Jacq Garcia on Victoria Stanton
Performance title: res(is)ting / repos comme résistance
Photo by Hannah Strauss
I have been thinking non-stop about stopping. What does it truly mean to stop and be in the present? Victoria Stanton’s “What motivates you to stop?” was a refreshing and much needed lecture to start my own process of stopping.
Victoria began to think about nothing through thinking about stillness and interstitial spaces. The in between of doing became places of something that wasn’t exactly concrete. The transitional space became a moment where time could be bent as these were considered to be temporary, however if the temporary is made longer or the moment became a focus the expectation would shift and the nothing becomes something. This rethinks what spaces are, what they can do, and what they can be.
The start of this project was with a proposal of a space to do nothing - a space for down time, for the time between time. The proposal was not accepted, but the committee called it a ‘radical and atypical’ proposal full of promise. This is a beautiful example in how even with rejection there is a spark to continue and move forward in a project, as Victoria stated during the lecture - “Nothing happened, but at the same time it did.”
As this project continued, it evolved into moments of collectively doing nothing. This was done simply by being in the same space together without having an expectation of something. This gave so much freedom to the people participating to do whatever they wished and much needed rest. A quote that was read by Rebecca Solnit, “Thinking is generally thought of as doing nothing in a production-oriented society, and doing nothing is hard to do. It's best done by disguising it as doing something, and the something closest to doing nothing is walking.” Walking together became the collective movement to stop. A moment that was highlighted during these walks was passing through a construction area where large buildings were being brought up. These buildings would be changing the landscape and obstructing the current view. As they were present at that moment, the sunset would never look the same as it did, as it could soon be lined with new buildings. This collective contemplation of the landscape as a non-action was so powerful each moment slowly changing as each brick was laid even if it wasn’t noticeable immediately. This was the mourning of the scene that no one else would ever see again.
Victoria hosted a workshop that explored: When I do nothing I _______. People were invited to contemplate and define what nothingness means to them. There were pillows made with images of tough surfaces such as bricks and there was an invitation to rest. There were various activities/nonactivities that people could do while being in the space - there was, again, freedom to do nothing. The spaces that were made became precious moments where the expectations of productivity weren’t there - rest was the priority.
Performance title: res(is)ting / repos comme résistance
Photo by Jean-Philippe Luckhurst-Cartier
During the pandemic, there was a desire and collective need to be social. The pandemic made people grow isolated and feel alone which is why the new non-actions evolved to being social with each other. The moments of doing nothing were chatting, being together in a space, and enjoying company. This was a needed change and interaction for people to feel human connection once again. A recent space of ‘what motivates you to stop?’ was a space viewing the water in a parking lot, providing a different space in between as a parking space is a spot in between where you are going. This space then came into question when the owner of the parking lot wanted to prohibit the space from being used. Public and private property came into the mix and what is and isn’t allowed. Luckily, they were still able to remain there, but there still remained a tension within that place.
The main theme with all of the iterations of nothingness is the presence of the collective. People being in a space together and sharing the time is at the center of what doing nothing holds. The collective non-action gave way to a modern reinterpretation and reappropriation of Ray Oldenburg’s third place, a space where there is an exchange of ideas and building of relationships. The making of spaces for the purpose of stopping is a way to prioritize rest and wellbeing as a practice rather than make it something that is put to the wayside.
As I have had time to sit and reflect past the lecture I have been thinking of my own practice and at how impactful doing nothing can be. I have reflected back at my own times of doing nothing and realizing that any of those times I have spent thinking about doing something or feeling guilty over not being productive. This guilt I realize is a product of living in a capitalist society which gives priority to production over the wellbeing of people. This has been something that has been on my mind since the pandemic gave light to how overworked people are. This has been a collective realization where I hope the norm can change.
During the lecture we were invited to share what motivates us to stop? People shared different responses - the desire to connect inward, the desire to pause, some even did nothing as a pause to the question. At the time I couldn’t think of a proper answer since I always felt guilty for each pause or break I took. I think now my motivation comes from wanting to connect with others. I am someone that enjoys being in the company of others even if there is nothing to do. I want to be able to stop and not worry about whether or not I am being productive. Rest is a necessary part of living and it should be something that is practiced regularly.
I think of my own background as a Latine person, I realize how important the collective and community is to my own culture and how this connects to what it means to stop and do nothing. I think of the elders in my family and how many of them enjoy time together. My abuela, sitting on the porch outside just enjoying un cafecito and the breeze, inviting her friends and family to sit along with her to do nothing other than be together. I think of all the time that can be enjoyed and spent with others - I yearn for these moments.
Victoria Stanton’s work is something that our collective needs - a mindful practice of pause. This is the rejection of urgency and the embracing of rest and community. This is something that I hope to implement in my everyday practice - nothing.