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GLOWLAB: 30 Grand Street, New York NY
Last Thursday evening I had the opportunity to be part of an art performance. The venue was Glowlab on Grand Street in SOHO. All I knew going into the evening was that the artist Lee Walton would interview/meet with everyone at the opening and that we the viewers would become part of the performance. The invite stated that, “each individual will play a part in altering the structure and experience of the evening.” Upon arrival participants were given a number and one at a time ventured behind the curtain separating the gallery space from the office. After a short and slightly awkward chat Walton asked me to draw from a hat a card which stated some activity I would perform for the remainder of the opening. My card asked me to “make casual physical contact with others”, easy I thought since the gallery which is about 300 square feet was packed to the gills with people. To my surprise I found it slightly difficult to touch anyone beyond the two shoulder taps I purposefully made whilst navigating the crowd.
Looking around at the other gallery goers I did note that there was a lot of touching, and that there was rampant mingling going on in the space. It wasn’t until a fellow participant fist-pumped and gave me a high five that I realized the theme of the evening, we all had been given the same instructions. Later I learned from Christina Ray, the gallery director, that the secret title of the evening had been “Sleight of Hand” A Touching Performance. Though I failed in my own participation for the performance (stage fright I guess) the experience turned out to be one of the most intimate and enthusiastic openings I have been too in quite some time.
Glowlab is known for its support of engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions and performances, and though my experience was ephemeral it will not be the last of its kind at Glowlab.
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