ART L.A. MODE: Performance Art in Chinatown: Perform Now Festival- July 21

Perform! Now!

Los Angeles plays as background to countless summer festivals, from music to the ever so popular food festivals, but art related events are also spur to this mix of summer festivities-- Chinatown's art district did not fall behind. Perform! Now! in it's second year promised a longer and steadier duration of last years show, for better or worse.

Crowds came and went, many hung around to follow the crowd from one performance to the other. Detailed schedules were printed and distributed, but many preferred the road of instinct.

Highland Park based non profit Outpost for Contemporary Art offered one of the most intriguing performances of the festival with the contribution of artist Vlatka Horvat who performed her eight hour performance titled, This Here and That There. Horvat was set to perform earlier this year, but was moved due to water levels of the LA river, as I recall. Yes, the Los Angeles River, or flow of water was the main setting of Horvat's performance. Commentary to time, space, and movement, in connection to Los Angeles and it's inhabitants was the artists main exploration.

For Pictures of Vlatka Horvat's Performance: Click Here

Micol Hebron performed several pieces at JANCAR Gallery as she ends her trails in the city of Los Angeles. Hanna Wilke's S.O.S. was one of the highlights, but her performance Essence stimulated an endless conversation on feminism, gay liberation, and overall pussy power.

I really enjoyed Emily Mast's performance as she soaked all of my energy. I guess that goes to the power of connection, or sharing a smile with another, or the beginning of establishing a relationship.

Eric Wesley knows good jokes, as he did an impromptu set right before Gustavo Herrera took over to close Saturday night's performances.

Oh, and how can I forget Nancy Pop, where she literally interconnects Chinatown structures, uniting all in the harmony of a really, really, long strand of bright colored string. I was in Chinatown this past weekend, like any other weekend, and Pop's brightly colored unison is still going strong. Wish I had pictures...

There's a connection with all of the performances, but admitting to feeling a sense of stress may perhaps give some liberation. What I'm trying to say is that, I missed a lot of performances, and dwelled on why Skip Arnold made a fuss and decided to screen his videos rather than to perform-- I was really looking forward to his performance. So, I have strayed and have debated if I should even post pictures since my responsibility of seeing all of the performances was not met.. Therefore, I feel short to a greater view that I do not have. I attended Saturday and Sunday, but even then missed many performances. Nonetheless, my fingers are too itchy, and I feel the need to share some photos with you.

Enjoy!