I just read a very interesting article on the interaction between a performance artist (actually, three performance artists), the museum they were performing at, and the audience. The full article can be seen here – http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/performance-club/2010/mar/02/ps1-responds-censorship-claims/.

It seems that the museum (P.S.I.) cut the power towards the end of performance artist Ann Liv Young's performance – citing safety considerations. The issue here seems to be that there were no safety considerations, at least as far as the audience was concerned. Young herself received deep gashes to her legs from a glass that someone had broken before her performance, but this was the only casualty.

In fact, the whole thing was to the benefit of the performer that followed, Morty Diamond. The lights were still off, but the audience would not leave. They stayed rooted to their spots, and lit his performance with their cell phones. How good does it get!

It seems there may have been an issue with Young questioning the work of the previous performer, Georgia Sagri. However, this was done under the guise of her character … in other words, as part of the show.

This is performance art,which is understood to be edgy at the least. The P.S.I. Curator had to have understood this. I think that I would have whipped out my cell phone and allowed it to be my voice in lighting up the stage, quite literally!

Now,me being me, I would have Twittered the whole thing too!

What would you have done, had you been part of this audience?