Day 236 performing proximity on the platform of the Jean Talon metro and on the metro, 95%
Day 236 performing proximity at Jean Talon metro, 95%
performance
Day 235 whistling Mrs. Robinson at McGill, 98%
Day 235 and it’s also Tuesday which means I am at McGill taking an Art History class with Amelia Jones. I’ve noticed, or more accurately, I’ve been noticed in the hallways and on the stairwells and I’m assuming that it’s because this sweater and jean combination is particularly eye-catching, so I’ve started whistling Mrs. Robinson while trying to navigate my way through the throngs of fresh-faced undergraduates on my way to and from class.
Later, while I was trying to flag a taxi on the corner of Mont Royal and St. Denis in -39, a man from Gaspésie said that he liked my outfit and that if his girlfriend was there, she would say I have the whole kit. Buddy, you have no idea.
98%
Cougar Mama at the Royal Phoenix
This is a durational performance that I did at the Royal Phoenix on Monday, December 10th (Day 193) for their staff party. I haven’t done it for a while, and I sat on the bar in this outfit that features fake breasts filled with vodka for about an hour. I cougar-ed it up so that I wouldn’t break the rules of this project, and I think I like it better this way. I wrote the description for this piece a few years ago when I went to Poland and Berlin with it that talks about this work as related to government, embodied matriarchy, sexuality and disgust, but I think I need to revise this description to include something about the breast as the lost object and the significance of the vodka as a substitute for milk.
Day 189 and snakeskin is back, 95%
Day 189 and snakeskin is back after a bit of a hiatus. I got this new cuff on Monday at a store in the Concordia metro, 95%
Today, just before Art History, Cheryl Donison, a colleague at Vanier told me that a student of hers asked her who she shared an office with. The student replied, “Dayna? Who is Dayna? Is she the woman who always wears animal print?” Cheryl told her that I am a performer and that this is a year-long project to which the student replied, “Aaaaahh,” as though now, it all made sense. According to Cheryl, the student was then “totally fascinated.”
Thanks for the report, Cheryl:)
Day 188 and it’s all about tilted angles, 95%
Day 188 and it’s all about tilted angles. I gave the last Intro to Film lecture at Vanier, as the final exam will be next week. Hint: there will be a question on tilted angles, which director used them in what film we looked at this semester, and why. 95%
Today I was very much aware of performing proximity, or rather trying not to do it pointedly or intentionally. There were a few students at Vanier who I happened to walk behind on my way from the metro to school, both wearing leopard print pants or leggings. I tried to keep my distance for fear of embarrassing them. However, I don’t have this consideration off campus.
Performing Proximity Cougar follow
[FMP poster=”https://cougarthis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/IMG_3437.jpg” width=”240″ height=”320″]https://cougarthis.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Nov2_follow1comp.mov[/FMP]
This was November 2nd (Day 155) where I got off the metro at the St. Laurent stop and followed this woman out the exit, up the escalator, and out the door. I took a series of stills with my iPhone and just got to making this video animation today. Performing proximity looks and feels fairly predatory here.
Performing Proximity: purse on the metro
Another example of performing proximity- something that I’ve started doing where I stand next to people (usually women) who are wearing similar animal prints to me. I document this when I can without drawing attention to the fact that I am taking pictures with my phone. Here, I am on the metro beside a woman with a black and grey leopard print purse.
Performing Proximity: bus leggings
Leopard legs across from me on the bus. (another documented example of me performing proximity)
Performing Cougar Proximity on the metro
A few weeks ago, I posted about standing next to people (usually women) who are wearing similar animal prints to me. I’ve started documenting this when I can and it doesn’t interfere with my experience, the wearer’s experience, or a public audience’s experience, who I am now noticing the presence of in these passive interactions. Also, I’m documenting with my smart phone, so I think it just appears as if I am txting or playing a game. Notice the Tim Horton’s coffee cup, my purse, her purse, my coat. Performing Cougar Proximity on the metro, orange line