the empathy projects
BY DYLAN SCHOLINSKI
"EMPATHY PRODUCES A TOTAL TRAVESTY IF IT DOESN’T UNRAVEL THE NATURE OF THE OUTSIDER’S PRESENCE"
the concepts behind some of the current empathy projects -
FOR NOBODY KNOWS I’M TRANS*
PARTICIPANTS TO WEAR PRINTED NOBODY KNOWS I’M TRANS* T-SHIRTS AND HAND OUT MINI-ZINES IN PUBLIC SPACES
“IT IS MY HOPE TO WIDEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS TO QUESTION THEIR OWN IDENTITIES WHILE ALSO NORMALIZING TRANS* IDENTITIES BY PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR ALL PEOPLE/TRANS TO FEEL EMPOWERED, TO INCREASE SUPPORT AND COMPASSION IN COMMUNITY. USE ABSTRACTED PROPS TO CREATE A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE THAT HEIGHTENS AWARENESS OF THE STRENGTH AND FRAGILITY OF COMMUNITY.”
PARTICIPANTS TO WEAR PRINTED NOBODY KNOWS I’M TRANS* T-SHIRTS AND HAND OUT MINI-ZINES IN PUBLIC SPACES
“IT IS MY HOPE TO WIDEN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHERS TO QUESTION THEIR OWN IDENTITIES WHILE ALSO NORMALIZING TRANS* IDENTITIES BY PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR ALL PEOPLE/TRANS TO FEEL EMPOWERED, TO INCREASE SUPPORT AND COMPASSION IN COMMUNITY. USE ABSTRACTED PROPS TO CREATE A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE THAT HEIGHTENS AWARENESS OF THE STRENGTH AND FRAGILITY OF COMMUNITY.”
FOR WHY WON’T YOU PLAY WITH ME?
PLAYING CATCH IN OPEN AND OFTEN FORBIDDEN SPACES
“I HOPE TO EXAMINE PLAY AS SACRED, COVERED, STRUCTURED, PLANNED AND LIMITED - FROM THE IDEA THAT AS CHILDREN WE BEGIN TO PLAY AND ARE OPEN... THEN PRETTY QUICKLY THE PHRASES LIKE “NO”, “NOT INSIDE”, “NOT RIGHT NOW”, “THAT’S NOT HOW IT’S DONE”, ‘“LET ME SHOW YOU”, OR “ THAT IS NOT HOW A GIRL/BOY DOES IT”, AND SO ON… TRICKLE IN AND CHANGE EVERYTHING. WE BECOME AFRAID OF PLAY - EMBARRASSED, UNCOMFORTABLE, ANXIOUS, AND HIDDEN. WITH THIS PIECE I WANT TO SHOW HOW OBVIOUS AND HARMFUL THIS PRACTICE IS TO US ALL.”
PLAYING CATCH IN OPEN AND OFTEN FORBIDDEN SPACES
“I HOPE TO EXAMINE PLAY AS SACRED, COVERED, STRUCTURED, PLANNED AND LIMITED - FROM THE IDEA THAT AS CHILDREN WE BEGIN TO PLAY AND ARE OPEN... THEN PRETTY QUICKLY THE PHRASES LIKE “NO”, “NOT INSIDE”, “NOT RIGHT NOW”, “THAT’S NOT HOW IT’S DONE”, ‘“LET ME SHOW YOU”, OR “ THAT IS NOT HOW A GIRL/BOY DOES IT”, AND SO ON… TRICKLE IN AND CHANGE EVERYTHING. WE BECOME AFRAID OF PLAY - EMBARRASSED, UNCOMFORTABLE, ANXIOUS, AND HIDDEN. WITH THIS PIECE I WANT TO SHOW HOW OBVIOUS AND HARMFUL THIS PRACTICE IS TO US ALL.”