A guest blog by Site-Specific/ArtSparks artist, Mimi Allin (Since July 14, Allin has been performing in Occidental Park as part of the ArtSparks program. There are two days left to catch the project in person, or you can read about her project or watch the video clip below.)
Allin writes:
a little report on the first day of “walking in war & peace
I read to a great many men and women, old and young, of every shape, color and size, some with luggage, some without, most sober, a few drunk, some multilingual, some with no English at all. As you may know, it is Pevear & Volokhonsky’s translation (with all of the original French retained) that I am reading and so it is going a little more slowly. I’m reading the French and English. It feels wonderful to have one week where there is nothing laid out to do but read a great novel. And happily, they lined up at the ends of the runner, waiting for the chance to walk and listen to a few lines of the novel, to be introduced or hear again what they’d read so long ago. I was surprised by the number of people who said they’d read it and by the number who found it engaging. At day’s end, I sensed a great deal of gratitude for the opportunity to engage in and listen to the art of Tolstoy and for the chance to be read to. The feeling in Occidental Park, for me, is lively, safe and comfortable. It is a pleasure to be there, especially during lunch, with the tables and chairs and people in the sunshine eating and conversing. I’m looking forward to going back.”
Allin performs two more times, today and tomorrow. Click here for details.
Can’t make it? Read the Seattle PI Blog about Allin’s piece or watch the video clip below…
