THE DRAWING CURE
In the Spring of 2013, THEMODELINGAGENCY was invited to occupy an office space in the LAMART in downtown Los Angeles to conduct experiments and research relevant to “The Drawing Cure”.
A series of drawing exercises were developed and participation was open to the public. Participants were invited to choose one of a collection of small ‘fetish’ sculptures to use as a drawing object. A specifically designed chair created for the project. the chair had two work surfaces, one above and obstructing the view the other.
The first drawing exercise consisted of producing a rendering of the "fetish" while feeling it with the other hand, though not being able to actually see it.
The second drawing was made 'blind'; the subject was not able to see the drawing, yet was able to see, and hold, the fetish.
The third drawing was produced in the duration of one breath hold. The directive was given after the subject had taken the breath.
The final drawing was a repeat of the third, however, this time the subject had an idea of how long she would be able to hold her breath.
It is notable that all drawing exercises were done while being documented, under video surveillance. This is the same structure employed with project TEKTITE, the 1969 NASA experiments in contained living that informs these excercises. At Tektite, while diver/scientists were conducting their own submarine research, a mother research project was being conducted on them and their ability to perform while living underwater. So while a straight analysis of these drawings is of use, it must always be kept in mind that the subjects were well aware of their 'audience', and that they were in a sense performing. They were performing a drawing trial, and the prejudices of this condition may have been more determinant in the outcomes in some cases than the prescriptions of the actual drawing trial.