This work has had three unique incarnations. The project was originally conceived as a live performance which took place in Dan Graham's 'Rooftop Urban Park Project' in Spring of 1995. Simultaneous to developing the performance, the artists created 'Fantastic Prayers', a web project, for Dia's then brand new web site which launched March 31 ° 1995. 'Fantastic Prayers' is set in Arcadia, a reawakened dream where the residents are unaware of locations and times outside. Their 'uncorrupted garden' looks like an urban landscape, which, through DeJong's spoken text, Vitiello's music and sound, and Oursler's electronic effigy constructs and projections, is visited by memories and ghosts. Now there is the CD-Rom is made up of eight different environments, where the user becomes a visitor. Like an archeaologist, the visitor can dig through these environments, which are laden with physical and psychological histories. In the 'Place Where Lost Things Go' one might uncover a ring with an inscription, money, a silver shoe, and musical instruments. Or,'Ludlow Street' may lead one on an unforeseeable journey down an urban street, where an I-Ching reading is provided by the corner pay phone. Excavate the 'Graveyard', where in cameo appearances Tony Oursler and David Bowie appear in the role of the Director. Chemically analyze a strand of 'Hair' to identify its owner. Experience the entropy of the abandoned 'Natatorium'. In the gamelike environment of the 'Empathy Wheel', the user is invited to “play” with actress Tracy Leipold's emotions. Navigate the inhabited 3-D room 'Walls That Speak'. Or, in a text-driven section, examine the physical characteristics of a 'Jacket', where traces of many lives exist, including that of a young boy in India who loves films and Adolf von Baeyer who was first to produce synthetic indigo.
– Leo Reijnen
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Image: Tony Oursler, Text: Constance DeJong, Muziek, Sound: Stephen Vitiello, Interactivity: Walkabout Visualization Resources, Steven Gomez Dean, With: Tracy Leipold, Kim Gordon, Sonic Youth, Julia Scher, Jim Shaw, and Seni Felic. Tony Oursler, David Bowie, Thanks to: Bryan Taylor, Goran Tomcic, Dan Graham, Bob Bielecki, Brenda Hutchinson, Production: Dia Center for the Arts
Tony Oursler, New York ° 1957
Constance De Jong, Cleveland ° 1948
Stephen Vitiello, New York ° 1964
Live and work in New York (USA)
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