Animal Projects

Animal Projects have begun!

After thinking about what animals I wanted to be, I suggested to Matt that I be something big, something that takes up a lot of space, like a bear or a gorilla. I also thought a rhinoceros or giraffe would be fun to try. Matt suggested I try something down a different path, something that bounces around a lot, is always the center of commotion, and fucks up before he realizes he's fucking up. Instead of looking for a specific animal, then, I went to the zoo with just these characteristics in mind and looked at everything they had.

Well, I discovered that going to the Pittsburgh Zoo in January is not the best time to see animals bouncing around a lot. I saw a tiger pacing, and a lion sitting on his ass, and some sharks swimming. I was hoping maybe the snakes would be up to something, but not so. However, I did see an animal that I think I've decided on: the flying monkey.

I've picked the flying monkey because I'm enticed by all the possibilities for movement it presents. Here's a video I took of them that shows their capacities for movement quite well:

As you can see in the video, they are apt to be on the move - they don't like to stay in one place for too long, and they really engage with the environment around them. This is something I'd like to explore as an animal in the projects.

Another reason I picked the White-Faced Saki is another characteristic that Matt said I should check out: an animal that is always engaged with other animals. I noticed that the Saki, more than any other animal I saw at the zoo, engages with its fellow species members - picking at hairs, usually, and preening, which they do very often. This picture (sorry for the sub-par quality) shows what I am talking about:

As you can see in the photo, they really get particular with preening each other, and they are very social animals.

So as a start, I will start experimenting this week with Saki movements and playfulness and see what comes up. It may not be the best fit, but I think it will work, and I am excited for the challenges it presents.