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?