Recipes for Disaster: an anarchist cookbook

The rest of the day was amazing. People thought it was the greatest thing, lines formed, and many would come by just to watch. At one point, an older guy came by and stood right beside me, quietly watching me work. When I finished the drawing and gave it to the woman I was drawing, he looked at me and asked, "You're done with that?" He proceeded to critique my style, explaining details like how I shouldn't erase my initial sketch lines, because "you can use those." During the middle of the next portrait, I let him take over. He was skilled, using a much more graceful style than my own harsh marks, and applying careful layers of shading with the side of the pencil. However, his portrait probably took fifteen minutes, and the woman who was standing patiently while he drew called him out: "How many years have you lived here and you never came outside to do this?"

In the most well-educated neighborhood, I was invisible. I was amazed at how many people passed up free portraits. The area was thriving, with successful businesses hawking their wares all around me?perhaps in a neighborhood where money's not that tight, a free portrait really isn't that mouth-watering. Nonetheless, once I got a few people curious and started churning out drawings, a high level of interest ensued. I met a lot of older people I normally would never encounter: an ex-music professor and rabid vinyl addict who gave me an open invite to his listening study, for example, and an art professor who was curious how I got permission to do public art {"Well, I wasn't really aware that 1 needed permission"). The grievance list was laughable in comparison to Portrait Exchange ^^^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^ already accumulated from rougher neighborhoods characterized by an 418 overzealous police presence: noisy radiators, inconsiderate dog owners, and the like.

I didn't draw anyone over 30 in the whitest neighborhood. It was probably my timing, but also perhaps my location, two variables I am still learning to adjust for. This neighborhood seemed incredibly isolated, on the outskirts of the city in a particularly vacant area. I drew a lot of listless kids. For about an hour I was essentially hanging out with a crew of teenagers who were having a lot of fun getting their portraits drawn, complimenting my skills and calling their friends on cell phones to tell them to come on out. They were disappointed when I told them I'd only be there for a few hours. They think this shit is easy!

The project is far from over. I want to compile information about humans that is as human as the humans who offered it up. At the same time, I want this information to be considered on the same terms as existing Census statistics, so that it may compete with and combat Census dominance. I haven't yet found the way to have it both ways. How can I collect non-standardized information and compile it so that it can be analyzed efficiently? Maybe it can't be done. Much of the "post production" is still up in the air. This recipe is fresh like mom's bread, and can surely be sliced in many dijfFerent ways.

Understand the difference between a park and a busy street, and the different attitudes that people may have toward your work depending on the tim.e and place when and where they approach you. The only areas you want to avoid are those where you would simply be a novelty (such as a park area).

Be honest with the people you meet. Don't feign nonchalance if you're actually there as part of a multi-person effort to index the town based on human input. People deserve to know who you are, where you're from, and why you're doing what you're doing. Not everyone wiR love you for sticking your neck and your nose out. There are several excellent sociopolitical critiques of the motivation for this project. It's important to accept them, but not get paralyzed by them.

General Cooking Instructions:

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Don't step on anyone's toes. If you set up in a neighborhood and people make it clear to you that you're not wanted (i.e., they tell you that directly), then pack up and go elsewhere. Maybe it's just one particular person, and you can come back on another day when things are a litde warmer. On a personal note, I have never ever had a hostile situation arise, and I've drawn in many different types of neighborhoods.