Five questions to SFMOMA artists, staff, or guests.  Michael Namkung is a San Francisco artist who uses movement to create his work. He’ll be at the museum on Sunday for Yerba Buena Family Day, during which he will perform one of his Wall Sit drawings and families will be able to take part in drawing gym activities. Free!

Michael Namkung and Iris in the SFMOMA offices

If you weren’t an artist, what would your gig be?

That’s a tough one. I used to be a middle school teacher. I’ve just become certified as a personal trainer, although that’s part of my artwork. It’s a difficult what-if to imagine because I can’t see myself becoming preoccupied with anything else now. But we’re just fantasizing, right? When I was a kid I wanted to be a garbageman, a mailman, a cartoonist, and a professional soccer or basketball player. I’m sure one of those would have worked out.

If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

My Uncle Mike, who died 10 years ago. He gave me my first real job, and we did triathlons and other fun races together when I was young — my favorite was when we had to carry a canoe through the woods together for one of the legs of a pentathlon. He’s visited me in my dreams a couple of times, but those encounters are always so short. I would love to spend a whole afternoon with him.

What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

What’s your favorite tool?

Can I name more than one? My pocket knife — I use it for so many things: opening packages, sharpening pencils, cutting paper, carving pumpkins, getting stopped in airport security lines… Another one is a pocket-sized tape measure that was in my Uncle Mike’s tool box that I now have — it’s just a couple inches wide. It only measures up to 6 feet; the one screw that holds it together comes loose often; and the tension in the spring isn’t consistent, so it doesn’t recoil very easily, but I do find myself frequently needing to measure things and I like the way it feels in my hand. And my notebook, which also fits in my pocket. And a pen, with a clip, so that I can clip it to a pocket and pull it out quickly. Are pockets a tool? They should be.

What should I ask you?

You should ask me to do an impression of my six-month-old daughter, Iris. I’m learning so many new sounds and facial expressions from her. She communicates so much with so little, and she listens and observes so intently. She’s my role model. I want to listen and observe and be as much in the moment as she is. And it’s fun to make funny faces and silly noises.

Learn more about Michael’s art and projects here. Yerba Buena Family Day is this Sunday, October 16. In addition to Michael’s activities at SFMOMA, there will be free family activities at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Museum of the African Diaspora, and the Children’s Creativity Museum, plus music all day in Yerba Buena Gardens.