There I was, sitting in a rocking chair at the Microscope Gallery in Bushwick but I felt like I was visiting a friend in her own home and we were just sitting around bullshitting. No, it wasn’t one of those snobby holier-than-thou art shacks in Manhattan. It was Marni Kotak’s show, The Birth of Baby X and the rocking chair had belonged to the artist’s mother.
performance art
Posted inArt
Midtown Games Blasts Thru Times Square
I ran to Times Square this morning to catch a glimpse of artist Zefrey Throwell’s latest incarnation of his performance series, Midtown Games, but a missed subway connection which delayed my arrival a few minutes making me late to witness the artistic/athletic spectacle. Luckily, I tracked down Throwell afterwards who spoke to me about what the hell the Midtown Games are all about? And provided me with images of yesterday’s thrilling good time.
Posted inNews
Psst, Pass It On … Flashmob Tonight at New Museum [UPDATE 3]
A little birdy told us that there’s a flashmob brewing tonight at the New Museum called “The Perfect Match.” We’re not sure of the details yet but we hear it will have quite an ending! Stay tuned as we find out more. UPDATE: We hear through the grapevine that the New Museum is doing everything possible to crush this burgeoning Flashmob, so we’re not sure what this will mean for this things success (and this bad weather ain’t going to help either).
Posted inArt
Artist Karen Finley Talks New York of Yesteryear, Women in the Arts, Lady Gaga and More
Has she no decency? At long last, has she no decency? The transgressive, titillating performance artist Karen Finley was denied a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1990 because the language and content in her work was deemed “indecent.” Along with three other artists she became part of the infamous Supreme Court case The National Endowment for the Arts v. Karen Finley, which culminated in the discontinuation of individual artist grants. In her interview with Hyperallergic, Finley reflects on the past of New York City, the state of women in the arts, Lady Gaga and more.
Posted inArt
On Being in an Olek
“Something I Guarantee You’ve Never Done Before” was the title of the Facebook invitation I got. “Hmm.” I thought. The invitation was somewhat secretive, but the link that was provided confirmed what I suspected. Being somewhat familiar with Olek’s work from some of the press she’s gotten, I knew it would involve spending time in a full-body crocheted costume. A few weeks later after determining I didn’t have anything better to do (and I mean that in the best possible way), I decided to go for it. Crocheting is a very occasional hobby of mine. I’ve always had an affinity for it over knitting, which seems to be the hipper of these crafts, and I wanted to get more familiar with Olek’s work after her last show titled KnittingisforPus*****.
Posted inArt
Cheryl Means Camp, Bling, Parties & Garfield Tattoos
This is the last weekend to visit performance art/party collective Cheryl’s show on Williamsburg’s Bedford Avenue, where they have set up shop in the Rawson Projects. This quirky group of artists with an obvious affection for glitter, masks and videos are silkscreening tshirts and totes and selling the artifacts from their parties over the years.
Posted inOpinion
Is the Internet the Death of Performance Art?
Did video kill the performance art star? The New York Times asks this question in an article that claims that the constant spectacle of YouTube and social media have trumped performance art’s shock value.
Posted inArt
Tonight’s Event Is Sold Out!
Tonight’s event at Hyperallergic HQ is sold out, but don’t fret if you don’t have tickets as the artist has agreed to let us turn tonight’s performance into a podcast. This also means that there will be no livestreaming this evening.
Posted inArt
Lap Dance Artist Talks Power, What’s Really For Sale & Evangelical Christians
Some of the most memorable experiences that I’ve had with art have come about by accident. Last Thursday was one such experience during Myla DalBesio’s “Young Money” performance.
Posted inNews
An Artist’s 1973 TV Commercial
It’s incredible to think that back in 1973 performance artist Chris Burden used a recorded video excerpt of his performance that same year, “Through the Night Softly,” to create a 10-second black-and-white spot that was broadcast five times a week for four weeks on KHS-Channel 9 in LA.
Posted inNews
50 People Get Naked for Art on Wall Street, 3 Get Arrested
Wall Street is a bizarre place. Major investment banks, hedge funds and other members of the world’s financial elite tank the world’s economy and practically no one gets arrested. Fifty participants in a performance art project by Zefrey Throwell, Ocularpation: Wall Street, get naked and three are arrested and are awaiting court appearances. America, consider this your wake up call.
Posted inOpinion
Thoughts on West Asian Performance Art
We’ve been catching up on our reading at Hyperallergic HQ and came across this quote by Wafaa Bilal in the Dubai-based Brownbook magazine (Issue 25) about the state of performance art in West Asia …
