“How to Conduct Yourself” was a site-specific installation in the LIME Gallery at CalArts from April 3 – 9, 2011, that draws a possible path between an outlet and a heating pad.
“How to conduct yourself” is a play on the word “conduct”. To conduct oneself at once means to direct a course, to serve as a channel or medium, and to behave. This was my vision: start with a singular source (wall outlet), expand and multiply the power (wall of outlets) only to reduce it back to a singular endpoint (the heat pad). A lot of effort, and resistance, for a small result: the radiating heat from the heat pad.
If one is familiar with how electrical currents work (or even if one is not), it’s clear that this is a huge electrical hazard. The proposal was promptly turned down by the facilities manager. This started a conversation where we settled on me submitting drawings and a written statement outlining of the path of electricity to get clearance. This statement became part of the exhibition.
