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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Two Weeks Left to Apply

posted by on March 19 at 16:05 PM

TASK.jpgAt the Seattle Public Library on Saturday, June 28, 35 people will perform mundane tasks from 10 am to 5:30 pm. It’s a performance called “Task” by German-born, New York-based artist Oliver Herring, and it works like this: The artist, working with an institution (here it’s the Frye Art Museum, On the Boards, the library, and Tacoma Art Museum), recruits performers.

On the day of the performance, things begin with the artist providing a pool of tasks from which each participant selects a task and performs it. After that, the performer writes down another task and adds it to the pool, and the performances just keep going. The tasks can range from reading to singing to building using simple props, but the specifics will depend on the interests of the participants.

Says the artist of past “Task” performances in Paris, London, Washington, D.C., and Palm Beach, Florida:

It’s usually hard to convince people to commit themselves to this. But once the performances start, it’s hard to keep the audience from wanting to participate and for the performers to stop.

The deadline to apply to be a performer is April 1, and all the information is here.

RSS icon Comments

1

Oh hell yes!

Posted by Mr. Poe | March 19, 2008 4:24 PM
2

Thank god. Mr. Poe and go in my place.

Posted by Dave Coffman | March 19, 2008 4:30 PM
3

What? No posts slamming the artist for getting paid to create public art?

http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/03/you_know_whats_wrong_with_airports_not_e#c974265

Posted by genevieve | March 19, 2008 5:18 PM
4

Nah, we only do that every second day, genevieve.

Posted by Will in Seattle | March 19, 2008 5:37 PM
5

I already perform tasks. Would be interested in submitting a list of them to be performed while I spend the day at the spa. Art.

Posted by umvue | March 19, 2008 5:47 PM
6

but .... will there be FEATHERS???

Posted by M | March 19, 2008 10:09 PM
7

But... will there be FEATHERS???

Posted by M | March 19, 2008 10:13 PM
8

okay i'm all into the feathers but i didn't mean to double post....

Posted by M | March 19, 2008 10:14 PM
9

Didn't Tom Sawyer do this first?

Posted by Kevin Lyda | March 20, 2008 12:12 AM
10

Ha ha! M-squared! There will be feathers if I have anything to do with it. Oh wait, I don't.... Sorry.

Posted by subwlf | March 20, 2008 9:52 AM

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