Julie Harvey, alumna of the Department of Painting and Printmaking recently created a Go-Go performance that was filmed in the Museum of Modern Art. Such activities are typically not permitted alongside the museum’s priceless artwork.
How did this project originate? Ms. Harvey best describes this as a dream that was intercepted by a video artist Thilo Hoffmann who created a project called “30 Seconds” currently being filmed at the MoMA. Mr. Hoffmann selected a few museum members and allowed them to do whatever they desired in the museum for 30 seconds. Ms. Harvey told the filmmaker that she wanted to create a Go-Go dance performance within the galleries of the MoMA. This instantly raised his curiosity because most other proposals were similar to the usual mundane art lecture. Both Ms. Harvey and Mr. Hoffmann felt the Go-Go production was something that must be done. Within 3 days Ms. Harvey put together a crew of dancers and musicians; the level of excitement for these artists was off the charts.
On Tuesday, September 1, Ms. Harvey and her performers arrived at the MoMA in mini skirts, false eyelashes, and wigs. They were escorted through the museum to the gallery where Matisse’s “Dance (1)” painting is displayed. Julie Harvey choreographed this performance to specifically take place within the Matisse gallery, which holds some of her favorite artworks from the museum’s collection. Everyone who performed in this project had an out-of-this-world experience. Ms. Harvey worked along side 7 exuberant souls who brought only the pinnacle of their passion to this project.
The piece began with 5 dancers (including Ms. Harvey) in a static stance hiding the view of Matisse’s 5 bronze portraits of “Jeanette.” When the music started the dancers suddenly hit the ground in a squat exposing the sculptures. They arose as Egyptian gods and spun across the room toward the “Dance” painting. Spinning was something Ms. Harvey was very cautious about doing in the MoMA; she thought it would be absolutely out of the question. The dancers quickly joined together underneath Matisse’s vibrant “Dance” painting and did a synchronized set of flamboyant moves which featured a sassy flare of their derrières. Then they swiftly scurried into the next room, past Duke Guilliame who stood rhythmically playing saxophone to their background music. They wrapped up their performance with more spins and a final engaging hip gesture.
The Go-Go event was created as a parody on the art world. The many actors and dancers who were selected to perform mingled and danced throughout the event while secretly playing the role of art critic, artist, or dealer. The entire event was staged to mock and exaggerate the drama within the art community. These actors and dancers have become the subjects of Ms. Harvey’s current paintings.
