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Arts & Entertainment

Now Let's Watch Some Dudes Live In A Hamster Wheel For 10 Days


By

Lauren Evans

Published Feb 27, 2014

Modified Mar 1, 2014


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Via Pierogi


By

Lauren Evans

Published Feb 27, 2014

Modified Mar 1, 2014


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Here's another one to file under "Why Is This Happening?," with the adjoining subcategory, "Because We've Made Williamsburg, And It's Too Late." A set of Bushwick performance

artistsarchitects

are going to live in and around a giant, comfortably-appointed hamster wheel for 10 days or until someone gets stuck in the spokes. Performance art! I'm doing it right now, by attempting to tie my shoe using only my left hand and right eyebrow. Now pay me.

Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder, perhaps inspired by the Great Hamster Wheel Hoax of 2013, will be living in—and on—a 25-foot-tall wheel forged from "wood, steel, and furniture" for 24-hours a day for 10 days starting tomorrow. This spectacle will be occurring at Pierogi Gallery's Boiler space.

"Two living units are arrayed over this hamster-wheel-like sculpture, one around the inside of the circumference and another on the outside. The artists will activate this sculpture, as they have in previous works, by living on it 24 hours a day for the first ten days," reads a description on Pierogi's website. "All of its furniture and accommodations are fixed along its circumference. To bring the users the things they require during the day, they must walk in tandem to rotate the giant wheel."

While this certainly doesn't sound "fun" or "healthy," the Brooklyn Paper reports that the wheel will be equipped with "fixed bathrooms, mini-fridges, chairs, and beds," making it sound slightly superior to the average living situation available in Williamsburg. (Who has room for chairs?) The Brooklyn Paper also promises that striking the wrong balance could send the artist's items (and pee) flying! So wear a poncho. Neither Shelley nor Schweder has added anything about the presence of wild dogs, but what is life without hope?

"In Orbit" will run from February 28 to March 9. The artists will (allegedly) remain on their wheel 24/7, but visiting hours will be from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Boiler is located at 191 N.14th Street between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue.

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