A QUIVER OF COBRAS

AN EXERCISE IN NAMING the WORLD with COLLECTIVE NOUNS by erica tryon

a shrewdness of apes
an obstinacy of buffalo
a quiver of cobras
a murder of crows
a pietousness of doves
a charm of finches
a busyness of ferrets
a smack of jellyfish
an unkindness of ravens
a crash of rhinos
a murmuration of starlings
a lamentation of swans

what about other obvious groups, collectives?
1. think of a group/pattern of people in your life
2. brainstorm a list of characteristics associated with that group
3. invent a name for that group that fits the characteristics of that group
4. ex: a hush of librarians, a clog of plumbers, a bolt of dresses

thanks erica, i love this exercise!

STORYBOARD AN EXHIBIT

1. pick 3 pieces in an exhibit
2. choose something that represents a type of beginning, middle/shift, and finale/endpoint/conclusion
3. in your own mind, what is the story of these 3 pieces?
4. draw 3 squares horizontally
5. visually represent/draw the first piece in first square, 2nd piece in 2nd square, 3rd piece in 3rd square
6. under each drawing, tell a brief story of your drawing
7. at the end you have 3 drawings and 3 short writings/descriptions that tell a story. it looks kind of like a comic strip
8. share with the person next to you

this was lead by evan plummer and mario rossero and it really invites viewers to connect with works of art in new ways/make meaning. try it the next time you go to an exhibit!

AN EXERCISE IN LAYERING/BURYING/HIDING/REVEALING

1. think of an experience of significance to you.
2. create 3 symbols to represent that experience.
3. reproduce one symbol on a separate sheet of paper and "gift" it to the person next to you.
4. explain that one symbol with words on a separate sheet of paper and give that explanation the person sitting on the other side of you.
5. create a symbol for the words just given to you.
6. using lots of various materials, create a visual artwork using only the images/symbols in your possession. layers, erasures, burials, hidings, revelations emerge through repetition. imagine these symbols competing for attention. often switch use of materials every 15 seconds or so.


after jasper john's exhibit at the art institute --- exercise led by jorge lucero

stuck with me and i've wanted to try this again and again

A POEM WITH 6 WORDS -- after Roberto Juarroz' poem

by 8th grader Jaime H. at Greeley Elementary in Chicago:

She fell.
She stood.
She fell then stood.
She fell then stood stronger.
She stood then fell.

She fell stronger, she stood stronger.
She stood then fell.
Then stronger she stood.

She fell.


AFTER JUARROZ' POEM:

I'm awake.
I'm asleep.
I'm dreaming that I'm awake.
I'm dreaming that I'm aslseep.
I'm dreaming that I'm dreaming.

I'm dreaming that I'm dreaming
that I'm awake.
I'm dreaming that I'm dreaming
that I'm asleep.
I'm dreaming that I'm dreaming
that I'm dreaming.

I'm awake.

Estoy despierto.
Me duermo.
Sueno que estoy despierto.
Sueno que me duermo.
Sueno que sueno.

Sueno que sueno
que estoy despierto.
Sueno que sueno
que me duermo.
Sueno que sueno
que sueno.

Estoy despierto.

ROBERTO JUARROZ