Performed April 17th, 2024, in Bloomington, IL.

Approximately 30 participants were invited to hug me through a silicone barrier (the hug machine). Unbeknownst to the participants, the gloves that touched my back had sharp studs in them that pricked and irritated my back. After hugging, the participants sat and silently watched the marks from other huggers build up. A confrontation about consent; a questioning of what harm is or isn't; and a consideration of the specific oppression children face.