To access the realm of automatic writing, artist Ron Athey draws on his Pentacostal childhood, his ability to speak in tongues, and his explorations of the ecstatic experience in performance.

Automatic writing, also called psychography, is a claimed psychic ability allowing a person to produce written words without consciously writing. In this two-day weekend workshop, Athey & collaborator Hermes Pittakos will join participants in an immersive exercise to access the subconscious state in order to draw, write, and express.

Participants use automatic writing, hypnotism, as well as Ron’s own practices of word virus, mouthing off, channeling hysteria and dialectics of the sublime to create narratives, movement scores and choreographic practices. Original hand-made planchettes made by Athey in collaboration with artist Paul Donald will be shared among participants for the writing exercises as well as crafting your own mark-making intention tool.

RSVP required. Space is limited and requires a 2-day commitment. No previous experience is necessary. Participants are required to consent by signing a written waiver to undergoing hypnotic inductions for the development and performance of this automatic writing process.

Questions: learning @theicala.org