Post Studio Project 5: Thompson #31

          Titles always hold some sort of power, whether you choose to include one or not. Finding the perfect name for a piece or show can come as naturally as breathing, or perhaps it takes some exploration and deliberation. Thus I decided to enact #39 of my 100 conceptual assignments: Create an art show title from the seventh word of the seventh page of seven books. I could have made the distinction of choosing the seventh page of where the story began (the books I chose were all queer novels), but instead I focused on the physical books themselves rather than just the heart of each work. The books and words chosen are as follows: In Awe by Scott Heim (my), The Waterfront Journals by David Wojnarowicz (man), Another Country by James Baldwin (vintage), Dancer from the Dance by Andrew Holleran (the), Christopher and His Kind by Christopher Isherwood (tortures), Carol (the original title of the novel was The Price of Salt and I will forever be dismayed and infuriated by this change) by Patricia Highsmith (reality), and Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson (thanks). I rearranged the words into seven possible titles, hoping that this magical number would help create the best one.

          THANKS MY MAN TORTURES THE VINTAGE REALITY
          THANKS REALITY MY MAN TORTURES THE VINTAGE
          THANKS MAN THE VINTAGE TORTURES MY REALITY
          THE VINTAGE MAN TORTURES MY REALITY THANKS
          THE MAN TORTURES MY VINTAGE THANKS REALITY
          VINTAGE THE MAN TORTURES THANKS MY REALITY 
          MY THANKS TORTURES THE VINTAGE MAN REALITY

          Well, that was something. The question now is what kind of show will this be? Performance art could always be an option (perhaps an improved version of the my endurance piece "Lady Godiva Sucks Oranges" could be incorporated) but this really is an art form in itself. An artist might have a title in mind when creating their work, but a show title usually materializes after the work has some significant body to it. Words have power, so to start off with a title means that the pieces involved have to possess a strong connection. We'll see. 

- Noah 
Open your mind, be brave, and be kind.