Come to the art slave gallery this thursday during the artwalk or for the opening on saturday.
I am exhibiting two pieces and there are twenty or so other artists in the show
they will be up for the month of august
216 s spring st
Green Leaves jacket by Victor Wilde
photo by Dove shore
fuigured it post this up. These are the characters involved with the making of the Boho Diaries vol 1. with an added dream sequence. infact the making of this film seemed like a dream.or a haze
Go get em Johnny D.
Emily Otto · June 10, 2007
Here in New York, we've all seen our share of kooky performers in the subway and on the street. While we've come to expect all manner of singing, dancing, drumming, and sermonizing, some of the most captivating public performances consist of artists doing, well, nothing at all. John Del Signore's The Mercury Menifesto illuminates the world of stationary artists, also commonly known as living statues. Framed as a workshop seminar for wannabe Mercury Men, the production combines video footage and puppetry with dramatic re-enactments and improvisation to present a glimpse of life "inside the unitard." With tongue planted firmly in silver cheek, The Mercury Menifesto visually entertains while offering sharp, acidic commentary on the collision of art, commerce, and law enforcement in New York City.
Clad and painted entirely in silver, Del Signore spent years performing as a Mercury Man in New York's subways. Standing motionless for hours at a time, he would only move to thank passersby who dropped money in his bucket. His unusual act attracted crowds of people, a fair amount of cash, and, inevitably, New York's Finest working hard to shut down his performance. The Mercury Menifesto uses the motivational seminar format to present sardonic sketches and scenarios examining the rewards and pitfalls of a career as a renegade street artist.
Throughout the performance, Del Signore and his "seminar helper guy" co-star, Jeff Seal, coax the audience into manufactured excitement with flashing lights, applause cues, and silver coins tossed to participants who display sufficient enthusiasm. While presenting the philosophical components of being a successful stationary artist, they recount the tale of Del Signore's journey into the genre.
The Mercury Men were born when Del Signore was fired from playing a wandering, candy-cane toting Santa at Saks Fifth Avenue shortly after an unfortunate drunken encounter with Rudy Giuliani. Inspired by a bum in the subway, Del Signore decided he could embark on a new career as a self-made man. The production recreates his early experiences in subway performance with the help of a half-dozen puppets, cleverly designed by Mary Kate Rix to represent the diversity of New York's subway riders. Del Signore repeatedly asserts his status as the original Mercury Man, despite the contrary claims of the nefarious Victor Wilde, Del Signore's former performing partner, who appears on video, "live via satellite from L.A.," in an attempt to destroy Del Signore's credibility. It soon becomes apparent that the men in unitards are less than unified in their desire to "stand for change."
Del Signore's writing is clever and incisive, and his turns of phrase are frequently laugh-out-loud funny (I particularly enjoyed the idea of his Santa "proffering cane" to Giuliani). The physical performances are hilariously precise. Seal, in particular, embodies a mélange of bumbling characters with great aplomb. Occasionally, the actors stumble with some uninspired line readings, but oddly, the performance comes to life most vividly when things go a little awry. Both Seal, who is a trained clown, and Del Signore are adept improvisers, and when they are caught off-guard by an audience response or a technical glitch, they ride the wave of uncertainty with energy and skill.
The performance begins and ends with a droll voiceover offering a meta-narrative commentary on the play, describing it as a "fatuous crowd-pleaser." While the device is amusing, and certainly appropriate for the stated intentions of the Pretentious Festival, it feels somewhat extraneous to the show itself. The self-mockery is fun, but even without it, The Mercury Manifesto presents barbed, witty insights about the struggle to make a living as an artist in our fair city.
Copyright ©2006 The New York Theatre Experience, Inc. All rights reserved.
This was a social experiment in the way that I conceived the idea and laid direction. Ren did all the video magic and called it for the two to undress each other. But it was the models and the people at the event that did all the work. I did not touch the models whatsoever. I chose these models because I had worked with Heather before and she is just a great personality. I wanted two people I knew that had some chemistry. They were to represent to me the Jungian ideals of the Anima and Animus. The male and female counterparts to our subconscious etc. I didn't catch it at the time, but in the video I notice a few kisses between the two models. This was exhilarating for them. In fact I know it was because later that night at the infamous Wendy's house the two could be heard in the guest bedroom ahh.. consummating the evening. My job was done here. VW
Here are some pics from Wilde's 31 gun salute. We all made it out alive. I think I created a few monsters out of all this. People who never fired a weapon before get turned into gun nuts quick. Speaking of nuts the guy that runs the range said he had to stop two people this month from commiting suicide. Fun stuff. I had no idea I knew so much about guns until I had to help everyone when their gun jammed. Who knew learning could be this much fun. They should teach this in school. More pics coming...
Its Been a while since my last post. It goes in cycles. My birthday month is in full swing and it has been one for the books so far and theres still ten days left. Not going to list everything as yet, but Ill give you a clue, guns, sex, drugs, amazing art, friends, gambling, sex, and great music. I do have to mention seeing Roger Waters at the rose bowl in box seats sitting next to Cheech Marin was interesting. Yes the Cheech in Cheech in Chong. It was Pretty funny when the ushers tried to bust me and my pals for smoking a joint. I mean its a Pink Floyd concert for Christs sakes and besides I am sitting next to Cheech. That guy smoked enough weed that he still smells like a pot forest caught fire.
Happy to say The video for Living Dolls is done. Check it out. VW
the playboy mansion was...interesting..last night. more on that later..
chew on this
here are a three of my short films from my days at NCSA and one from 2000 in brooklyn.
Soulfire Smith was the film that got me kicked out of film school. But I am damn proud of it . Period cars and costumes, car chases, foot chases, karate, drug deals on the wing of an airplane, etc
ANytown USA is my take on commercialism and the family unit as a whole in american society
I am what I am is an intimate conversation with Sunny Balzano. A Brooklyn native with deep roots and an amazing talent as a painter and even a philosopher
Nuema is my experimental piece that explores how we are not truely free in the land of the..
Soulfire Smith
