“Four Eyes” Exhibition Process Book

FOUR EYES A Film Based Exhibition

Strategic Planning Final Documentation April 2015 Spring Semester

Project Teams

Production Team Concept By Daisy Lora and Grace Morris Directed By Daisy Lora Produced By Grace Morris Director of Photography Kim Boden

Strategic Planning Group Macenzie Meggison Brianna Geoghegan Daisy Lora Grace Morris Special Thanks To Mark Ormond Trevor Daines

Premise

Four Eyes is a film-based exhibition that explores connections made through eye contact. Research suggests staring into another person’s eyes for 4 minutes builds an intimate bond. Fascinated by this concept third year Business of Art & Design students, Grace Morris and Daisy Lora asked 10 students to do just that. In a world where eye contact has been replaced with glowing screens this show explores the relations that have been overlooked. The relationship between participants varies, some are couples or friends while others are strangers. These experiences are recounted in interviews following the experiment. The results show the subjects at their most vulnerable, showing discomfort as they experience new levels of closeness.

Background The story behind FOUR EYES started at the end of Fall Semester 2014 with the reflection of two gallery shows, The First Time curated By Daisy Lora and I Just Want To Know You curated by Grace Morris. The two shows were separate projects done simultaneously, but what they both featured was the power of personal stories and the bond it can create with in a community. As students of Ringling College of Art + Design, each of us have chosen to grow and develop in a specialized community that celebrates art and design. What stood out to Grace and Daisy about the two shows was the overwhelming presence of community that happened with in the gallery openings. It was a celebration of work, a discussion, a collaboration, and an evening of creating connections. These are things that are essential to growth and development, yet we often neglect the fellowship with other students on campus because we are so busy with our projects. This need is what sparked Four Eyes. We wanted to create a space, an evening, and a discussion about creating connections, specifically through eye contact.

Production Plan

This gallery will be a film based experience. Videoing people of all different relationships (friends, roommates, strangers, relationship) laying down next to each other in a horizontal position, fully clothed, starring at each other for four minutes. The filming will be done in a studio in color on a white background. Four cameras will be used: one from above, one capturing each participants eyes, and a fourth behind the scenes. After the participants do the first exercise starring at each other, they will turn and face one camera and be interviewed. The other participant will leave the room so that the individual interviews do not influence the other responses. The interview will be about significant memories of eye contact, memorable eyes, and physically describing eyes of loved ones. When filming the participant interviews, the camera will mainly focus on the eyes and the emotion that comes to life when they talk to the camera about their experience (pupil dilation, shifting eyes, blinking, eye brow movement.

Questions that will be asked in the interview: Describe to someone that has not done this what the exercise felt like.

Describe a time you had meaningful eye contact.

Describe eyes that are significant to you.

Who is the 1st person that comes to mind when you think of captivating eyes?

Describe them.

Describe your Mom or Dads eyes.

Why do you think people call eyes the window to the soul?

Production Plan Participants:

We wanted a range of different relationships. Friends, roommates, people in a relationship, and strangers.

Lilly Stangland and Barrett Brown : Close Friends/ Roommates Kim Boden and Jason: Strangers Grace Morris and Daisy Lora: Friends/ Work partners David Machov and Andy Lang: Friends Hannah Blair and Grant Duffin: In a relationship

Event Plan

The opening evening will be on April 3rd, 2015 from 6-8pm in the Willis Smith Gallery, located at the bottom of the Academic Center. The show is about close intimate relationships and connections, therefore we want the event to be a facilitator for that same atmosphere. Since the Willis Smith Gallery is so large and long, we have decided to divide the room in half with the false wall to create a smaller space. We will provide fruit infused water and cookies for guests visiting the gallery. There will be two benches placed in the center of the room to invite guests to linger in the gallery.

Editing Plan

For this project there was a clear vision and a strategic plan to abide by. However there are things that could not be planned or accounted for. Because of the spontaneous nature of documentary -based work a feeling of the show or the video instillation couldn't be determined until post-production.

After reviewing the interviews moments of humor and reflective moments of longing were overwhelming themes. A soulful soundtrack was selected to coincide with this.

The candid footage of participant's reactions before and after staring into their partner's eyes became a driving force in the narrative structure of the film experience. These unexpected moments ended up being the most telling of the participant's experience.

Before beginning the experiment the participant's relationship to their partner was clear. The level of comfort with the other person was seen in subtle gestures, through a nudge or an exchange. When participant's were uncomfortable with the person for example with the strangers they remained isolated from one another and exchanged very few words. After the time was called to end many participants would remain lost in the moment.

The videos were made to feel like a dream like place, the background is white and the film is filtered to make the eyes stand out more than they typically do. The only reality is painted through the truth in the participants stories and experiences. The disconnect between words and visuals is reminiscent of experimental film.

Gallery Floor Plan

Willis Smith Floor Plan

Gallery Arrangement

Willis Smith Floor Plan Screen Running Wall Feet for Hanging = 100 feet Floor Area = 1980 square feet

Screen

Screen

Documentation

Documentation

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FOUR EYES WILLIS SMITH GALLERY friday 4/3/15 6-8pm

WILLIS SMITH GALLERY

1ST FLOOR ACADEMIC CENTER

To promote the show, posters and stickers were printed. The Posters were hung up all over campus in common areas. The stickers were handed out at the show to take away from the gallery. We wanted the all the materials designed for the gallery to be clean and simple.

We created the four eyes logo and used it on a sticker. Many students here at Ringling use stickers to personalize their belongings. We thought a plain sticker with the only the logo would be appealing to visitors and would be a simple reminder of the show.

FOUR EYES friday 4/3/15 6-8pm

Reviews Here are some final statements from visitors. For participant reflections, see the full video of Four Eyes.

“Four Eyes was a film-based exhibition that explores the intimate connection created through four minutes of eye contact. As guest entered the unlit gallery, a feeling of intimacy could be sensed. With the soft tunes of Best Coast playing the background, Participants explain their experience after their “four minutes.” The gallery consisted of three separate screens, each on their own individual loop displaying bits and pieces of different “couples” during their session of uninterrupted eye contact. With the focal point being mainly on their eyes, you get a sense of honesty as the individuals answered questions, explaining what they had just gone through. Describing what the experience made them think about, or even discover about themselves. You get a true feeling of raw emotion from these individuals as they share their stories. After watching the films and listening to their testimonials, we get a sense for who they are on a personal level and what their relationship was with the other person based on their body language. You can sense the flirtation between Kim and Jason, the genuine expressions on Kim’s face during her “Epiphany”, and even the intensity in the hue of Hannah’s eyes is evident.”- Macenzie Meggison

Jessica- “I feel I didn’t know how much I avoided looking in to peoples eyes until I was forced too, and that it’s almost impossible not to connect with somebody when you do.”

Kade- “You have made me more comfortable with eye contact!

Something that we don’t do often in this generation.”