overview
The Walking Project is a performance, mapping and cultural exchange project collaboratively developed with US and South Africa-based artists during a series of residencies in Detroit and KwaZulu-Natal from 2003 through 2006.
The project explores ‘desire lines’ or paths made by people who walk across fields in South Africa and across vacant lots in Detroit – and what connects them.
By examining how changing patterns of movement can alter attitudes and perceptions; how people make their own paths; and the influences of culture, geography, language, economics and love, The Walking Project asks how and why people’s paths cross and how taking a different path might alter a life.
evolution
• to date, there have been three developmental Walking Project residencies in South Africa and one in Detroit
• in June 2004 The Walking Project: First Steps was presented in Detroit as a work in process
• during 2005 we worked with community and university partners in Michigan and South Africa on performance, visual arts, storytelling, humanities, workshops and education projects
• in June and July 2005 there was South Africa residency at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a Next Steps performance and a series of connected exhibitions and events related to the Walking Project
• from February-April 2006 there will be a final residency in Detroit, bringing together partners from the U.S. and South Africa during a Walking Project festival of visual arts, workshops, music and dance events and a humanities convening in conjunction with the premiere of the new performance piece
the walking project: first steps
The three-week Detroit residency in June 2004 concluded with two weekends of performances of the work-in-process and a related events. In addition to the performances, events included:
Paths We’ve Walked - an installation by elder artists from Hannan House tracing personal histories of Detroit
Walking Detroit - an interdisciplinary performance workshop exploring the techniques used to create the piece
The Walking Project Jam Sessions - free form jams with musicians, djs, poets and the Walking Project cast improvising together on the theme of walking
Night Walking - a dance party with Detroit djs spinning South African, Detroit and walking-themed music.
Walk the Walk – a voter registration drive
Walking Print Exhibit - artists from UKZN and the University of Michigan exhibit their year-long exploration of walking
Walking Concert - Mafunze Black Singers from KwaSongonzima and Injabulo Afro Singers from KwaXimba
current partners and projects
The Walking Project involves universities and community organizations that serve K-12 and college students, elders, people with disabilities, artists and general audiences in the United States and South Africa – literally and figuratively connecting people who live 8700 miles apart.
Some of the projects and events in development include:
• a series of GPS walking workshops, in collaboration with the University of Michigan Map Library, from which we are building a database of geocoded drawings, notes, photographs, video and audio material from walks in both countries, with walkers from many different backgrounds, each gathering their own locative information in Detroit and KwaZulu-Natal to use in performance, installations and online
•a public conversation about walking developed and led by University of Michigan students
•story-gathering with Hannan House elders
next steps
We are experimenting with creating sound and video interfaces with new locative technologies and wireless networks to develop alternative ways for artists and communities to “map” desire line networks.
We are also developing a community workshop “A Walk around the Block – What’s stopping Us?” Based around a central theme of guided walks in a neighbourhood, we reflect on where we live and how we move through our locality. Exploring everyday, personal moments and exchanges on these paths that shape our feelings and responses to where we live, we look to challenge assumptions and preconceptions about our place and roles within a community.
There are opportunities for new US and South African partners to participate in the events in process, or to bring Walk & Squawk artists in to teach workshops and facilitate new projects related to walking.
There are also opportunities for Detroit-area schools to have visiting South African artists teach workshops for students during a residency in the winter of 2006.
Beyond 2006, The Walking Project will tour in the US, South Africa and Great Britain, bringing the performances, the conversations, the curriculum guide and new opportunities for walking, mapping and exploring desire lines during residencies in different communities.
project supporters
Altria Group, Inc.
Comerica Charitable Foundation
MASCO Corporation Foundation REACH Grant
National Endowment for the Arts
Peck Family Foundation
Rockefeller Multi-Arts Production Fund
Walk & Squawk is a participant in the New Generations Program, funded by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for American theatre.
planning and initial work (2001 & 2002)
Africa Exchange Project/Ford Foundation
Lucky Star Foundation
TCG/Met Life Extended Collaborations Grant
