Performance Space 122

WINNER OF THE 2009 ETHYL EICHELBERGER AWARD

Orifice Descending is loosely based on The Balcony by Jean Genet. The performance consists of a series of manufactured images, video projections, tableaux, movement and burlesque routines whose purpose is to illustrate the arbitrary nature of gender rules and how, once unmoored from their fixed positions they can liberate us from our narrow and stereotypical conceptions of male and female roles.

In the Vaginal Davis cosmos there is no such thing as masculine or feminine, it's all commercial hype. Ms. Davis, as the grand doyeanne of outsider art, will prove this as she turns PS122 into a living, breathing installation piece with assistance from prolific New York based artist Jonathan Berger who will act as production, set + costume designer, as well as Downtown treasure Jennifer Miller, the bearded lady, and a bevy of art damaged youth hand picked from some of Manhattan's most enchanted olde money families.

In Orifice Ms. Davis will function as Madame/Matriarch of a male brothel or "boydello" where the audience will interactively explore the notion of gender as a continuum and not a binary model. Vaginal Davis is an originator of the homo-core punk movement and a gender-queer art-music icon. Her concept bands -- including Pedro Muriel and Esther, Cholita! The Female Menudo, black fag, and the Afro Sisters -- have left an indelible mark on the development of underground music. Like Ron Athey, Ms Davis made her name in LA's club performance scene, and has earned herself a similar notoriety as a cultural antagonist and erotic provocateur.

The Ethyl Eichelberger Award was created by Performance Space 122 and made possible with generous support from The Gesso Foundation in honor of seminal performer, landmark and legend Ethyl Eichelberger. The award is given to an artist or group that exemplifies Ethyl's larger-than-life style and generosity of spirit; who embodies Ethyl's multi-talented artistic virtuosity, bridging worlds and vitalizing those around them. http://www.vaginaldavis.com/

Saturday, May 15 - Thursday, May 27
Wed - Sat at 8pm, Sun at 6pm
Thursday Night Social + Ethyl Eichelberger Award Celebration: May 20

$20, $15 (students/seniors)

ONLY $11 with a PS122 Passport
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