it. Smile when you're feeling angry, when you're feeling miserable, when you're feeling most crushed by the world--and see if it makes any difference. ... Smile at strangers in the street. Smile at the bank teller who gives you your money, at the waitress who gives you your food, at the person sitting across from you on the train. ... See if anyone smiles back at you. Keep track of the number of smiles you are given each day. Don't be disappointed when people don't smile back at you. Consider each smile you receive a precious gift.
Talking to Strangers
There will be people who talk to you after you smile at them .. Some of these people will talk to you because they feel confused or threatened or insulted by your show of friendliness. ("You got a problem, lady?") Plunge in immediately with a disarming comment. "No, I was just admiring your beautiful tie." Or: "I love your dress." ... With so many things driving us apart, with so much hatred and discord in the air, it is good to remember the things that bring us together. The more we insist on them in our dealings with strangers, the better morale in the city will be.
Feeding Beggars and Homeless People
I'm not asking you to reinvent the world. I just want you to pay attention to it, to think about the things around you more than you think about yourself. ... Stock up on bread and cheese. Every time you leave the house, make three or four sandwiches and put them in your pocked. Every time you see a hungry person, give him a sandwich. ... If you can't think of anything to say when you give the food to the hungry person, talk about the weather.
Cultivating a Spot
People are not the only ones neglected in New York. Things are neglected as well. I don't just mean big things like bridges and subway tracks ... look closely at the things around you and you'll see that nearly everything is falling apart. Pick one spot in the city and begin to think of it as yours. It doesn't matter where, and it doesn't matter what. ... Keep it clean. Beautify it. Think of it as an extension of who you are, as a part of your identity. Go to your spot every day at the same time. Spend an hour watching everything that happens to it, keep track of everyone who passes by or stops or does anything there. Take notes, take photographs. Smile at the people who come there. Whenever possible, talk to them. If you can't think of anything to say, begin by talking about the weather.
No comments:
Post a Comment