Performance Project

For my performance project, I decided to make a "Free Hugs" sign and hold it up at the Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, Florida. Although this seems unrelated to topics discussed in class, while thinking about what to do, I realized that I was very curious about the Guerrilla Girls movement. They are an anonymous group of girls who raise awareness for racism and sexism in art, politics, and the world itself. While conducting my "Free Hugs" performance, I was looking at the people who responded to my act and why they would react in that manner. I got a larger response from women than men, contrary to what I expected. The men who passed me by gave me strange looks and were skeptical to what I was doing. Some teenage guys hugged me, probably due to my age. The women and younger girls who hugged me were more accepting of so called "art" by another woman in a public area. If I were to do this again, for more information on the audience response, I would probably wear something different, or even have someone of a different gender or race accompany me, and see if that changes anything. The link to the video is below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctJ-jnLy0K0


My three favorite performance artists would have to be Marina Abramovic, Yoko Ono, and Vito Acconci. All three were artists in the mid-20th century. Marina Abramovic pushed the boundaries of contemporary art by performing risky, dangerous, and oftentimes gruesome pieces. While some people found it outrageous, she was making a statement that art has few limitations. She moved art away from paintings and sculptures and closer to the body; as she believed it was "point of departure for any spiritual development." Yoko Ono promoted peace through her art, much like her husband John Lennon. Her "Cut Piece" was an interesting and unconventional way to defy sexism, racism, agism, and violence. Finally, Vito Acconci began his performance art to get out of his art studio, redefining his style of art. As this type of work progressed for him, his performances became more disturbing or chilling, much like Abramovic. He had an interest in the human body and his art changed the way people looked themselves and others. 
All three artists were influential and experimental with many social and political messages beginning with the definition of art itself. They used technology because it was available, not because it was anywhere essential to their success. For example, each artist used photography or sound to portray ideas, but they could have all been executed without those technological aspects. There is still much to be done in the way of performance art. Performance art is attention capturing and powerful. Now, more than ever, out world has many controversial issues that can be changed or even resolved with a moving performance art piece. Today's artists should follow in the footsteps of the performance artists from our past to make an impact in this world. 

Xerox project

Meet Hurkey, The Human Turkey.
He is made of human ears, eyes, arms, hands, toes, and a nose. His creator copied parts of her body and glued them to a poster board, arranged as a 'Picasso turkey'. For his thanksgiving meal, he prefers a vegan diet because he doesn't support the consumption of animals. Hurkey loves fall and is excited to go home and visit his family tomorrow.



   

Pixel Project

For my pixel project, I decided to use paint samples from Lowe's and cut them out into 1 inch squares for the 30x30 piece. After many hours of hard work, determination, improvising (and crying), I managed to finish my pixelated take on Drake's Nothing Was The Same album cover. See photos below.