Gerard & Kelly

UCLA Open Studios!

We presented an hour-long performance as part of the UCLA Department of Art Graduate Open Studios on December 4, 2010. Two performers “literalize” a 12-minute audio score, a denotation of the choreography of Tino Sehgal’s Kiss. The  score describes a man and woman slowly moving through the mechanics of a continuous embrace. Our re-performance translated this “kiss” into a set of choreographic directives, enacted as literally as possible. Performed five consecutive times in blindfolds, the two performers made the description of an erotic encounter between a man and woman an exercise in automation and autoerotics, avoiding any physical contact between them save the occasional, unavoidable bumping into.

Performed by Brennan Gerard and Ryan Kelly. Photos: Kelly Kleinschrodt.

Shame on National Portrait Gallery

Still from David Wojanoricz, A Fire in My Belly (1987).

I was driving in my car today, just after sunset on the West Coast. Rushing from Home Depot back to the studio as Brennan and I are putting the final touches on our work in preparation for grad review and open studios this weekend. I was struck with deep sadness and anger when NPR reported that the work A Fire in My Belly, a 1987 video by the late artist David Wojnarowicz, had been removed from the current exhibition "Hide/Seek" after House Republicans derided the work as "anti-Christian" in response to an 11-second image the artist includes in the video of a crucifix covered in ants.  Still processing a response. A response is mandated.

Installation including David Wojnarowicz's A Fire in My Belly, UCLA Graduate Open Studios, 2010.

Upate: In response to the National Portrait Gallery incident, Brennan and I screened David Wojnarowicz's A Fire in My Belly (1987) as part of our contribution to the UCLA Graudate Open Studios on December 4, 2011...within four days of the censorship. Special thanks to the Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University for making this screening possible.

    -R.K.

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