Sharrod (Turn/Twirl)
single channel HD Digital Video on Blu-ray
3 minutes 14 seconds looped
Variable Dimensions

During the summer of 2009, Sharrod attended a mock boot camp. One of the exercises the “recruits” had to perform was an inspection routine which consisted of standing at attention and saluting their “commanding officer” for long periods of time. One of the perils many of his comrades succumbed to was passing out while saluting. Sharrod shared that his comrades would lock their legs shortly after assuming the position which in turn severed the blood flow and caused them to suddenly fall forward and pass out.

I asked Sharrod to recreate the durational salute —paying attention to the fact that he didnʼt pass out— for my video camera. He stood, staring forward, saluting a superior “ghost.” At the end of the filming, Sharrod turned slightly and suddenly I realized that my interest had more to do with the relationship of the salute to mimicry than a durational exercise.

It was at that point in which I asked Sharrod to turn 360 degrees as slowly as he could while holding the salute.

The result is Sharrod (Turn/Twirl).

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The clip above is a down sized excerpt of the full HD video installation.