Jose Teixeira’s Art 318: Introduction to Video, Performance and Installation class is off to a great start! Last week was their first critique and I was blown away by the groups’ cooperation and maturity as they critiqued each other’s very personal and intimate art works. The first performance (pictured above) was incredibly emotional. A single red lightbulb dangled from the ceiling. Her lower body was suspended in the air from the scaffolding on the ceiling as well which was not readily apparent as the room was completely black when we entered. She repeatedly recited a poem that became increasingly more difficult for her to get through as she became physically in pain from the way she was suspended. It was very powerful and I was impressed by the undergraduate students in how they presented themselves during their first critique.
The next performance involved the audience. Each person who wanted to participate, was given a paper bag (pictured below) with an object, or multiple objects, and directions written on a sheet of paper. Once the performance had begun, it was up to each individual to proceed with the acts, one of which was to clap several times on both sides of him (pictured above). Others involved a spray bottle filled with water, throwing tennis balls, applying stickers and removing items of clothing.
The final performance that I had the pleasure of seeing last week was a partly humorous and partly devastating depiction of an international student’s isolating experience as a UW student. She went through the repetitive motions of attending classes and the monotony of these daily rituals. For me, the performance revealed how isolating and simultaneously boring getting through being a student can be.
Video clips of all the students’ performances will soon be available on this site so stay tuned!