Thank you so much to those who joined in for Let's Take a Walk #58 via Twitter @mcayer & Instagram Live @LetstakeaWalk_World. LTAW#58 occurred at Greyfriars Kirkyard In Edinburgh during the EdFringe Festival, #walkingtogetherapart for #OurChildren and #PositiveChangesThroughStoryTelling.
Here are some images, but the entire walk can be viewed on InstagramLetsTakeaWalk_World
The Stories-tellers Eric and Paul
The Town Crier & Sound Designer Patti.
The TweetMaster Elena
I was your Guide
The Storytellers enchanted us by spinning a yard about Harry Potter, JK Rolling, the Immortals, Tom Riddle Grave, Tardigrade, and The Dog Bobby.
"Without the inspiration of the past there would be no Harry Potter for millions to enjoy. The ancient cementry of the walk gave rise to he who can not be named".
I would rather have Peace. Together, we walked, sang #DonaNobisPacem, and asked ourselves, "What creative magic can you do for your community?" We stroked the dog Bobby's nose for good luck while thinking of you; legend has it that when Bobby's master died, he stayed on site for fourteen years.
As we walked we acknowledged the Magical power Children have and the incredible work the young adult generation does to bring positive changes in the world.
My gratitude goes to the excellent Tweet Master Elena Messinger, the playful Town Crier/ Sound Designer Patti Cohen, and the wonderful Storytellers Eric Messinger and Paul Katz.
Thank you so much to all of you who joined us virtualy, I hope that you enjoyed Let's Take a Walk #58 as much as we did.
I am so grateful for your participation and look forward to our next walk, #walkingtogetherapart #withLoveforPeace.
Thank you so much to those who joined in for Let's Take a Walk #57 via Twitter @mcayer & Instagram Live @LetstakeaWalk_World.LTAW#57 took place as part of the Marmalade Festival at The Old Fire Station in Oxford England.#walkingtogetherapart for #SocialChange #withLoveforPeace.
The Colors of the walk; Orange as the color of the festival, Oxford Blue, of course, and Pink, as the 12th of April was the International day of Pink.Together we walk, we sang #DonaNobisPacem and we posed ourself the question "What is, in your mind, the most pressing social change that needs to take place?"
On Tuesday the 11th, in preparation for the performance and on-site of LTAW#57, I worked with passersby, knitting and sharing stories, posing questions directly related to the theme of the performance.
"What is, for you, the most pressing #socialchange" that needs to take place?" #gatheringstories.
Many participants spoke of issues close to their lives; I was touched by two men who maintain the market square behind The Old Fire Station yet can not afford anything in Oxford. Both have several children to raise, they live outside Oxford. #wagedisparity.
Each Line a story. Speaking of the urgency in climate change, the need for opposite parties and different countries to find common ground, #environment #justice, and #womensright were a large part of the conversations.
On Wednesday the 12th we shared LTAW#57, the rain forced us back into The Old Fire Station. We felt lucky to have a place to go to, a shelter.
We stoped by Andy Owen's installation Rocket Folly, #environment & #climatchange.
LTAW#57 ended at the cafe, where everyone joined in #donanobispacem #grantuspeace, we all want #peace, don't we?
Here with the wonderful team. Tweet Master:Paul Katz, the playful Town CrierDelelza Brooks and the Poetic DrummerWayne Aspinall, and one of the participant, Katai Mulenga, thank you for your participation, kindness and joie de vivre.
Finally, Thursday the 13th, Shlepping & Displaying, I walked around Oxford, near the site of LTAW#57 displaying the unraveled dress, performance artifact following LTAW#57, an impromptu and ambulatory exhibition.
#Justice and #Respect where offered as ways to create positive social changes, exploring solutions together.
Let's Take a Walk brings people to share a moment, a step toward peace. Participants from anywhere in the world join us via Twitter @mcayer and Instagram @letstakeawalk_world, #walkingtogetherapart. On-site, a Town Crier, Tweet Master, and Drummer assist me. Addressing topic(s) related to the walk, prompting dialogue, and inviting audience participation. As we journey, the knitted overskirt I wear, created days before each walk with passerby, unravels, leaving traces. Performance time 30 minutes. So far, there have been 56 walks. As part of the project, I maintain this blog where you can view many of the descriptions and images of the walks.
I am grateful for your attention and participation.
My gratitude to the excellent Tweet Master: Zackary Stephen_. Together, Zack and I began the walk on 5th Ave and 42nd street, historically the site of several essential marches, such as the one on March 8, 1857, when female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. It was one of the first organized strikes by working women, during which they called for a shorter workday and decent wages. As well as the Women's March for Suffrage on October 23, 1915, over 25,000 women marched up Fifth Avenue in New York City to advocate for women's suffrage. At that point, the fight had been ongoing for over 65 years, with the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 first passing a resolution favoring women's suffrage. Unfortunately, they wouldn't find success for another five years.
We walked through The New York Public Library's current exhibition pausing in front of various exhibited items that honored the achievements of several women.
The Magnificent Sarah Bernhardt inspiring, creative and courageous.
Rosa Park, civil activist, with courage took historical actions to protest racial segregation.
