Collaborative ETP III - Theme from the Bottom

Flowers, used plate;
rest,
the weight of the world, all 5400 kilograms of it,

fork, two spoons;
submerged,
there is something like a ghost there

food, residue stains;
their bones still lay in the earth,
unclean

oranges, mixed browns;
the other is blood red and pokes out from underneath the first,

bottom sink

ETP 3 - Gary

There is something like a ghost there, on the pillow, but it has weight and sinks into the soft surface. Really there is nothing there, but it is easier to imagine something, anything there, instead of just straight nothing – nothing can’t leave an imprint on a surface.

It is interesting that there is only one pillow on this full sized bed, which seems to be meant for two. Although more interesting is the state of the blankets, if they may be called that, that are on the bed. One of them matches the pillow: gray. The other is blood red and pokes out from underneath the first. Neither is close to a human shape. The scene is this: a scrunched up gray ball with a red “U” underneath.

Was it mentioned that the whole bed sits on wheels, ready to be carted away?

It seems the owner of this bed slept hard.

ETP III - Joe

The weight of the world, all 5400 kilograms of it, rested on the tracks at the base of cold sharp mountains, ambiguous chaparral planes. Dynamite detonated its way into a pre-forged future and violently blew through the earth and set the decibel level for what was to follow. Empires rose and fell on two metal steel bars connected by oil-soaked dead trees.

The oil that kept the ties dry was ultimately what murdered the senile, wrinkled trains

Machines that were bank accounts for men white with romantic names
And black-stained fame

So long ago. The men with wheels and gears for faces were buried but their bones still lay on the earth. Coal explodes into oil, trains into trucks, trucks into planes that sometimes blast into the most recent mechanical money-maker

Buildings breathing zeros and ones that travel at the speed of electrons in copper

These new trains ride wireless tracks across digital country-sides

New trains don’t look or sound like anything and patronize parallel pieces of metal

New trains are soul-less, omnipotent, and explore new markets in a way that doesn’t require an architect or land surveyor or empathy

That was now, but now miles of metal, miles of metal, miles of metal are left to wander and ponder. We used to confuse the wind and the earthquakes for trains. Financial vanity lasts so these tracks last, a tribute to a romantic, physical past. The fortune, the land, the torture, the plans, the work, the suffering, the myth, the gift, all weigh on those tracks so that they don't have to rest on us.

Josh ETP III -Down there

Flowers, used plate;
rest,
bottom sink

fork, two spoons;
partially submerged,
water

food, residue stains;
floating particles,
unclean

oranges, mixed browns;
bottom,
laced liquid

flowers, printed border;
pinks,
green stems

Collaborative ETP II - Holy Animal

open mouth
of a holy animal
half is white;
its top half is
maroon / green

/ yellow / purple

/ black
mishmash.

There's a faint
sweet aroma.

light passing
through
bends outward
then sweeps
back in,
plastering its
flat end low
against

white and clear
opaque fabric
warm

dirty faded worn forgotten
open mouth
unused and untread
hard stone detritus
decaying without purpose

light \ dark
warm \ cold
infinite esophagus

baking and cooling
solidify
stepped over

stitches that hold the land to the sea

ETP II: Objects in Situ - Joe

One line shooting across a portal
white and clear opaque fabric sliding beneath the shade
light passing through a shutter of shelter onto slippery beads
warm. cold.
one structure two lives
open mouth of a holy animal
infinite esophagus
hard stone palate ready force its will on the earth
no more research
no more play
only the seams
stitches that hold the land to the sea

Josh ETP II -Stepped Over

dirty faded worn forgotten

unused and untread

green detritus

decaying without purpose

baking and cooling

solidify

stepped over

f a i n t s w e e t a r o m a

This tiny yarn leads up to a teabag sitting in a cup. The cup's bottom half is white; its top half is
maroon / green / yellow / purple / black
mishmash.
The whole cup is full of water, which the teabag has now made into tea. There's a faint, sweet aroma. The cup's handle bends outward then sweeps back in, plastering its flat end low against
the cup.

