Marina Abramovic

This performance retrospective traces the prolific career of Marina Abramović (Yugoslav, b. 1946) with approximately fifty works spanning over four decades of her early interventions and sound pieces, video works, installations, photographs, solo performances, and collaborative performances made with Ulay (Uwe Laysiepen). In an endeavor to transmit the presence of the artist and make her historical performances accessible to a larger audience, the exhibition includes the first live re-performances of Abramović’s works by other people ever to be undertaken in a museum setting. In addition, a new, original work performed by Abramović will mark the longest duration of time that she has performed a single solo piece.

Marina Abramovic is a performance artist who actually uses her own body to make her art. Her work is so powerful and can almost be painful and uncomfortable for some people to watch. During one of her pieces she actually put down different objects on a table for people to use on her. The objects ranged from a loaded gun to condoms and even razors. She allowed people to use whatever they wanted on her and took full responsibility for all damages done to her body. The project first started out as very innocent and no actually harm was done to her but than after a couple hours people started to become more comfortable with the idea of using such objects on her and people began to cut her and actually hurt her. Her work to me is so limitless. She has no fear and her work is strong and compelling.

Improv Everywhere.

WE CAUSE SCENES.

Improv Everywhere is a New York City-based prank collective that causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 100 missions involving tens of thousands of undercover agents.Improv Everywhere was started in August of 2001, Charlie Todd went out to a West Village bar with some of he's college buddies Brandon Arnold and Jon Karpinos. On a whim they all decided to pull a prank where Charlie Todd would pose as musician Ben Folds. Three hours later, “Ben Folds” was drinking on the house surrounded by women and his “two big fans” were thrown out of the bar for “stealing Ben Folds’ wallet”. Charlie Todd had always been a prankster, but this experience enlightened him as to how far a prank could be taken. As an actor new to the city, he discovered he could create he's own theatre rather than waiting around for someone to give me stage time. Bored at he's temp job the next Monday morning, he wrote the story down and put it on the wed. And Improv Everywhere was born.

Why does Improv Everywhere do this?

Improv Everywhere is, at its core, about having fun. Everyone involved in their missions are big believers in “organized fun”. The groups missions are a fun source of entertainment for the participants, those who happen to see members live, and those who read their website. Improv Everywhere members get satisfaction from coming up with an awesome idea and making it come to life. In the process they hopefully bring excitement to otherwise unexciting locales and give strangers a unique experience and a great story to tell. Improv Everywhere is out to prove that a prank doesn’t have to involve humiliation or embarrassment; it can simply be about making someone laugh, smile, or stop to notice the world around them.

Is there an age-limit to participating?

Improv Everywhere missions are open to people of all ages. But they do suggest that anyone under the age of 18 have their parent’s permission to participate. Basically if you live in the New York area and would like to be apart of the next mission put on by Improv Everywhere you would go on their website and sign up on there New York mailing list.

 

Improv Every where's very first musical performance was in a mall in LA. For the most part Improv Everywhere does not ask permission before staging a mission at a certain location but for this mission Improv Ever where did work with the mall to stage this musical. Hot Dog on a Stick was also involved in this performance and that is how one of the agents was able to wear the uniform and appear to be working behind the counter.