The journey and the destination are one in the same at Practice Gallery with an interactive project by the Institute for New Feeling (IfNf). Here, the gallery becomes a vehicle for renewal as much as for movement, contemplation, and interpersonal connection. Nina Sarnelle brings her “Walk Together” concept to Practice in order to bring people closer and promote a general social understanding amongst strangers.

Providing new ways of feeling, and ways of feeling new, IfNf is a research clinic dedicated to wellness and therapy. Through innovative concepts and exercises, anyone may join in on the exchanges and reflection offered by IfNf’s Nina Sarnelle, Agnes Bolt, and Scott Andrew. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to join in.

Nina Sarnelle introduces us to her project “Walk Together.”

Needless to say, “Walk Together” is a deeply introspective meditation for the individual with Sarnelle’s soothing voice and a lightly percussive, synth soundtrack leading the way step by step, but it also acts as a mediation between two people (who ideally do not know one another).

For seven minutes, the headphones participants wear take them through a fabric of contemplation and imagery while they stride in place on a pair of adjacent exercise machines. In front of and between the two, a series of mirrors in a floor-to-ceiling column reflect only the other person. As we are isolated with the other, the range of body language and reactions varies from profound to silly, subtle to substantial. Eye contact, smiles, facial distortions – all of these small actions are amplified as we are directed to spend time with our companion.

All the while, unless we fully allow ourselves to let go, we are aware that there very well may be others watching our stationary stroll. This induces some degree of self-consciousness, but if the mindset and setting are ideal, it seems as if you and your friend are the only ones in the room.

Making our way through life, it may seem that we are often at it all on our own, but we share this world with countless others doing just the same. With “Walk Together” we are able to directly experience the sometimes frequent practice of meeting new faces… but with IfNf we are offered a profoundly different means to do so. The group has a variety of projects intended to expand the scope of human feeling and interaction, and currently exists as a traveling performance series, although long term plans include opening a permanent spa.

Although “Walk Together” at Practice was only a two-day engagement, be sure to keep up with their progress at institutefornewfeeling.com.

Practice is located at 319 North 11th Street on the 2nd floor, Philadelphia; [email protected]; practicegallery.org.