the hellavator is a site-specific experiential art piece in which participants are invited to wear the handpiece while riding the elevator in old main on the university of arkansas campus from the second floor up to the fifth floor, down to the first floor, and back up to the second floor. the handpiece consists of a small black cone which has a vertical strip dividing your hands. there is a pair of handcuffs that are held by this vertical strip running perpendicular to the horizontal chain of the handcuffs behind it. on top of the cone is a rectangular box, which is intended to hold a device with the mp3 file on it. the headphones are attached through the box. once strapped in, the participant is relatively helpless to remove themselves without assistance or tearing apart the cone.
black matboard, hot glue, headphones, handcuffs, mp3 player. 2016.
pictured: linda lopez, instructor.