Performing Gender - Body/Object Ritual

Body/Object Ritual Assignment:

Interact with a gendered object or substance in an unexpected way.

Objectives:

Use gesture to motivate performance art
Exploration of the body in live art
Significance and symbolic content of chosen material or substance in relation to gender issues
Generation of performance from ritual rather than narrative source

Casey was inspired by the work of Vanessa Beecroft, whom we had recently studied in class. Beecroft creates performances peopled by silent, frozen women, who function nearly as living mannequins. Casey stood passively in a pair tights and stiletto heels to question the role gender could play in such a structure. His work also engages issues of homoerotism and the fetish object.

Emily substituted a hammer for a brush and enacted a violent form of painting. She evoked action painting and engaged issues of gender and aggression.

Michelle subverted the proper lady-like connotations of the white glove, as she did sets of push-ups while wearing the gloves. There was a decided tension as she aimed to compensate for the slippery barrier between her hand and the floor. Her breathing and exhaustion became more apparent with each set of push-ups and her exhaustion was palpable as the floor soiled the gloves.

Performing Gender - Collaborative Project

Collaborative Performance Assignment:

As a group, develop a collaborative performance which builds upon the ideas, gestures, and materials introduced through the ritual project. Develop a theme and structure for the work.

Objectives:

Experience collaboration amongst a large group
Develop connective themes and ideas to sustain a longer performance
Exploration of gender issues through use of the body

Casey decided that endurance was an important aspect of his work and he remained an immobile presence throughout the length of the performance. Michell’s push-up exercise was repeated three times through out the work. Beth and Aimee worked to cut apart articles of clothing with knives and scissors, while Shellie obsessively brushed her long mane of hair. The repetitive tone shifted when Beth and Aimee turned their cutting utensils on Shellie; they cut through her clothing and severed a length of her hair. The performance ended as Erin and Rachel measured each other’s body with a red soaked string. The simple action revealed a silent violence, as the dripping red fluid stained each woman.

Performing Gender - Final Project

Performing Gender Final Project Assignment:

Develop a project which engages issue of gender and identity.

Objectives:

Exploration of gender issues

The feminist earthworks of Ana Mendieta inspired Michelle’s performance. Michelle passed out small slips of paper with the message “cover me”. She laid down on a patch of tall grass and proceeded to pull up all the grass that occupied the space of her body. She then laid back down on the ground. She remained passive as her classmates enshrined her in the grass.

Alex’s project included a book and spoken word. She used digital photography to tell heartbreaking stories of loss, addiction, and abuse. All of the subjects were women she had met in her working class, rural community. She captured an intimacy and revealed  strong women who rarely serve as the subject of art.

Shellie’s work engaged issues of objectification, narcissism and self-possession, as she claimed the territory of her own body. Using a small mirror, she carefully wrote her name on to the surface of her body and face. The action is reminiscent of way young girls inscribe their names onto books and papers to assert their identity.