26.11.14

Sleep :













We're in the midst of an interim semester with students of Srishti School of Art Design and Technology. New Action Heroes include Diya Pinto, Akash, Manpreet,  Ayush, Swati Khaitan, Rashi, Radhika and Rajalakshmi.

Location: Cubbon Park
Assignment  : Take a nap

Diya Pinto : I have slept out in the open before, and am actually pretty comfortable sleeping out in the open, but as a woman in India, I would never dream about taking a nap in a public park. It is sad, but my memories of Cubbon park have all got to do with some sort of sexual harassment; like the time my friend and I thought we would go to Cubbon Park and meditate but opened our eyes to a group of men who had surrounded us. Or the time I went cycling to Cubbon Park and there was a man jerking off behind a tree, or when we went tree climbing and men decided to sit right beneath our tree, even though there were about a thousand other options. 
The main reason, in all honesty, I fell asleep, was because I trusted the group. I knew someone had their eyes open and would stop anything happening. Knowing that helped me let go and I was asleep in about seven minutes. It was a very restless sleep. the kind an afternoon nap gives me, full of dreams…but upon awakening, it was weirdly empowering to know that I had slept in Cubbon Park, free of men surrounding me when I opened my eyes. 

Rajalakshmi: The idea of falling asleep in a public space with people around and maybe staring at you and walking by, though scary, turned out to be quite relaxing. 

Akash Nandi: Slowly my body went to sleep but not my mind. For some reason I was asleep yet
wide awake and was aware of what was happening. In such a liberal space, I came about my own 
solitude. It was different in a way that all my thoughts passed without judgment, which rarely happens.

Rashi: I sat on my mat. I saw my fellow mates lie down and then I did too. For the first few minutes, I 
looked around to see if they were all comfortable. And then I looked up at the sky, which was on the 
other side of the canopy made by the trees that had grown so tall. I loved looking at the patterns 
they made, the way the leaves swayed. Some leaves fell and it felt like a movie shot. I was slowing 
drifting into my zone and I was relaxed. I closed my eyes and let the play of colours begin. That is 
one thing I relate to my childhood, where I would just sit in the sun with my eyes closed and watch 
one colour turn into another. I don’t remember how and when did I fall asleep. However, I’m sure I 
wasn’t thinking about anything. I was in a happy place. All of this while lying straight, with my face 
looking up and my body relaxed.  I think the initial comfort was because of my friends also 
performing the same activity. If I were alone in the park, I would have not done this. I might not have 
even spent so much time alone in the park. I was comfortable doing this as a part of a group. So 
comfortable that I was able to isolate my presence and feel the space around me as my own.

It was a good experience.

Manpreet:I think i failed at the sleeping exercise. Even though I tried my level best i couldnt fall asleep primarily because i need absolute darkness to fall asleep.However i did manage to relax quite a bit. And i remember that there was a point of time when i reached close to almost drifting away to sleep, but a constant distant scream for help brought me to consciousness. After that i just couldn't sleep...



16.11.14

Action Hero Sunday - Bangalore















Next Picnic 11 am, November 30th.
Save the Date
Picnics must not be missed

Action Heroes Nirbheek Chauhan, Atreyee Majumder, Malini Roy, 
Amalie Vikse, Monica Nanjunda, Lijya Perayil, Maria Emilie 

New Action Heroes Include!

We're thrilled to welcome the following Action Heroes to Blank Noise as volunteers and interns.

Khushboo Ranka - Delhi
Satya Gummulri - Germany
Vira Mistry - Bangalore
Aarushi Sood- Chandigarh
Raahat Varma - Ludhiana
Avani Tandon - Delhi/ Mumbai
Emily Griffith - Wales, UK
Anjali Katta- Canada

* This list will be updated by November 24th 2014.

Making visible the contribution of Action Heroes over this year.
Here's to each of you for the extra effort and action!

Rishita Nandagiri - Bangalore
Nirbheek Chauhan - Bangalore
Sascha Hughes Caley - Philadelphia
Lijya Perayil - Bangalore


10.11.14

Next - ' Action Hero Picnic ' - Next Sunday 11 am

Action Hero Picnic dated 9/11/2014
Next Action Hero Picnic in Bangalore on November 16th at noon.
Do email blurtblanknoise@gmail.com for exact location






5.11.14

Kissy Map


Do you know the word for 'KISS' in Indian Languages?
Send it to Paromita Vohra here


reference:
Kiss Of Love

Sunday !



Hello Bangalore Action Heroes,
It's November. 
Action Heroes must get out and play.
November 9th is picnic day.
Timing - 12 noon until 3 pm
Location : Central Bangalore / will be shared when you confirm attending.
Bring along friend, your own water bottle, something to sit on,
scissors and a stack of old newspapers.
Pets are allowed and very welcome.
Don't be late. Picnics must not be missed.
Call us at 9886840612 and or email us blurtblanknoise@gmail.com 
Yours truly.
Blank Noise Team

4.11.14

In Case Of Domestic Violence : LEAVE

If you're feeling
Threatened
Small
Worthless
Unsafe
Unheard
Invisible
Bruised
Exhausted
Tired
Attacked
Burnt
Worthless
Invisible
Small
Unheard
Unseen
Blamed
Exhausted
Defending
Trying
Justifying
Over
and
Over
and
Over
and
Over again
Trying
Explaining
Justifying
Excusing
Allowing
Hoping
Wishing.
Justifying.

Leave.

Cycles
Circles
Cycles
Circles
Circles
Spinning
Cycles.
Circles.
Wishing
Hoping
Exhausted
Burnt
Blamed
Burnt
Raw
Burnt
Bitter
Burnt
Bruised.
Red.

Leave.