Performance artists see all the things in a space as mediums and works with them. For example, the audience plays a role and work with the artist. The performance “PICNIC” by Mima Preston was interactive with her and the audience.

As soon as the visitor came in the gallery space, s/he saw people having a huge meal on a picnic table. Unlike appetizer at an opening reception, it was full of baked cakes and hot soups, made by Preston. Once the audiences realized that eating was a part of Preston’s performance, they reached for the meal without hesitating. People who were late looked at the leftovers and tried to understand what was going on. “You missed a wonderful pie!” “The soup is cold now,” the conversations between the audiences represented the importance of spontaneity in live performance art.

Mima Preston and Julia Feyer at Crying room

It is not the main goal for this festival to find a way to solve the problems-small recognition and marginalization- but to increase public awareness and understanding by reaching more of the audience. I hope the public will talk about performance art and keeps its eye on the medium because the more people talk about it, the more the art form becomes active and recognized.

Vancouver Biennial of Performance Art 2003
Date: October 18th – November 29th, 2003
Place: Access, Artspeak, The Butchershop Floor, Centre A, Contemporary Art Gallery, Crying Room, Folly, Full Circle, Gallery 83, Gallery Gachet, Grunt Gallery, H.A.G., Helen Pitt Gallery, Imag, Imperial Slacks Neutral Ground, Or Gallery, On Edge Productions, Radix Theathre Vancouver Art Gallery, Video-in Studios, Western Frount
https://www.livevancouver.bc.ca