public works

Here's a thing I'm cooking up with Eric Sanders:

THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT, an organization dedicated to creating 'moments' and images at certain times and intervals throughout the city. Our first project is called "Subway Make-Out," and we are seeking couples who are interested in participating in this multiple, simultaneous subway make-out session. We are planning to do this on a late July morning or afternoon; we will rehearse for a few hours in the days beforehand. More info is below. Feel free to pass this on to friends, and we hope you can join us in making New York City a little less real.


THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT: SUBWAY MAKE-OUT
You are sitting on a semi-crowded train, before or after work. Either way, you're tired, sluggish; weary about the day you're headed towards or coming from. And then you look up briefly and notice an attractive young couple standing above you, chatting it up, smiling at each other, flirting. They're acting like this is the first time they've ever met; he's nervous, she's shy. They're making silly jokes. He's putting his hands in his pockets and smoothing his tie when he laughs. She's running her hands through the back of her hair. You look away, think nothing of it. God, work is going to suck today, you think; or, God, TV is going to suck tonight and Bravo's only playing re-runs, plus I'm out of dog food and RiffRaff is hungry. Shit. you think to yourself. This is how we get lost in our thoughts—this is how the city swallows us up. And then something brings you back, onto the subway car, into the present again: The couple above you has started to kiss, just like that; his arms are around her back, he's dipping her ever so slightly, their legs are touching, and they're embracing like it's WWII and he's just returned home. Is anyone else seeing this? you wonder, looking around the train. And then the strangest thing: Another couple, at the far door, is doing the same thing, wrapped in each others' arms like they're the same person, and then another couple on the far end of the train, and then another, and then another… What the fuck? Is this possible? you ask yourself. Summer makes people crazy, after all. But not this crazy. Does it? The couples—6 of them, 8 of them, 10 of them—are all kissing now, all oblivious to each other, oblivious to the outside world. They are in their world and you are in yours, except now you are a little bit in theirs. You look around the train and a few other seated people have noticed it too—their eyes meet yours, wondering, How could this be real? And then the train stops and the doors open and, just like that, all the couples exit, holding hands. In unison. No applause, no curtain, just another morning or night in the city. Except now it's somehow not so lonely. Your eyes meet those of the person seated across from you—and, yes, you both actually crack a quick smile.

Are you a real-life couple or are you and a partner interested in joining us? We will be premiering "Subway Make-Out" in the sexy heat of July. E-mail Director John Clancy at john@clancyproductions.com with your interest and we will be in touch soon regarding scheduling.

Sincerely,

John Clancy and Eric Sanders

Sounds like fun, right?

I also had an idea yesterday for the Simultaneous I-Pod Dance. A bunch of people hit the same song at the same moment on their I-Pod and start dancing, precisely and intricately, on the subway platform.

Just trying to keep it interesting.