November 2, 2006
Performance & Installation
St. George Street, Toronto Canada
Perf. Duration: Approx. 4.5 Hours

In collaboration with: Katrina Pruss & Aidan Cowling

Description:

Late at night, before the performance, St. George Street in Downtown Toronto was blanketed with blank sheets of paper; covering all ads and poster cylinders. A two block radius centering around St. George and Harbord was targeted.

The next morning, myself, Katrina Pruss, Aidan Cowling and 3 volunteers distributed pamphlet-folded blank sheets of paper to passing pedestrians.

Statement:

What happens when the role of the solicitor and solicited is reversed? Is it possible? In Blank Paper Project (BPP) we set out to find out. Instead of giving information, we gave lack of information; instead of giving a single possibility, we gave endless possibilities; instead of selling something, we were giving it away for free.

In doing so, people were thrown out of their element. In an urban environment, people become numb to the saturation of information. Therefore, only the refuge of blank space catches their attention. Dozens initially gestured refusing the folded sheet, yet, once close enough to see it was blank, they accepted it.

The reaction to the performance was mixed, however the general response was to hesitantly grabbing the sheet (often with an intimidating expression) then quickly whipping through the pamphlet scrambling for information. After an unfruitful search, most turned heads either with a confused expression or a sly smile.

The most interesting response however was from an angry gentleman calling us “idiots” among other things, claiming that we were wasting paper, and should take responsibility for it. The irony of this statement points to the soul of this project. An advertisement serves one purpose, to sell and market a product, a blank sheet of paper can be used for anything; drawing, writing, origami, posters and more.

Have we become dependant on information? Is a space used or reserved for “nothing” considered a waste? Are we a society of saturation? Do we prefer to have more, even if it’s all useless?

 

Other memorable reactions to the piece:

> Quite a few people turned back to return the sheet in order not to ‘waste it’.
> One gentleman requested more paper, stating he likes to draw. He received approx. 100 pages.
> In a group of 3 people, one grabbed a sheet. His friend asked “why did you take that?” with the response “I need some scrap paper, anyways.”
> Witnesses reported a lecture hall full of students, whom participated in the performance on their way to class, had a long discussion regarding what we were doing and why. They reached the consensus that it was likely an art piece, upon which a heated discussion of “what is art?” prevailed.