Mary Wollstonecraft's book A Vindication of the Rights of Women 1792
Virginia Wolf inspired writing.
Here is one of her diary and her walking cane.
QiGong practiced in front of the Library for Tranquility and Harmony We all want Peace, don't we? don't we?
After the walk, I stoped by the beautiful St Thomas Church to light a candle by the Statue of Mary in honor of my mother. Thinking of Women's strengths and courage.
Let's Take a Walk brings people to share a moment, a step toward peace. participants from anywhere in the world joined us via Twitter @mcayer and Instagram @letstakeawalk_world. When performed on-site, a Town Crier, Tweet Master, and Drummer assist me. Addressing topic(s) related to the walk, prompting dialogue, inviting audience participation. As we journey, the knitted overskirt I wear, created days before each walk with passerby, unravels, leaving traces. Performance time 30 minutes. So far, there have been 54 walks. See http://letstakeawalkmc.blogspot.com. Prior the performance I work with passersby, knitting and sharing stories; posing questions directly related to the theme of the performance. Shlepping & Displaying, consisted of displaying the unraveled dress over the few days following the walk.
Thank you as always for your support and participation.
with Love for Peace
Marie Christine
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Let's Take a Walk#55 (to the Voting Booth) took place in New York on November 6th, New York Primary day. The walk began in person in Thompkins Sq Park while simultaneously being shared virtually on Twitter @mcayer and Instagram live @LetsTakeaWalk_World. We concluded our walk in front of Theatre of a New City, the voting site for the East Village.
We walked to heighten the importance of exercising our right to vote, a way to make an impact in society, My friend, Mariam, generously jumped in to be the Tweet Master; I was your Guide. So it was a two-woman show. "We all need a little help from our friends," The Beatles.
The Guide and The Tweet Master
Departure Point, the magnificent tree in the center of Tompkins Sq Park
May All Your Dreams Come True
The Let's Take a Walk project began in 2009 as a virtual Twitter-guided walk. So far, there have been 54 walks with participants globally joining via Twitter and Instagram, creating a shared moment, a collective step towards peace. On-site, each walk is assisted by a Town Crier, Tweet Master, and Drummer.
During the walk, Marie Christine asks questions about Environmental Awareness and Peace. The questioning prompts a conversation that invites participants to share their stories and engage in new ways. The knitted skirt made before the walk unravels as Marie Christine walks, leaving traces of the journey. Performance artifacts, along with film and photographs of the walks, are compiled into an installation, capturing the ephemera of the shared experience.
We are looking forward to sharing this journey with you.
Let's Take a (Virtual Twitter and Instagram Guided) Walk #54 took place to mark the International Women's Day, #WalkingTogetherApart we sang Imagine and hum to Donna Nobis Pacem.
We walked separately but shared a journey with people worldwide for Peace with Love. I conducted the walk on Instagram Live and via Twitter with the help of Joris, the Tweet master. I did not feel well enough to go to Central Park where I had initially planned to guide you from so I did it from my studio.
Here are some moments of the walk.
We followed the red thread.
a gift from my Favorite Grandmother
Nevertheless, We persisted and a gift from my daughter.
Catching the light and a gift from my son.
#HummingTogetherApart #DonnaNobisPacem
What's my Worth? Evaluating the worth of the work of woman, an artist, a mother.
Adrianna Mateo accompanied us via Instagram
we pass by my father shoe when he was two years old, walking along with my Favorite Grandmother
Following the tread, we had a moment of silence for the people of Ukraine, the people protesting in Russia, and everyone opening their home to the refugees.
Imagine Peace
Thank you for your support and participation. It was a day celebrating women, in respect for humanity.
Join us for a 20-minute journey—onsite or via Instagram Live @letstakeawalk_world.
Since 2009, we have walked together—apart—for peace, connection, and reflection.
I'll be your guide along with a Town Crier, Drummer, and Tweet Master, each walk sparks dialogue on the environment, justice, and loneliness. Along the way, we sing, share kindness, and unravel stories. I wear a knitted overskirt crafted with strangers just days before, which unravels as we walk, leaving a trace of our journey.
These walks—64 and counting—are captured through film, photos, and artifacts, becoming a living installation of collective movement and memory.
Want to join the next walk?
Follow @letstakeawalk_world or visit www.mariechristine.com.
#walkingtogetherapart #withloveforpeace
Thank you for your participation.
Marie Christine
My multidisciplinary practice primarily focuses on performance and installation, tackling environmental issues and human rights that impact us both regionally and globally. I encourage public participation through story-sharing and collaboration with fellow artists.My projects evolve over time, informed by audience interactions and responses to questions. I create costumes and objects from materials like drier lint, fabric, hangers, yarn, wax, and wire, utilizing video, photography, sound, and social media as mediums.I conduct workshops that promote upcycling and foster human interactions, and I perform participatory walks globally through Twitter. My performances blend walks, movement, dance, voice, and improvisation with prepared text based on gathered information.Originally from Switzerland, I have lived in NYC since 1985. Follow me on Instagram @dancingalonewithmyshadow @mck_workinprogress @letstakeawalk_world @mcayer27 and X @mcayer.