Abramovic is asking for $600,000 to start this project. The backers would be considered founders of the museum and receive different incentives for pledging to the museum. This includes incentives ranging from a hug from Abramovic at $1, to discussing your own project with the artist at $5,000, or, my favorite, no acknowledgement at all at $10,000. The museum would allow for a new space to discuss and perform contemporary performance art. Now I know what many of you are thinking: "Performance art... ugh...", But I truly enjoy Abramovic's work. I love the physicality of it. How emotional it is, and even how gruesome or overwhelming it can be. I understand it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but take a look. I am not asking you to love it, or have a spiritual awakening because of her work, I am just asking you to consider it. The Film, The Artist is Present, gives a nice overview of her work. http://marinafilm.com/about-marina-abramovic I had the chance to see this piece at MoMA and I was moved. Too bad I was too scared to sit across for her. I truly regret that I didn't.
Now the controversy behind this kickstarter. Many people are asking why a wealthy and well known artist Abramovic would ask for money form us "Normal people". She has the money to complete the project herself. She has many wealthy admires and patrons, and could probably fund raise to get the money from them. She recently appeared in the Jay-Z Picasso Baby performance in NYC, and Lady Gaga has even supported the project by creating a video with Abramovic. Here that is by the way: http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/7/4600404/lady-gaga-gets-naked-to-promote-marina-abramovic-institute Why ask us?
Well my readers, why not? It is important to fund the arts. I know a lot of people who would jump at the chance to be a part of an Abramovic project, and this is the chance. The project and fundraising is a large scale performance piece in itself. Some of the prize incentives even discuss learning movements for future performances. Many of Abramovic's past pieces involve audience and viewer participation, and this is no different. It even seems that visiting the museum will be a performance piece.
"Enter, and you'll be asked to sign a contract promising to stay at least six hours. Then you'll don a lab coat and noise-canceling headphones, and put your belongings in a safety deposit box. You'll then be led through a series of exercises including some favorites, such as sitting across from a stranger and making extended eye contact, and meditating in a cave of crystals." -Adrianne Jeffries The Verge:http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/27/4562574/marina-abramovic-institute-kickstarter
In the end we will have an awesome and thought provoking new museum to visit in NYC. But what do you think? Should Abramovic be asking her fan's for the money for a project that could be funded by other means? Will this museum truly be innovative and depend on audience participation? What do you think of performance art?What do you think of Marina Abramovic's art?
I am not sure if I will donate. It may seem shallow and silly, but am still a bit hesitant to give my money to someone so wealthy. But it is going to creating a museum. A museum for performance art, which I myself create. (Maybe I will be in there someday. It would be pretty amazing to have work in a major museum that I helped fund.... *sigh* Dreams.) In a world where art and art education budgets are being cut, spreading knowledge of art is very important. This museum will help do that. And I have to admit, getting a hug form Marina Abramovic for just $1 is tempting.
