Maskull Lasserre & Central Park Tours Inc. will offer caged rides on Fourteenth St. on Friday and Saturday
14th St. from Ave. C to the Hudson River
October 9-12, free
www.free.artinoddplaces.org
Walking through New York City is like ambling through the largest performance art project in the world. From October 9 to 12, actual performance art will take place across 14th St., from Ave. C west to the Hudson River, for the tenth annual Art in Odd Places. The free festival focuses on the many meanings of the words “free” and “freedom,” describing itself thusly: “Open. Autonomy. Gift. Independent. Wild. Nothing. Everything.” As you make your way across 14th, distinguishing the crazies who are merely mumbling out loud from some of the artists inviting you into their realm may be difficult at times, so be careful. Much of the festival, curated by Juliana Driever and Dylan Gauthier, is participatory, so come prepared to get involved. Below are only some of the highlights.
Thursday, October 9
and
Friday, October 10
Andrew McFarland & Emma Dessau: The Story Store, in which participants donate a small object, telling the story behind it, and can take a story and object in return (10/9, outside Stuyvesant Town, 6:00 – 8:00; 10/10, Tompkins Square Park, 4:00 – 7:00)
Leah Harper’s “Complimentary” will dispense positive outlooks from a gumball machine
Thursday, October 9
through
Sunday, October 12
Leah Harper: Complimentary, gumball machine dispenses compliments, 474 West 14th St., all day long
Ienke Kastelein: Have a Seat on the Sidewalk (Walking with Chairs), passersby are invited to sit in chairs, converse, then put the chair back somewhere else along the street, 14th St. & Ave. B, 12 noon – 6:00
Domenique Himmelsbach de Vries and Marieke Warmelink: The Embassy of Goodwill, in which the artists will offer free help to passersby in the interest of raising the social image of the Netherlands, Union Square L subway station, advance reservations available, 12 noon – 6:00 pm
Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama: The Grass Is Always Greener . . ., dance theater examining immigration from the turn of the twentieth century to the present day, 44 East 14th St. by Whole Foods, 12:30 – 1:30
Jesse Eric Schmidt: Nevertheless, in which Schmidt tries to move immovable objects, various times and locations
Rory Golden: Duty Free Ranger, dandy park ranger strolls along 14th St., walking backward with a mirror, begging for donuts, turning into a baton twirler, and intervening into passersbys’ personal freedom, (10/9, Ave. A to First Ave., 6:00 – 9:00; 10/10, Union Square to Ave. A, 6:00 – 8:00; 10/11, Seventh Ave. to First Ave., 2:00 – 6:00; 10/12, Seventh Ave. to First Ave., 2:00 – 5:00)
Katya Grokhovsky: Slow Dance, passersby can dance with the artist and other performers (10/9, First Ave., 1:00 – 3:00 and 5:00 – 7:00; 10/10, Ninth Ave., 12 noon – 2:00 and 3:00 – 5:00; 10/11, Tenth Ave., 1:00 – 3:00 and 4:00 – 7:00; 10/12, Union Square, 12 noon – 2:00, 3:00 – 5:00, and 6:00 – 8:00)
Jody Oberfelder: Street Greet, dancer-choreographer Jody Oberfelder interviews pedestrians, discussing the meaning of being free, down escalator at 14th St. & Fourth Ave., 12:30 – 2:00
Dancer and choreographer Jody Oberfelder will discuss freedom on a down escalator during AiOP 2014 (photo by Jordan Matter)
Friday, October 10
and
Saturday, October 11
Willard Morgan: Debt!, with Ideal Glass member Willard Morgan giving away debit cards in light of the financial meltdown, 243 East 14th St., 3:00 – 7:00
Maskull Lasserre & Central Park Tours Inc.: Obverse, prison-cell pedicabs will shuttle passengers around the festival, 501-599 West 14th St. (10/10, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm; 10/11, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm)
Friday, October 10
Saturday, October 11
Sunday, October 12
eteam: Nothing for Free, group will be doing nothing all day long, 20-22 West 14th St.
Jim Dessicino: Edward Snowden Statue, south side of Union Square pavilion, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Kris Grey: Procession, drag performance walk in honor of Coney Island bearded lady Jean Carroll (10/10, Ave. C to First Ave., evening; 10/11, First Ave. to Fifth Ave., 12 noon – 4:00; 10/12, Fifth Ave. to Ninth Ave., 12 noon – 4:00)
Emilio Vavarella & Daniel Belquer: MNEMODRONE, in which drone asks people to share memories through a toll-free phone number, 65 11th Ave. (10/10 opening, Campos Plaza; 10/11-12, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, 14th St. Park)
Domenique Himmelsbach de Vries and Marieke Warmelink will promote the Netherlands while helping people in the “Embassy of Goodwill”
Saturday, October 11
Caitlin Ryan: Free T-Shirts, between seventy-five and one hundred passersby are invited to create their own T-shirt using the word free, 35-99 East 14th St.
BAbySkinGlove: #freeurban, in which participants can pay to clear their conscience, 148 West 14th St. at Sixth Ave., 12 noon – 4:00 pm
Saturday, October 11
and
Sunday, October 12
Hannah Hiaasen: Applause Pause, pedestrian interruptions, 11:00 (First Ave.), 12 noon (Second Ave.), 2:00 (between First & Second Aves.), 4:00 (Union Square), 6:00 (Tenth Ave.)
Sunday, October 12
AiOP: FREE, walking curatorial tour led by Juliana Driever and Dylan Gauthier, 14th Street Park to Campos Plaza, 4:00