Bash Compactor: Size Queen
I like my art the way I like my men: big.
Broad strokes, large ideas, very bold. Lets go see Big Art tonight, said Marina, my friend visiting from Athens. Big Art was celebrating its 10-year anniversary by taking over the Abrons Art Center on Grand Street and showing two productions, The Sleep and Flesh Tone.
Founded by Caden Manson and Jemma Nelson in 1999, Big Art is a company that blends performance into multi-media with always compelling and radical results. Id been hearing about it for ages but had never been to one of the shows. I love wearing purple stilettos throughout all rehearsals and shows! performer Heather Litteer, starring in Flesh Tone, wrote me, and I was sold.
The only problem was there were too many things happening in one night, so naturally I started with the after party. Joe Birdsong and Hattie Hathaway were conducting a literary smut-fest, Reading for Filth (named for the late Dean Johnsons show) downstairs at The Delancey. Emcee Penny Arcade was in rare form, scolding everyone from the mic.
I joined in on the fun in the back of the lounge where photographer Liz liquori was taking photos under bright lights. Take off your clothes! she yelled. I was jumping up and down on the red velvet banquette and let a little skin flash for the camera. Under the lights of the Williamsburg Bridge, we watched the art stars arrive in dribs and drabs as everyone gossiped and smoked. Performers Justin Bond, Glen Marla, Farrad, Marga Gomez, Max Steele and Erin Markey were making their entrance.
Two nights later, I was back haunting the Abrons to see the last performances of The Sleep, a trippy magic-lantern musical. Star Theo Kogans voice was gorgeous, as was her dark, sexy lipstick. Flesh Tone blew me away. Apocalyptic, blurring of the cast and gender, mixing video and live performance, it was unlike anything Id ever seen before. And Ive seen it all.