My work is inspired by the movement I practice every day. Rowing is a sport that requires full synchronization with the eight other rowers to move the boat forward. Without precise synchronization, the boat’s movement feels uncomfortable, heavy, and slow. In tandem with moving together, we must calibrate our movements to different conditions on the water such as wind and current, which vary constantly every day. In-sync movement requires hours of monotonous practice to perfect, but when you achieve synchronized motion, it feels effortless like floating.

I began to observe other synchronized movements, like walking and writing, that seem effortless, yet like rowing, under different conditions can become challenging and require that we calibrate. I began to write with both hands simultaneously, trying to sync my left hand with my right while thinking about the movement both hands were making and writing about it. It was uncomfortable and difficult, like rowing on another side of the boat. Recalibrating movements that involve unfamiliar muscle groups is challenging. Much like walking, at various stages of life we recalibrate to different paces and abilities from which we get A to B. We recalibrate our movements when walking with others, eventually finding our steps are in harmony. Humans use movement to sync up with others in order to find connection and build relationships. We get into a master rhythm by entrainment and physically get in time with our bodies and mind. We build connection through synchronization, with ourselves and other beings.

Thanks to the Rutgers Women's Rowing Crew, Emily Mahaffy, Vanessa Karayiannis, Elizabeth Enriquez, Taylor Ralston, Karlie Johnson, Lauren O’Connor, Jule Boeckmann, Ruby Hatfield and coach Justin Price for participating in Silent Rowing.