Taylor Maheia
Create a flyer/poster advertising our unconventional online installation that could be shared with someone, such as a family member, friends, or a community member like your local bodega or leaving it in your building lobby. The installation title is: “If someone were to step into your soul…”
Create a visual art map of how to get to your favorite spot. Be as realistic or abstract as you’d like. You could note the senses in your map, include your perspective on why it’s your favorite, and design it in any way you like.
Explore your neighborhood and find a local work of art. This could be street art, a mural, architecture, or a performer you see on a walk. Create a visual abstraction (=something not realistic) inspired by the piece.
Temporarily install either your visual artwork or your soundscape near the local work of art you found. You can do this either in person OR at home. Take a photo or video of the piece: you might perform your soundscape live and record that, hold your visual artwork up or place it near the local artwork.
Write a creative story responding to the prompt: “If someone were to step into your soul right now, what’s the story?”
Soul Searching
Each day I wake up on the mission to make someone’s day better. It’s not your conventional technique; I’m not a shrink, I’m not a friend or partner. The person I help never actually meets me. I do things a little differently: I am a soul searcher. I astral project into the body of another person, and give them the best day ever. I leave them with the impression of happiness, optimism and hope.
Most people have the same personality. I’m able to get a feel for what they struggle with based on their body aches, how their face sits, or who contacts them throughout the day. Some get texts from loved ones, and other times there’s a sense of longing. It feels like someone important should communicate with them, but they never do. I feel it all.
This time was different, though. I entered the body of a young woman. Short in stature, hair tucked away in a headscarf. As I awoke, I couldn’t feel anything. It was as if she found a way to turn off her thoughts and emotions. I felt lost. I’ve never experienced a moment like this; where it was hard to read the person. I looked around, trying to search for answers. There were no posters or pictures of her with friends, like I usually see. Checking her phone there were outdated and unfinished conversations between friends. I decided to lay back down.
I felt defeated.
I’ve never experienced a moment like this. I was naive to think that anyone and everyone was an open book. Maybe this young woman didn’t want to be figured out. How was she to find her happiness, optimism, and hope? I ask myself this question to this day.