Performance Art Activism Post - David Gonzalez

 Performance Art Activism Post - David Gonzalez

Wide walls | Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter

"It wasn’t uncommon for Yoko to draw parallels between spiritual and religious practices and artistic creation."

    In this performance art, Yoko demonstrates how martialism, social class, and a bit of an antiwar messages were thrown in. How each problem torn away to expose we are human and flesh. I like how she was using the Budda religion as an example of having nothing, but humility can make one 100 times richer than those who do have riches in the world.

"Ono truly believes that despite the rising terroristic activities, we are finally on our way to world peace, and she predicted that we will have heaven on Earth in 2050."

What I like about her, is that she's not trying to convince or convey a particular class or a group of one culture or a group of people. She keeps in mind the soul and embodiment of oneself is much more important to have peace on earth. She speaks out about all the violence in the world, the violence in the middle east, the rioting violence in Ukraine. 

Hispanic Executive | Interview with Shaun Leonardo - Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy

"I do equate that stubbornness and conviction with the same work ethic that my parents filled me with, but to this day, I don’t understand how I never felt that the historical art canon could not be achieved simply because of my ethnicity or color."

I like this because for real recognition to be recognized takes long amounts of will power, creativeness, and a lot of questions to be asked, why am I doing this? what message am I conveying? What am I trying to draw the audience I am performing for with to the stage? In the end it's not about race or color, it's about you, your message and what you're trying to convey.

"However, it was in the mentality of striving for the best that I was also taught that success meant economic stability and mobility."

Talking about his work ethic, he understands what people want to see in a performer as nowadays it is a struggle to gain even a little of economic stability and mobility. Shaun wants people of that social class to watch and get motivated and inspired to work through another day.

Performance Art

1) You are to lift 250lbs on the smith machine at any gym.

2) You are to stay in the squatting position for 1 whole minuet.

3) You are to chant the words "Don't Quit, Stay Fit" until the minuet is up

I chose this as my performance art, because I see a lot of people who go the gym for 1 month and they couldn't keep the promise they made to themselves to change their lives to get healthier. I understand that the start of any training is a struggle, but I was like that as well, the only reason I didn't stop was because I wanted to accomplish my goal in the end. I started with 100lb, then 125, 130, 150, 160, 200, 250, and finally I am able to smith 300lbs as my maximum weight. I want to convey a message, is it okay to struggle, it is okay to suffer as long you grow endurance, strength and perseverance. For it is important to have these three things in life to achieve any goal you want to see through.