I have long been anticipating the Pacific Standard Time Performance and Public Art Festival that started yesterday in Los Angeles and continues through the 29th of this month. Challenging as it is to attend art events, especially indeterminant, sometime outdoors, mostly evening events with a 6-month-old baby, I am determined to make the most of this performance smorgasbord. So bring on the good, the bad, the ugly, the old, the iconic, the young, and the daring. Comb your beard, break out your hipster glasses and suede wedges and big flouncy scarves and industrial rope jewelry, and let’s see some time-based art!
Spine of the Earth, 1980, Lita Albuquerque. Ephemeral installation at El Mirage Dry Lake Bed, CA Photo: Lita Albuquerque © Lita Albuquerque Studio, 1980
Here’s my itinerary. It barely scratches the surface of the offerings, so check out the website, but this is my plan so far:
Sunday January 22
1) Pack up the stroller and sweaters, and cart the baby to Lita Albuquerque’s Spine of the Earth at noon on the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Who can pass up the chance of seeing a reinterpretation of this seminal 1980 land art piece?
2) After putting baby to bed, change into my party pants and hit up Liz Glynn‘s Black Box. Liz is all over the place these days with an exploding career, yet her work remains thoughtful, poetic, and stunningly smart. I can’t wait to see what she’ll do with a space all her own, albeit temporary. Also, I’ve gotten word that Emily Mast is premiering a new piece called Birdbrain that night – not to be missed.
Thursday January 26
I know, I’m missing a lot on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. But I have to work, you know?
3) I can’t miss the amazing OJO at LACE, though, Thursday at 7pm.
Friday January 27
4) I plan on getting home early from work, and hopping the Red Line downtown to make it to the 7pm closing candlelight reception for Suzanne Lacy’s iconic Three Weeks in January at the LAPD. A re-iteration of her Three Weeks in May performance, this is sure to be a powerful, moving, terrifying, and ultimately redemptive piece. Needless to say, baby will stay home.
Myths of Rape , by Leslie Labowitz-Starus, Performed for Three Weeks in May, Suzanne Lacy, 1977 Performed for Lacy’s series Three Weeks in May. Photo: Suzanne Lacy
Saturday January 28
5) I can’t wait to attend the Ball of Artists at Greystone Manor. CAN. NOT. WAIT.
So, those are my 5 picks. I would love to attend Andrea Fraser’s new performance on January 23rd, and the very amazing but woefully under-recognized Channa Horwitz’s event on that same day, and Eleanor Antin’s performance at the Hammer on January 29th, but I’ve got to be realistic. See you out there!