Collaborative ETP I - Echos of Visual Movement

There is a sneeze She nods He furrows his brows and stares intently at the person who is speaking to him leaning forward and to the side Talks, shrugging left shoulder His arms remain crossed until he decides to speak; which he does with his arms. with the left hand gesturing in a swiping motion pulls his I.D. card straight from his pocket and places it in the clerk’s hand. her hands clasp in her lap, under the table. rocking softly back and forth as she laughs he maintains his good posture; adjusting it from time to time if he begins to slouch. Back to sitting His strides are longer. Her legs and torso are very static She brushes something off her (lap?) straight in the booth Heels move, taking sandal bottoms with them, bouncing. begin to walk up the stairs towards Imprints.

a grin on her face Forehead white, ear in shadow, a profile with hard light. a short spiked crew haircut around his boxy head. His arms remain crossed until he decides to speak; holding her plate of food small pink bag by her feet as big as her bicep, which is small. an almost fist shape index finger on right hand that frames his face as he speaks. His gray shirt that reads, “Hurley” fits tight around his muscular body, She has a small frame She is silent Skin tight jeans, skinny jeans. the corner wall in the back of the booth and is wearing tan shorts. at his feet, always adjusting his posture. the bag is hiding her toes, but the backs of sandals poke out under her heels. Silence

Josh ETP 1 -She does

She's leaning into the booth. She's gesturing wth her right hand in low motions while she talks to her (BF?). The right hand goes up to brush her hair in a short motion. She's holding her plate of food which just arrived. She's picking up the food and taking a bite while lowering her head. She's lowering her head and maybe laughing or exclaiming something. She's using vinegar on her plate. Both hands are grasping utensils and cutting; She's looking down to do this. Her head is up to talk. One hand(or both?) are at her mouth in perhaps laughter. The left hand rises in a flat-palmed motion. She is cutting her food with both utensils again. Still cutting. And laughing too. She's chewing food. She's talking. And chewing. She might be using a fork with her left hand. She's gesturing with her right hand. She leans down to take a bite. She's covering her mouth with her left hand while she talks with perhaps laughter. She's rocking softly back and forth as she laughs. There is a grin on her face. She's leaning forward and to the side(towards the booth seat). She's using the fork again(with her left hand). She's chewing and silent. And silent. There is a sneeze. Another sneeze. She's taking a bite of food. She's silent. The fork is used. A bite is taken. There is chewing. There is laughing and talking. The head is lowered and a bite is taken(with the left hand). The left hand is digging for food on the plate. She's wiping her mouth with the left hand. She's gesturing in a swiping motion up her face. The vinegar is being used again. Still being used. Now the fork(with the left hand) is digging for food. The head is lowered and a bite is taken. She is silent. More of this. Silence. Now talking and chewing and digging for food. The food is perhaps eaten this time from the right hand. She is using both hands(with utensils) to lift and manipulate the food. Her head now rests on her right hand while the left digs for food. She takes a bite without taking her head from her hand. This continues. She is silent. Continues. Another bite is taken. The right hand remains on the side of her head. She is taking a drink from her straw and holds the glass with her right hand. Her head no longer rests on her hand. The hand is against the booth wall in an upright position. She is using both hands with utensils to lift a piece of pizza onto her plate. She turns away from the wall and now sits straight in the booth. She is lifting the food to her mouth with her right hand. She chews. She looks up at her (BF?). She is looking up(possibly listening). She laughs and wipers her mouth in an almost fist shape. She is back to cutting up her food with both hands and eating with the right. She leans down and is perhaps using her right hand to manipulate the food onto her utensil in the left hand. She raises her right hand with a limp wrist in front of her mouth. She is chewing and cutting with both hands. She leans down to take a bite. She is digging with her fork(in her left hand). She leans down to take a bite. She is silent. She is chewing. She leans back and raises her hand to her mouth. She leans forward again. She laughs. She is chewing and possibly listening to her (BF?). She raises then lowers herself in the booth. She leans back into the corner wall in the back of the booth. She chews her food. She has a grin on her face. She has a grin on her face. She makes a remark and laughs. She lifts food to her mouth with her right hand. She looks down. She brushes something off her (lap?). She is gesturing with her right hand. She is chewing. She is looking down and laughing. She is laughing. She is talking and laughing. She raises her right hand to her mouth while laughing.

Bodies In Situ - Joe

He is 6’1” and has a short spiked crew haircut around his boxy head. He has stubble, thick eyebrows and sideburns. His gray shirt that reads, “Hurley” fits tight around his muscular body, and is wearing tan shorts. He sits slouched back in his metal Price Center seat with his shoulder blades resting on the top of the chair. There are three other men, two of which are sitting in the same manner. His arms remain crossed until he decides to speak; which he does with his arms. They are spread out and his motions are carried out with slow strong movements that frame his face as he speaks. He furrows his brows and stares intently at the person who is speaking to him, arms crossed.

