Someone Special, 2006
Cameron Hall dining lounge at the Banff Centre for the Arts hosts a variety of groups; artists, business retreats, writers, musicians, ergonomic conventions etc. Signs are on each dining table to designate seating arrangements. During a residency in the Fall of 2006 I replaced all the table signage one evening with one that was identical in design, but read “This table is reserved for SOMEONE SPECIAL,” and left a stack of business cards that read “A project to facilitate mingling.”
The first person arrived, roamed around looking for his designated table, walked back to the cashier/host and said, “I’m someone special, does that mean I can sit anywhere?”
While initially the project seems generous, it ultimately caused some confusion as well, as expectations and routines were disrupted.
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Someone Special, 2006