Youth Insights teens meet Mayhem
Jul 22, 2015
Salley and Nancy May talk to YI teens about Mayhem. Photograph by Filip Wolak
On July 22, Youth Insights teens met Salley and Nancy May, a performance art duo called Mayhem. We also met artist and gallery director Martha Wilson, and then participated in a mask making workshop inspired by the work of Tom Murrin. Known as the Alien Comic and the “Godfather of Performance Art," Murrin was a close friend of Wilson and the May sisters.
Salley May and Martha Wilson. Photograph by Filip Wolak
Murrin started his career in Manhattan’s East Village nightclub scene and was famous for his wild, handmade masks. Mayhem showed us images of Murrin’s masks and talked with us about the history of performance art and mask making.
Shaniece and Nyya work on their masks. Photograph by Filip Wolak
Throughout history, masks have been used for both entertainment and for protection. Murrin would make masks out of non-traditional found objects. Before making our own masks, we had the honor of meeting Martha Wilson, a feminist artist and founder of Franklin Furnace, an art organization that supports pioneer artists. Wilson defined performance art as “art for regular people. It is using your body as a medium to encourage a confrontation of ideas.”
Nancy helps Maria put on her mask. Photograph by Filip Wolak
Just like Murrin himself, we started to make masks out of found objects ranging from old Grinch stuffed animals to steel harmonicas. After everyone presented their masks, we paraded around the Whitney in our own performance art piece.
Salley leads teens in a parade onto the street. Photograph by Filip Wolak
As we reached the ground floor, Museum visitors stared at us with bewilderment and discomfort as if we were ruining their afternoon at the Whitney. Salley May explained that this disturbance was all part of the purpose of performance art because we broke the rules and challenged the way people view museums.
By Iga, YI participant