It is getting colder and he shifts his weight forward. All of a sudden all four get up and move towards the trash can. He places his backpack over his shoulders and throws away his Panda Express Styrofoam container, pushing the trashcan lid flap open and dropping in the trash. One person leaves as the other 3 begin to walk up the stairs towards Imprints. When he walks he walks with his shoulders back and his chest up. As the two others slouch, he maintains his good posture; adjusting it from time to time if he begins to slouch. When he walks, he does so with a sway and his arms swing back and forth—and seem to take up so much space that the others move away from him. He keeps his head down and looks at his feet, always adjusting his posture.

They walk through Marshal Housing towards International walk, and march through eucalyptus forests, forging a straight path towards their destination. When he speaks as he walks his head tilts up and his voice is projected outward. People seem to notice him. He looks at a girl walking towards him, looking at her from her feet to her head. She passes and he snaps his head forward again. Now that there are more people walking in the area, he perks up and walks with his head up. His strides are longer. They arrive at Rimac and his friend opens the door. He walks inside first and pulls his I.D. card straight from his pocket and places it in the clerk’s hand. She scans it and lets the three men through. They head towards the locker room.

ETP1: Bodies in SITU - GARY

She nods and sits at attention. Her cheeks catch the sun and shine – makeup on them. Her mouth moves: talking while smiling. She nods, her hands hold a sandwich she bites into it, wipes hands with napkins thouroughly, then her hands clasp in her lap, under the table. She goes back for the sandwich, giggling with her mouth closed, now filled with sandwich, cheeks pushed out nods. Black hair in a pony tail with a maroon band holing it in place. White reflective stud ear rings, catching the sun. wipes her hands again. Laughs with mouth closed again small pink bag by her feet as big as her bicep, which is small. She has a small frame, skinny wrists, skinny ankles, heels – the bag is hiding her toes, but the backs of sandals poke out under her heels. Skin tight jeans, skinny jeans. A white ruffled shirt, poofing off skinny shoulders and small breasts. There’s a little shadow line in the middle of her chest – a low cut blouse? Top. Eyebrows raised. Forehead shines in the sun, makeup? Listens to friends, turns head to listen adds own biit of information. Chews although sandwich is not in her mouth. Talks, shrugging left shoulder and bobbing head towards that side. Her legs are very static, so is her torso. Top row of teeth showing. Laughs with her teeth exposed now. Eyes open wide. Very white. Black eye makeup around socket contrasting the white balls. Lighter than olive skin, pink lips – makeup? Sitting, talking to friends. Her legs and torso are very static, hands return to lap where the rest, motionless. Eyebrows are static too. Looks down at sandwich as she goes to pick it up revealing dark eyelash – makeup. Mascara. Eye not as wide now, more relaxed. Smiles with moth closed, goes for the napkin again. Nods. Ponytail nods with her. Talks, throat moving out and in. sits, static, talking, eating, time passes. The sandwich is being eaten slowly. She rests between bites. Long rests with mouth, and now a collarbone can be seen, making a shadow when she shrug/laughs with her shoulders. Scratches left shoulder then pulls on top, then back to sitting, talking, time passes. Nods eyes open, takes breath through the nose – neck lines show. Hands in lap, sitting, time passes. Scratches forehead with index finger on right hand. Hand comes from lap, up to the itch, and back. Hands in lap, talking, time passes. Front half of her face shining. Chattering, lips parting. Time passes. Frozen look on her face – eyebrows up eyes open, lips tight. Nose is small, small face, small frame, static frame, static face. Nodding. Nods are small, less than an inch in different, hair barely nods. Sit and talk time passes. Look left, big eyes, irises and pupils swivel left, large white shocking spaces to her right in each eye. Heels move, taking sandal bottoms with them, bouncing. Another nod. Nod, sit, talk, bob, time passes. Shrug. Time passes. Looks left, outside of circle of friends. Forehead glowing, shining white. Forehead whit, ear in shadow, a profile with hard light. Continue to sit. Continue to nod, sporadically. Only nods. Continue to nod, lips read “yes.” Nod. Time goes. Fix left shoulder. More time filled with sitting, talking. A different motion here: her pupils start bottom left, she blinks long, they end upper right. A breath… through the mouth. Continue to sit. But pony tail swings. Hands move, half smile – left side of her face. Bottoms of feet vertical, taking sandal bottoms. Just sitting, no more eating. Sit, talk, chest is tight, sit sit sit. Nod. Scratch your wrist, look right, following a friends wave, straining neck right, lifting chin. Back to sitting, back to staticness.