IN CASE OF FIRE
Experimental video conveying the stress that comes with making fast decisions that will determine what you are left with in the future.
We attach importance to objects whether it be by bringing a get-well teddy bear to an individual in the clinic, or presents and cards on celebrations. Throughout our lives, even as children we gather things and transform them into mementos. The physical item isn’t what is consistently significant but instead the sentiments, feelings or recollections joined. Items fill in as physical time capsules expanding the lifespan of a memory because alone, they frequently blur.
My exhibition will be called “IN CASE OF A FIRE”, I will be interviewing, photographing, and filming people and things, collecting research about what they might grab in case of a fire. If a fire were to ever happen, fight or flight kicks in, and you are forced to question what really is important in your life in a few moments. I will be trying to convey those few moments of panic with an experimental video installation. The video will include found footage and all the research from my interviews. All senses will be captured in my space effectively recreating a moment of truth for the viewer. It should feel as if they are mentally and physically experience a fire and should feel all the emotions that come with it.
I put out a call to action searching for individuals who were interested in participating in my capstone. I was excited to have received so many responses intrigued and stumped by my question. The most common response I was given was “I never thought about it” That was exactly my intention. I wanted to catch people off guard and get their raw response. I interviewed people between the ages of 17 and 46. I wanted to get as many age’s as I could, knowing how drastic generational gaps are nowadays.
The teddy bear is a personal touch I wanted to include. It is representational of what I might have left behind but would never forget. — When I was young, my father gave me a teddy bear similar to the one pictured below.
I wanted to burn the teddy bear to replicate what might happen in case of a fire. I contacted the fire department to help me assist with my capstone. I am privileged to have been able to work with the Tampa Bay Fire Department to achieve my idea. It was an amazing experience where I went to a controlled fire sight and they threw my bear into the flames. After that, I was able to ask firemen what they might have taken.
Thank you Tampa Fire Department.
