23 5 / 2013
I am thinking of using my older installations to influence my new work. Merge the large installations with performance/relational art. Titles for above work in order:
(Top) “Girl Laughing” on right, “I Love You” on left
“Always” plaster acrylic, panties
“I am Planning to Worship You” , mixed media
“Hairy Pussy” on chair, “Shuckin and Jivin” on right
“My Husband Left Me For a White Woman” oil on canvas. lol proof that I can paint. Note: In real life I was never married.
07 3 / 2013
I attended the Armory Show Preview last night and while I didn’t fall in love with a new gallery (Frankly, I thought the Contemporary Pier was less interesting than it was in 2012)… I did enjoy myself. I particularly liked watching Rashaad Newsome’s piece Shade Compositions (pictured above) with artists present. This easily drew a large crowd at the Marlborough Chelsea booth. Overall trends that I saw: solo booth presentations, neon signs, stripes in both painting and sculpture, over exposed photography, and paint is thickening up again. —Paintings shown at Volta and the Armory were generally more watery in 2012. I guess the super watery stuff sold; now a new look is needed. I get it.
See some of these trends above in Rochelle Fientstein’s paintings from On Stellar Rays / Higher Pictures booth #909.
06 12 / 2012
New Operation Catsuit Video #4!
We went to the Lower East Side of NYC this time… hmmm It wasn’t what we excepted.
19 10 / 2012
Video #3: Here we go again! Cat-suited-up. Post Modern Black? …Chelsea was rough. This was the hardest neighborhood of them all to film in. I give candid response at the end of this video. I am told many of these questions are items of interest to viewers.
Project Info: Operation Catsuit is a performance series in which Brown University grad Ayana Evans wears a neon zebra print body stocking to various art events across New York City. At each event friends of the artist secretly video tape the reaction of patrons in the galleries and around the surrounding neighborhoods.
Where to buy video outfit: www.butchdiva.com and www.yanahandbags.com
Tweet: @yana_handbags
Like: www.facebook.com/YANAHandbags
19 10 / 2012
Highsnobette.com Blogged About My Project: Operation Catsuit
“Dear friend to HighSnobette, designer and artist Ayana Evans launched a performance art project this past summer, examining the intersection between sexuality and art, and what we mean by art are the actual patrons of the culture.
Evans wore a neon tiger catsuit to various gallery events in the City (Chelsea is above, which Evans described as “rough”) during the summer and examined the response to her outfit, eliciting a whole host of complicated questions like what behavior is okay when it comes to responding to a woman’s physical form? What if she’s wearing something form fitting and strikingly bright AND she has an admittedly above-average sized butt and small waist? Are side comments ok? What about picture taking?
Responses to the project are made further complex by Evans’ identity as a black woman attending events that are almost entirely populated by white folks. What’s also fascinating is the different responses at different locations, which an exhausted Evans breaks down at the end of the video. Lots to examine and think about!”
21 8 / 2012
Video #2—Milk Studios, NYC!
It’s interesting to see how a part fashion/part art crowd reacts…
20 8 / 2012
Well the first video from Operation Catsuit is up!! I went to the Museum of Modern Art and friends recorded patron reactions. Watch it here… and “Keep in mind that I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit”—Erykah Badu
16 7 / 2012
I attended the Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Exhibition Opening Reception at The Whitney Museum of American Art on July 11, 201…I was thrilled to wear my Butch Diva catsuit and Yana hustler fanny pack. ‘Operation Catsuit/The Follow Me Project’ continues and I am pleased to say the Whitney crowd was COMPLETELY thrilled to have a neon catsuit in the building! Popular comment of the evening: “I wished more people had dressed like you.” And special hellos to the man that growled at me all night… it was waaay more funny than it sounds here!
—Edited videos of this performance project of me at various art venues with friends secretly taping patron reactions will be up in 3 weeks!
21 5 / 2012
10 4 / 2012
I almost forgot to post these lovely photos from the “Itsa Small, Small World” show at Family Business. My good friend, Gina Im, of Office Tramp and Gallerina Diaries, and I were participants in this show. I love the curator, Hennessy Youngman’s, conceptual idea of letting ANYONE who applied into the show until he literally ran out of space. (and in case you did not know this meant that over 500 artist’s works were squeezed into a 125 square foot gallery store front!)
The show was an art happening… not just an opening. Can you say awesome block party? Spank Rock performed and I am still geeking over meeting my heroes Maurizio Cattelan and Marylin Mintor… Don’t I look happy just talking to them?
It comes down April 16th, so take a look if you have time 520 W. 21ST ST.
NY, NY.
