As I traveled with Kelsey, I was most struck by the reactions of viewers to different types of crankies and the effect of the close proximity between art and audience. Kelsey's Crankie drew a wide variety of audiences from crowds to individuals. Some stayed for the whole show, but most seemed to politely smile and walk away or simply avoid the situation completely. The most engaged viewers seemed to be those that we cranked at behind glass or at some distance. When art was right in front of them, many people didn't know what to do or how they were supposed to act. Were they supposed to interpret the piece? Many did, concluding that Kelsey's crankie was about saving the planet. Others appears extremely uncomfortable, not expecting to have to interact with an artwork, pushing them out of their comfort zone in a place they would normally feel comfortable. On the other hand, the audience behind glass knew what they could expect (we couldn't touch them or make them do something embarrassing) and settled down to enjoy the show.
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