Performance Artists

Tom Geoghegan

I find the works that Mr. Geoghegan does very interesting and thought provoking. They seem to be real commentary on society, which in my mind is impressive. Not to mention his amazing ability to sit still for that long. Due to a medical condition, sitting still for longer than an hour or two would be very hazardous for me. It is impressive that any human being could stay still for hours, in such awkward positions. It shows that he is dedicated to his work, and what he is trying to say with his art. The two pieces, "Rubbish" and "Strange Fruit", that we saw in class, were extremely interesting. They really made me think about society. In "Rubbish," it was compelling to see the way people reacted to the human arm in the pile of trash. Most of them kicked it, and from the footage I saw, no one bothered to take a pulse, or anything else to see if it was real, or maybe a person in need of help. This was an interesting view on the way society reacts to situations like that. I hope that personally, I would react differently then the people in the film, and that I would at least check to see if the arm was real, and if it was attached to a person who needed help. In "Strange Fruit", Mr. Geohegan hung himself from a tree in a public park, dressed in all white. This was a rather fascinating piece because it seemed to be a direct commentary on Abel Meeropol's poem, turned famous song, "Strange Fruit." This song was about the lynchings of blacks that occurred in the mainly in the south of the United States. What is compelling about Mr. Geoghegan's performance, was that he was dressed all in white, in stark contrast to the poem's strange fruit (black bodies swinging in the southern breeze). What that is supposed to symbolize is let up to the viewer, but it certainly makes one think, especially, if you are familiar with the poem and song.

Sheryl Oring

Her very political performance art is very interesting as well. I went to the website and read many of the cards that she has written to the presidents from ordinary Americans. Many of them, especially the ones from children were very moving. I remember one child thanked the president for bringing his Uncle home from the war in Iraq safe. This was very close to home for me, because I grew up in a very high military area. I remember kids like myself having close family members go to war, and it was always cause for a big celebration if they came home, because many did not. Children lost fathers and mothers and aunts and uncles, siblings, cousins, and as we got older, friends in the war. And the children's innocent gratitude in the post card was just so touching, none of the angry ranting, and criticizing of many of the adults, just a simple, "Thank you for bringing Uncle Matt home safe." That child, and many of the others were good reminders to the American people of what was really important, family and loved ones. What is amazing about this postcard project that Ms. Oring does, is that it gets peoples real stories and thoughts down on paper, and other ordinary Americans, like myself, can see them. It is compelling to see how similar, and how different all of these stories are. It is also important to note how she, and those who help her, dress at these events. The 1950s secretary outfits hint at what they are doing, they are there to serve, to write down your words, in the way you want, Much like Secretary's in the 1950s were there to do whatever the bosses asked. The ordinary American people, however, are Ms. Oring's bosses, and she feels it is her job to get what they have to say out there. I admire her for having not only the willingness, but also the courage to get her message, the peoples message, out there.