Coco Fusco, Observations of Predation in Humans: A Lecture by Dr. Zira, Animal Psychologist, 2013. Courtesy the artist and The Walker Art Center; Michael Smith, Baby Ikki 3rd Birthday Party, 1978. Courtesy of Franklin Furnace. Performing Franklin Furnace Participant Inc. 253 East Houston Street New York City, NY February 26 March 1, 2015 In conjunction with the final presentation of the exhibition Martha Wilson in New York, Martha Wilson and ICI’s Alaina Claire Feldman have organized a series of performances, which capture the spirit of Franklin Furnace as a physical space. The program will take place at Participant Inc. in lower Manhattan from February 26 March 1, 2015. It includes live works by Michael Smith (who will re-create a version of Baby Ikki he presented at Franklin Furnace in 1978), Coco Fusco (a Franklin Furnace alum presenting a recent work), a day of screenings of Franklin Furnace alumni from each decade, and a day of improvisational / in-progress performances hosted by Clifford Owens inspired by the S.N.A.P. (Sunday night at the performances) series at Franklin Furnace. Franklin Furnace has served the local, national and international community of activist artistsartists who have addressed urgent subjects such as war, poverty, disease, racism, sexism, and homophobia. In 1976, artist Martha Wilson founded Franklin Furnace in Lower Manhattan as a site for producing and mediating works vulnerable to neglect due to lack of institutional support, ephemeral nature, or politically unpopular content. Until 1996, when it moved online to its current digital platform, Franklin Furnace occupied a Tribeca storefront space presenting historical and contemporary exhibitions of artists books as well as temporary installation and performance art to the public. In 2011, Independent Curators International (ICI) organized the international touring exhibition Martha Wilson, which took Wilson out of New York and paired her with hosting curators to further explore the ideas behind her work and the history of Franklin Furnace. This exhibition returns to New York City for a grand finale in 2015 at NYU Fales Library and Pratt Manhattan Gallery. Michael Smith Thursday, February 26 7PM Coco Fusco Friday, February 27 7PM Franklin Furnace Screenings Featuring Julia Heyward, Ericka Beckman, Deborah Edmeades, and Zackary Drucker (videos on rotation throughout the day) Saturday, February 28 1-6PM Performances hosted by Clifford Owens Featuring Amanda Alfieri, Wilmer Wilson IV, Kris Grey and Rafael Sanchez Sunday, March 1 7PM Related events: Pratt Manhattan Gallery and NYU Fales Library exhibition February 20 – April 30, 2015 Exhibition Openings Thursday, February 19, 2015 NYU Fales Library 5-7PM Pratt Manhattan Gallery 6-8PM Knowledge Carnival Performances by students in Karen Finley’s Performance Matters class in NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Art and Public Policy Thursday, March 12 Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 6:30-9PM ICI Symposium on Performance: Performing, Re-enacting and Reacting Wednesday, April 22 Pratt Manhattan Gallery, 6:30PM
