val smith: queer walk-nap
val smith invites the public into queer walk-nap*, an event that occurs at dawn, midday, dusk and midnight over two days. queer walk-nap is an invitation to experience queer spacetime. We will be led by artist val smith in intervals of meandering, resting, napping and chatting moving westward in relation to Te Wai Ōrea, Western Springs Park. Please bring a blanket.
The four walk events move in relation to the nonlinear logics of space, light and pressure present at sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight. The process creates opportunities to pay attention to the passing of time through a queer lens and participate in social practices that attempt to deactivate straight time and establish anti-capitalist modes of being together.
queer walk-nap is one of 12 walking projects as part of Walking about, a contemporary art series that explores the relationship between walking and art curated by Christina Houghton and Melissa Laing, in partnership with Te Uru. Starting in September 2019 and finishing in August 2020, twelve artists will create walks-as-artworks and artworks-as-walks, and invite the public to join them in moving through the spaces of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, co-creating the works with their passage.
Walking about has received generous support from Auckland Council, Albert-Eden Local Board and Whau Local Board. Individual walks will be announced at walkingabout.nz and on Te Uru’s website and social media pages.
queer walk-nap is presented in partnership with the Auckland Pride Festival.
*The name of this event has been changed in response to community feedback.
A reflection on val smith’s work by alys longley is available as a special e-publication. Download as a 2mb pdf
15 February, 6:30 am-11:30 am
Sunday 16 February, 7.30pm and 11.30pmMoves westward in relation to Te Wai Ōrea, Western Springs Park