October 1, 2014
Pushing the Envelope–When Public Art Becomes Private
I recently enrolled in an Actor’s Process class taught by Colette Yglesias Silver at Studio Theater in Washington, D.C., and was telling my colleague Nanda how I’m getting more comfortable staring nose-to-nose with classmates, and integrating a range of emotions, senses and memories into exercises and pantomimes. It is a fun challenge to explore being ‘private in public’ with classmates through weekly assignments, which will culminate with performing monologues {Eek!}. In one way or another, we are all seeking balance and adventure from the hustle and bustle of life and work, and this is definitely a freeing form of play.
As a professional actress, Nanda knows all about being ‘private in public,’ and recently was part of celebrated Argentinean artist Fernando Rubio’s U.S. debut of “Everything by my side,” where seven actresses in seven white beds whispered vivid childhood memories to individual audience members–this brief encounter created an intimate moment in the middle of New York City. What could be more private than crawling into bed beside an actress to witness a one-on-one performance?
Photo credit: Arts Culture Beat
Read the New York Times’ review of the performance, and in the clip below, watch audience members’ reactions to the experiential theater piece:
Art expands your mind to new possibilities, new people, cultures and concepts
Have you been witness to a performance that demanded your participation? If so, how did this shape your experience?
Follow