Jason Zimmerman

Motown Classics

Motown classics sung by Native Americans

Laser line

Use a laser to draw a line that slowly lengthens.

The Waterboarding Challenge

Hire an ex-military/CIA/Blackwater-type intelligence officer to work a stand in amongst the concessions and games at a variety of street fairs. Call it “The Waterboarding Challenge,” or something like that. People can then compete to see who can endure the most physically non-damaging torture. Then they can win prizes.

A Random Deck of Cards

Remove one card from each deck of playing cards encountered until there is a new complete deck.

Rubbings

Create a series of crayon rubbings from the drains inside public urinals.

An Animated History of the Life of President James Buchanan

Work collaboratively with a historian and N. Clair Clawser (see my former post about Clair, who turns out to have worked on several projects about Buchanan) to create a short illustrated documentary about the life and times of one of “America’s worst Presidents.”

Hire a painter

Hire a painter to create a large scale photo-realist style painting of the National Palace in Port-au-Prince, after the earthquake. Pay them a lot of money to do the work.

Loose Grapes Video

Video tape myself trying to eat whole loose grapes off a Styrofoam plate with a flimsy plastic fork.

Wedding Ring Video

Ask random people on the street to model their wedding ring on camera for a few seconds.

Block Party

Organize a block party for a block in another neighborhood, maybe even another state. Try to secure the permits and hire food vendors, etc. without actually talking to anyone that lives on the block. Then surprise them with fliers and street closures.

Stain Quilt

Collect scraps of fabric that have stains on them. Make a quilt out of those scraps. Embroider a brief description of each stain in the handwriting of the person who donated it. If the material is found, then mark as “anonymous” or “unknown” stain.

Stood Up

With one or more hidden cameras placed within various locations inside a restaurant, film actors pretending to be stood up. Allow them to play it anyway they want as long as the staff doesn’t know what’s really happening… Maybe they keep ordering drinks for several hours and get trashed, maybe they start crying, maybe every time the server comes by they make up excuses as to why their guest isn’t there, etc.

Cast Bronze Plaques

Design a series of bronze plaques similar to those found at historic sites or used in dedicating buildings and spaces. Have them illustrate things of relative insignificance, such as someone’s web browser history or credit card statement, maybe a chat log or transcript of a conversation, things like that. Have them installed in a park or other public space where they are seemingly separated from their original context.

The Idea List Website

Create an online database where any artist, designer, writer, etc. can post what they are thinking. One might want to post in order to solicit help or advice, offer their idea to someone else, or to make themselves sound smart.

A Short Documentary

Find out what the guy in the crazy-cause-he-is-being-blown-away-by-high-speed-internet billboard ad I pass everyday is currently doing.

Last Supper

Project Proposal: Find a project to somehow represent my Grandmother’s last solid meal with family.

Curator Computer Desktops

Solicit individuals who own, or otherwise operate, computer workstations/laptops that get a lot of time projected in front of an audience (think artist lectures, board room computers, etc.). Ask them to host a curatorial project on the computer’s desktop. Then put out a call for submissions and assemble a rotating slide show that can be setup as their background. When people inevitably switch applications, or when PPT crashes again, the audience will get a glimpse of the “exhibition.”

VIP Elevator

Host a super-fancy cocktail party in an elevator at the Portland Art Museum. Only special invites permitted.

Goodbye Horses

Become an expert at lip syncing “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazarus. Make a video of myself performing it.

Video Tape a Dog Sleeping

Try to get some good clear video of a large breed dog, one typically thought of as more aggressive, sleeping. Capture the spasms and twitches that happen while they dream. Mount the camera directly overhead. Maybe film an entire kennel at once?

Human Nonverbal Communication (Vocal Devices)

Vandalize One Dollar Bills

Hold a contest to see who can best decorate, vandalize, or otherwise alter, this piece of government property, the dollar bill. Every other US note has gone through a recent redesign except for the one.

Slumber Party

Under the advice of doctors, heavily sedate a group of willing
participants with the purpose of having everyone sleep for several days
straight. Perhaps use a closed bed store? (Think MJ’s final days, or
something.)

Deep Holes

Project Proposal: Dig a really really deep hole and suspend a camera, light, and microphone inside it. Feed the data back to a ground-level monitor or video projection booth. Show in real time.

Possible Show/Project Titles