"Hello, My Name is..." Formal Project Proposal

Performance Art Project Proposal:

Hello, My Name is...

Mary Luke

Project Components

• three people in charge of the polaroid cameras and explain the project
• advertisements (posters)
• promoters to get people talking about it
• someone to document the event/project
• a busy area with a lot of foot traffic to attract people
• one week to collect the photographs, and one day to create the display
• weekend in late october
• students of syracuse are the target participants

Project Description

The “Hello, My Name is...” performance art project consists of two steps. Step one: I and a few of my peers will go around campus throughout the week while wearing “Hello my name is...” name tags and introducing ourselves to people, asking if we can take a picture of them with a polaroid camera. We will explain what it is for and why we are taking on this project. After the photograph is developed, the student will be asked to write a statement [anecdote, fact, fear, thought, etc] on it, adding a personal touch so anyone who reads it remembers them. Finally, we will ask them to put on a name tag and wear it throughout the day to unite all the participants and spread the idea.

The second step is that the following weekend, a large poster or sheet of fabric will be attached to a pre-existing wall on which everybody and anybody will be able to help put up all the pictures to create a giant “Hello my name is...” name tag.

Philosophy

The idea for this project stemmed from my observations of people walking around campus every day. I see dozens or hundreds of people I’ve never seen and probably will never know. And yet, it is so simple to get to know them if you just approach them. This project will prove that and bring all those strangers together, creating a sense of community and a piece of art that everyone can be a part of. Finally, people who would never acknowledge each other as they’re walking will be brought together and will learn from the statements on the wall. Hopefully, this will make people more confident to approach people and find that they’re not that different from each other. The wall will be a constant reminder that we are one.

Budget Information & Supplies

• Polaroid cameras [one used : $30; three used : $90]
• Film [one pack with 10 exposures : $10; 10 packs with 100 exposures : $100]
• Sharpies [$15]
• “Hello, My Name is...” tags [$10]
• Poster or sheet [$10 - 20]

The total cost of this project is estimated between $165 and $235. This does not include any shipping costs that may be necessary to obtain the polaroid cameras.

Education

Graduated New Canaan High School 2010

New Canaan, CT

Current Painting Major at Syracuse University, Class of 2014