The participant picks up one of the receivers.  The phone is wired to a Walkman-buried in the rice-that operates a continuous loop tape.  The listener hears a dialogue that begins as a civilized, polite dinner conversation and builds into an abusive monologue.

This piece chronicles a personal experience of racism in an inter-racial relationship.  As the relationship deteriorates, differences in culture, looks and values are used to alienate the other person.

The experience of racism is traumatic, especially if it occurs with a friend or lover.  Issues of race often exist at an unconscious level.  For years a person may believe themselves to be free of prejudice, only to be forced to face their own bias.  The signs and meanings our culture presents about race are complicated.  Many people have misconceptions about ethnic diversity, multiculturalism, inter-racial relations and even civil rights.

Our piece shows how discrimination against race is often deeply hidden from ourselves.  Only under duress does this bigotry emerge, usually to be used as a weapon.  How many times have we given in to some kind of racial slur or stereotype when we are being provoked or threatened?

The meaning of ?rice? changes throughout the piece:  from a metaphor for a shared meal that celebrates the beginning of a relationship, to the ritual of throwing rice for good luck at weddings, to the stereotypical symbol for Asian culture.

Medium:  customized table, rice, sound mix, audio CD player, telephone handset

Date:  1995