A Night With Joan Jonas & Friends
There are few artists whose work speaks throughout generations’ experiences with technological advances. How those changes alter our way of life, perception and behavior. Joan Jonas’ work does not tell us how it was, she invites us into the art of what it is.
On April 16, 2024 the MoMA NYC hosted Joan Jonas and her friends for a performance based on her Broken Symmetry (2010) poem prompts. “Ask a Friend to Give You a Sentence” was chosen for the night.
Six friends showed up for Joan to express themselves through poetry, literature and music. As a person who is not into performance art, I was taken with this one. All except two were positive influences.
Mirrors are used often in Joan Jonas’ work. Forcing people to look at themselves as part of the artwork may have been more controversial before the advent of selfie sticks. The series in Moving Off the Land II added a layer to self-image because it provided a view of our impact on and connection to the ocean. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)
THE $CIENCE
Ask a Friend to Give You A Sentence.
Broken Symmetry by Joan Jonas displayed at MoMA NYC. Ask a friend to give you a sentence became a prompt for her students at MIT and the theme for the evening of April 16. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)
Each artist friend expressed themselves by transforming a sentence from their perspective. The result was a homogenization of their talent, life experience, opinion and relationship to Joan.
Acceptance and openness for personal expression of others’ perspectives made the evening memorable.
Joan explained that she ran into her friend from Scandinavia before the performance. She invited him to fill in for a no-show. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)
Most indelible was the enchanting sounds of David Michael DiGregorio. He handed his teddy bear to Jonas, used his voice to invoke memories of ocean life and played the piano to accompany his story. I wish I had a picture. It seemed too private a moment to disrupt and share outside of the immediate audience.
Scientist David Gruber was a no-show. His work on the sounds of sperm whales served to inspire Jonas’ Moving Off the Land. In place was a friend of Joan’s from Scandinavia. Wearing a blue and red crown, his sentence was “find a scene from a movie, play it, present your version”. This artist reminded us to accept other cultures. Not just ones that we think we need to accept.
Moving Off the Land II was inspired in part by scientist David Gruber’s work on sperm whales. Communication and evolution are key inspirations. It is on view as part of the retrospective until June. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)
Bottom Line
Beyond connecting art and science, Joan Jonas exudes the reality of living as a woman.
What has changed from Organic Honey to IG fame-seeking/sustaining?
Organic Honey to this day defines the experience of being a woman. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)
Looking at ourselves is an everyday performance with selfie sticks serving as mirrors. That performance will be held at the museum on May 17th.
Any message must be moving enough to penetrate the viewer. Resonating with them to make a lasting impact that either causes them to take action or think before they do. Or both. Involving the audience in artworks increases the likelihood of impact. Science does not do that effectively. Below, I immersed myself into the room dedicated to ocean life and conservation. As a person who hates selfies, it was pretty cool to see myself in the perspective of the distorted ocean.
Joan Jonas’ retrospective Good Night, Good Morning is on view March through June at the NYC midtown location. Public performances will be held over these months.
If you go:
The Terrace Cafe has designated a Paloma for Joan Jonas, “Mask & Props”. It sounds delicious because of the guava addition. I do not drink tequila, so let The Magazine know how you like the taste.