Step by Step Guide to Collaborating with Animals By Kathryn J. Andrews wylie beckert (05/09/06 13:19:04)
How to artistically collaborate with animals
Step 1: Choosing a collaborator-
Think about which animal you feel closest to. An affinity towards an animal is an essential part of the collaboration. Some people are more connected spiritually to dogs or cats, while others prefer venturing into the wild to seek out potential collaborators. What kind of collaboration do you want to be involved in? More importantly, what kind of collaboration will your animal be interested in participating in? Perhaps your “domestic” animal partner wishes to create a collaboration in which he may express his “wild” side and natural, animalistic leanings. Remember that art is for animals, as it is for humans, a venue for self-expression and exploration of the inner being.
Step 2: Choose a goal-
You must have a goal in order to accomplish your collaboration. This goal may change during the course of the experimentation but it is always important to have one in sight as a foundation for the developing collaboration. What is your desired outcome? What do you think your animal collaborator hopes to get out of the experience? Be realistic. You cannot be disappointed with your animal if it proves resistant to human interference. If this turns out to be the case, reevaluate your goal to reflect your animal’s interests as well as your own. Be willing to compromise your own vision and put yourself in an uncomfortable position to accommodate your animal counterpart.
Step 3: Initiate your collaboration-
Put yourself in your animal’s position. If the animal is “domestic” then it will be more used to human interaction. Try initiating the collaboration through play or through variations on your usual interaction with the animal. The ways of doing this are infinite and vary greatly depending on the nature of your intended collaboration. If your animal is “wild” you should be willing to find a non-invasive way to express your interest in collaboration. This could involve many hours spent sitting quietly in or near the animal’s natural environment to show it your good intentions and non-threatening nature. Do not be discouraged if your collaborator does not make their presence known during this time; no doubt he is observing you from a distance, and is himself contemplating the potential of your collaborative energy. While you are being thus observed, take the time to experience the world from the animal’s perspective; this will put you in an ideal mindset for a successful collaboration, and may lead to the alteration of your goals early on in the project. If your desired collaborator is a vole, hunker down in the grass, watching fearfully for the shadows of hawks. If you wish to work with a mountain lion, keep watch for small prey from a high tree branch. Only by integrating yourself into the animal’s world can you begin to understand its outlooks, hopes, and interests. Note that it is against the nature of collaboration to harm your animal counterpart, or to collaborate with them against their will. If your ideal partner is unwilling to collaborate, he will make it known. Small animals may subtly express their disinterest, while the signs from larger or carnivorous animals will be unmistakable. Heed their warnings.
Step 4: Contact!
You will know if the animal decides to accept your invitation to collaborate. Domestic animals will express their interest in your unusual behavior. They will show their usual signs of interest or excitement, and may begin to seek you out actively to begin your collaboration. Your dog may begin to bark excitedly at the prospect of a new experience. A cow might produce more milk than usual as a sign of anticipation of the intended collaboration. A wild animal may begin to approach you more closely, or accept you into its environment and go about its business around you. This is the time to announce yourself. As you go about preparing for the collaboration, talk so the animal gets used to your voice. Experiment with producing noises similar to those of your collaborator. If you are collaborating with a squirrel, try making chattering noises, and rustle the leaves around you in a non-threatening manner. Once the animal realizes that you are a non-threatening, independent life form, rather than just a passive element of the environment, collaboration can begin.
Step 5: Working together towards a common goal-
What do you think your collaborator wishes to get out of this interaction? How can you help your animal counterpart achieve his/her goals? These are some of the most important things to consider as you begin to collaborate. An exact set of instructions is difficult to provide at this point, as the course you take will depend on the nature of your collaboration, from a complex piece of interspecies art to the simple act of mutual play. The main thing to keep in mind is that your collaboration is a living, changing process. Be always open to new directions, and take cues from your animal collaborator—this is their experiment too, and they are trying to streamline your collaboration and offer new and exciting ideas. Always remember to be safe, and take cues as to your own behavior based on the actions of your collaborator. Only in this way can a true collaboration be performed, and a rich experience be had by all parties involved.
Now get out there and collaborate animalistically!
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