Rain

When its raining its like every step is a destruction to my feet.
I'm so sick of people looking at my feet then looking back up at me as if I'm crazy. I don't want to be looked at anymore. I want it to be invisible.

"Don't you have cold feet?...You're brave"
"That girl's got barefeet"

This is Nottingham

Don't feel like there's much new happening or anything different I'm learning: being barefoot now feels completely normal to me, its ingrained into my lifestyle, like I wanted it to, its just part of what I do. Its like I've unlearnt the act of putting on shoes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6LfHCq5pIg


Put feet on a ground light, it heated my foot quite quickly, giving me a new sensation on my foot. This was quite exciting as I hadn't experienced much new texture or feeling in my steps for a while.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHjUoYNSEqQ


Walking back from train station just now: enjoyed the dim yellow colours of the light changing, and making our shadows move across our feet and in our path of walking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY6jSC7MRSI

Do I have to wear shoes?

Wore shoes today for a screenprinting workshop. I was really aware of the shape of the shoe around my foot - a sensation of touch on every side. Felt trapped and tied in. Made me realise the enjoyment I'm getting out of being barefoot and the freedom I feel. I no longer walk out the house thinking I should be putting shoes on or like I've forgotten to do something, it feels normal now.

Day 10. Everyone wants to see the soles of my feet!

You don't normally wish to see the bottoms of people's feet, I find it hilarious that people want to see mine, as if to check how dirty they are; to see the evidence of my barefoot walking.
"Can I see the bottom of them?"
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'm really quite interested"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYhl4JwpNFc

I think you're mental

Day 9. Glass still in foot? Definitely bruised - slightly tender in that area and am aware of it every step.
"Are your feet swollen?"
"I think you're mental"
"You're a fucking retard. Give it up already"
"I'm so proud of you. You must be freezing"

Crazy?

Yesterday I stepped in glass and kind of just left it other than socaking my feet in hot water. But this morning it still was painful to walk on. It felt like with every step I was treading it further into my skin. It actually bled again and I was getting worried about it possibly getting infected, since I have no barrier between the wound and the ground.

Went to the doctors, wanting advice and clues about how to take care of my feet or signs to look out for if it starts to get dangerous to my health. The doctor said he thought it was a crazy idea and suggested I wear socks and shoes please. He took one quick look at my injured foot, not even attempting to take the glass out, claiming he would need an x-ray to see if it was in there. He spoke about frostbite, hold and cold traumas and it leading to permanent damage to my feet. I left the doctors completely deflated, feeling like an idiot (again) and wondering whether I am infact being incredibly stupid. I crosssed paths with a fellow art student who expressed how much she liked my blogs and the project as a whole. Whenever I talk to an art student I get encouraged by their response, it is when I talk to someone who just doesn't undertsand that I question what I am doing and feel silly.

Day 6 A day in London

Man at Loughborough train station: "You must have cold feet"
Me: "Yes I do... I've been going without shoes for a week so I'm used to it"
Man: "Oh right. Why are you doing that?"
Me: "I'm a fine art student. I'm interested in performance art and I'm testing the physical limits of my body"
Man: "Oh right ok. Don't step in anything nasty!"


A lady in convent garden walked past me, she was on the phone. She retraced her steps to talk to me and held her phone conversation. She looked at me with genuine concern and said, "Please be careful...I'm being serious, there are drug addicts round here and they leave their needles on the ground. Please be careful"
After that I felt pretty stupid, felt like an idiot and suddenly more aware that I was barefoot. It made me feel dirty and more aware of the dirt on the ground, of what I might be treading on and what my feet are picking up. 


In the evening I had dinner with a friend and he was really encouraging about my project which helped me reconnect with the purpose of it. He understood the feeling of my skin being connected to the ground and it being about my lifestyle. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVrSf-YH5ks

Day 6 A day in London

Can't get more natural than barefeet!

Day 5: 22 October 2010

Had to put shoes on to do a workshop today. Felt really odd having something around my feet as protection, only I felt trapped inside the shoes. I could acknowledge the freedom that I had been feeling now that it was taken away from me, I felt separated from the ground.

Wearing shoes made me realise what I was experiencing by being barefoot and also the fact that I enjoyed it.

Walking with Lottie

Intentionally moving onto the grass for some soft steps

Waiting for the green man at night

In the union

Day 4: 21 October 2010

I was a lot happier today. When I stepped out of the house I though "Oh I can feel the ground" It was warmer and drier than yesterday so I could actually feel the texture and was able to acknowledge the different surfaces I treaded on, whereas yesterday my feet were just too numb and I couldn't appreciate what I was feeling.
Some funny things I heard today:
"Connie, why are you barefoot?" (Andy)
"You're like a ninja, I can hardly hear you" (Joe)
"Keep peddling baby" (stranger)
"That must be freezing" (stranger)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrlmQmYcqa8

Did some printing with my left foot today - that is left over blue paint you can see

My feet look and feel like they are getting an almost leather-like layer.
It feels like I can never get them completely clean.

Day 3: 20 October 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8O829wXyNc

Day 2: 19 October 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhER2Gh0UR4

Hello! I'm in Lincoln

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuBLSCw-z6U

This was actually yesterday, a trip out to the theatre in Lincoln

Fed Up

Today I got really cold, my feet felt like blocks of ice. I was getting really fed up and grimacing any time I walked outside. Coming back from the train station, I had to leave my friend and start cycling because I could no longer keep my feet on the ground. Although the bike pedals are spiky, it is a release from the hard cold ground.
I'm starting to get fed up with the pain now and wondering why on earth am I doing it.
The novelty has worn off. Now its about endurance.

How are the feet Emma?

Walking in Lincoln 19/10/10

Day 1: 18 October

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb7-coiB3Kc

No Shoes Day 1 18/10/10

Felt very nervous this morning before I went out the house, aware that people were bound to look and wondering what they might be thinking.
Felt very alien to begin with, but as soon as I hit the ground outside I felt connected to the earth.
My friend in a gasp said "Oh my God you're walking so fast!"
I cut corners on paths, choosing instead to walk on the soft grass
Was worried about going into Tescos as I thought they would ask me to put shoes on for hygenic reasons. No one stopped me, I made it round Tescos barefoot and felt a huge sense of triumph as I walked out!

Getting ready

This past week I have casted my feet several different ways to record their condition. Whenever I end this "experiment" I will cast them again to see how the skin has changed.

Photos are from plaster casting 12/10/10
Also casts in:
Latex
Plaster cast from clay
Clay imprint
Plaster cast from alginate

Why?

I'm an Art Student and am concerning myself with body and performance art. By walking barefoot (indefinitely) I am exploring endurance and testing the physical limits of my body.

I will be walking barefoot everywhere expect for the places where it is unacceptable. To be prepared for instances like these I will always have a pair of shoes available.