The Puijo Hill 3-Day is a durational performance that uses walking as a means to explore one's connection to others. Based on athletic events organized to raise funds, develop awareness, and bring people together, the work asks others to participate in a group activity which defines its cause individually and personally. There is NO FEE and participants are encouraged to have friends and family join them for the event.
The artist takes on the task of hiking up and down a hill that runs along Puijo Ridge, the famous landmark of Kuopio, Finland. Over the course of three days at the ANTI Festival, others may join him on his walk, while "at-home" participants determine a route and setting of their own.
This project is part of an ongoing series of performance hikes done by the artist which explore movement found within the natural environment, mostly of the kind experienced among the privileged in the travel and tourism industry. The artist interprets the struggle, challenge, and opposition encountered in everyday life through physical activity. Like his drawings and 2-D works, these works embrace an athletic tone, as if taking on the tedium of training and exercising. He constantly asks, ‘How well, how fast, how long, and how much better can one handle the hard work...and is it ultimately worth doing?'
JOIN THE HIKE
Everyone is welcome to participate in the Puijo Hill 3-Day:
IN KUOPIO (Friday, September 25-Sunday, September 27, 2009)
The artist will be present at his base camp, located next to the Grand Cemetery: Puijonkatu (see map here) to meet participants on the hour at 10 a.m., 12 p.m, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. for each of the three days of the ANTI Festival. The last group hike will begin 6 p.m. on Sunday the 27th. Participants will be issued a bib number to identify them as an official walker.
ELSEWHERE (Dates and times to be determined by participants)
Those who are unable to travel to Kuopio or attend the ANTI Festival may choose to participate as an "at-home" participant. The walking course will be held at a time and location of their choice, for any length and duration.
Instructions:
1. Email a shipping address to the artist at: reginigloria@gmail.com to register for the event, or send him a message directly on twitter: @rvigloria. A bib number will be sent to you after your request is made. Please allow up to a week for the number to arrive.
2. Before, during, or after the walk, participants are asked to document their hike with a photo on location. The setting and context is up to you. Please have the bib number showing in the photograph for identification.
3. Send a jpeg of the photo back to the artist at the above email address. A souvenir embroidered patch will be sent to you once the image of your walk is received.
Registration is limited to 500 participants total for both Kuopio and at-home walkers.
The project web site, www.puijohill3day.com will be up and running after the ANTI Festival performance.