Knock on Woods with Craig Willms

 

"Taken from the movie The Great Escape, Steve McQueen’s character spends his time in solitary confinement with a baseball glove and ball which he endlessly bounces off the wall and catches.

Even though he is in a prison camp, this action appears to allow him some sense of respite and time to think, despite the circumstances around him."

 

   

 

"I will spend the duration of my stay in the dwelling with a ball and glove repeating the same action." (click image above for video)

 

 

 

"I like the Knock on Woods idea of an autonomous space within claimed or occupied territory. At the edge of the trees I will install a border sign identifying the border and an occupied land. See attached photo still from the Great Escape."

 

 

"Later he famously tries to jump the no man’s land between borders on a motorcycle, but is caught and returned to solitary where he picks up the ball and glove and returns to this seemingly meditative action."

 

          

 

(All quotes come from the original proposal Craig Willms sent to the resident technician to participate in Knock on Woods.)

Craig Willms was an official resident Knocking on Woods with Open Space Gallery, on Mayne Island, BC on 14-15 June, 2008.

 

return to Knock on Woods on Mayne Island

procede to resident artist Helen Marzolf