Human hamsters in over-sized wheels are delighting onlookers in New York City. A pair of performance artists, Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder, coordinate their movements as they live in, and on, the structure. The pair are eating and even sleeping within the wheel.
The artists say they are performing the act for ten days to show the interdependence between all people. One man stays inside the wheel, and the other lives on top. Whenever one walks, the other must also do so, at the same speed, in the opposite direction. Every time one of the pair stops, the other must do so as well.
"It's really an exploration of what it means to collaborate. It's an exploration of trust between two people," Schweder told reporters, from within the wheel.
This giant hamster wheel is 25 feet tall, and constructed from metal and wood. It contains two beds, desks, chairs, and a small kitchen, including mini-refrigerators. There is also a small toilet, complete with privacy screens. Everything is strapped down, for traveling around the wheel when it is in use. When one needs to move to a different "room" on the wheel, the other must assist. Turning of the wheel occurs slowly, for safety reasons.
Schweder, who is staying inside the wheel, is 43 years old. On top of the device is Shelley, 63. The two have been friends for a decade and believe this experience will strengthen the bond between them.
Staying in the wheel for ten days is proving a challenge to both artists. The duration of the exhibit was chosen by the pair as one they could attain.
"Ten days is a number you can hold in your mind and count down. It's like being told to stand in the corner when you're a kid," Shelley told reporters. The two say they will stay within the structure for the entire length of the performance, unless an emergency forces them to vacate the wheel.
Schweder is wearing an orange jumpsuit for the performance, while a similar outfit donned by Shelly is red. The wheel, and much of the furniture, is painted to match the color scheme.
Shelly and Schweder are exhibiting their live art in Brooklyn. People wanting to view "In Orbit" for themselves should travel to The Boiler, the performance art space in the Pierogi Gallery. Visitors are encouraged to talk to the men, who are happy to answer any questions people may have for them. The pair will be there until 9 March.
