This past Thursday, the Street took over Times Square.
As part of their long-awaited biennial exhibition, the (S) Files, El Museo del Barrio exhibited four simultaneously-running performance and artistic pieces in midtown’s Duffy Square on Thursday afternoon.
Ryan Roa’s Times Square Beach Truck literally drove onto the scene in the form of a shiny blue Ford pick-up truck. In its bed was a truck-load of sand, complete with umbrella, chair, ball and boom box. The perfect get-away, right at the heart of New York City! Passersby were encouraged to enjoy the sunny day on top of the truck while also getting their photo taken.
The Somewhat Portable Dolmen, created by Rafael Sanchez and Kathleen White, is what looks like a cardboard cutout of Stonehenge, an interesting juxtaposition against the brilliant lights of the Times Square skyscrapers. The artists, who were on hand the entire day, encouraged visitors to stop and have their picture taken as part of the project.
What drew the contemplative and confused stares was the Melt performance, by married couple Nicoykatiushka. The duo, partners since 2003, wore ice skates as they stood on a block of ice, lips locked in a kiss until the ice melted a few hours later. The artists hoped to recreate both a 1970s performance work in which artist Laurie Anderson played her violin on a block of ice, and the many historic kisses that have happened there.
Possibly the work that visitors most looked forward to was Salvadoran artist Irvin Morazan’s Performance at the Center of the World. In the piece, a golden low-rider vehicle drives the artist up to Times Square, where Morazan proceeds to captivate his audience with an eclectic headdress, made of gold chains, a plastic coyote, fake fur, a ghetto blaster and other objects. In this outfit, the artist seemingly judges a breakdancing competition, with about 8 different young individuals. Even the car gets into the action, bouncing and lifting its axle dramatically from side to side. A performance certainly reflective of El Museo’s exhibition title, The Street Files, Morazan drew the largest crowd.
While this extension of the biennial was only for one day, the actual exhibition lasts through January 8, 2012 at El Museo. An additional four venues will continue to host satellite exhibitions throughout the year, including Lehman College and Socrates Sculpture Park.
The (S) Files presents contemporary Hispanic art at its most urban and most creative. El Museo is located on Museum Mile at 104th Street and is open Tuesday – Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
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