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DOC/UNDOC — Part 6/6, “Luces Brillantes”

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

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19 poemas de Hispano América, antidotes, antiguas de libros, Antonio Frasconi, apprentice, Aproximaciones Al Estudio de La Literatura Hispańica, Ars Shamánica Performática, artista, audio, border, Boston, CD, Chicano, códices, comentarios, culturas, Doc/Undoc, drama, Edward H. Friedman, ensayos, escritor, España, español, Estados Unidos, Felicia Rice, fetishes, fragmento, frontera, Guillermo Gomez Peña, Gustavo Vazquez, historiadora, idiomas, ilegal, Inglés, Isabel Dulfano, Jennifer González, Latinoamérica, Laura Denisse Zepeda, libro, literatura hispánica, Manifesto, manuscrito, Mexico, Moving Parts Press, música, naciones, Nicanor Parra, papel japonés, performance, poemas, poesía, poeta, prosa, rare books, Rare Books de la Universidad de Utah, reliquary, saints, self-transformation, shamans, textos, toolbox, University of Utah, Zachary Watkins

During Fall Semester, 2015, University of Utah graduate students in SPAN6900-2 Analyzing Texts: Form and Content visited Rare Books. During the third and final session with Rare Books, the students were introduced to late 20th century/early 21st century fine press and artists’ books. The session ended with the premiere viewing of our copy of DOC/UNDOC Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática, purchased in September. Student response was so strong that managing curator Luise Poulton, in her typical over-enthusiastic way, exclaimed, “You should post your thoughts on Open Book!” Prof. Isabel Dulfano, in her own enthusiastic way, immediately took up the suggestion and made this a new assignment, right then and there. Bless the beleaguered grad students! Rare Books is pleased to present these responses, one post at a time.

From Laura Denisse Zepeda

A traveling case for apprentice shamans
A reliquary for imaginary saints
A toolbox for self-transformation
A quiet call to heal yourself with fetishes and antidotes
A border kit to face the uncertainty of future crossings
A new project, seven years in the making

Doc/Undoc photo courtesy of Moving Press Parts

Doc/Undoc photo courtesy of Moving Press Parts

“Me hicieron perder mi imaginación y la han reemplazado con miedo”, se escucha decir en voz en off en un fragmento del video que forma parte de la obra más reciente de Guillermo Gómez-Peña, DOC/UNDOC Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática (Moving Parts Press 2014). Esta reciente obra de la autoría del mexicano Gómez-Peña, plantea el tema controversial de “cruzar la frontera” utilizando sus propias experiencias para poder conceptualizarlo, habla de la dualidad que representa una persona que siendo documentada de un país, en este caso México, se convierte en indocumentada al cruzar la frontera y llegar a Estados Unidos.

Se puede clasificar esta obra como un “kit” artístico que incluye un DVD con el performance de Guillermo Gómez-Peña y video de Gustavo Vazquez, un CD con música de autoría de Zachary Watkins, un libro bajo el formato de la artista Felicia Rice que recoge textos del artista y escritor Gómez-Peña y comentarios de la historiadora de arte Jennifer González, todo dentro de un baúl metálico adornado con espejos, luces brillantes y una tela que asemeja la piel de un leopardo. Esta obra es un concepto de arte que rompe con todos los esquemas convencionales, es más que nada, una experiencia tangible. La obra, al contener una gama tan completa de formas, rompe las barreras que se tenían en cuanto a lo que apreciación de arte se refiere, presentando un formato interactivo, el espectador puede con esta obra no solo ver, sino también escuchar e incluso tocar.

Según la definición del libro de Aproximaciones al estudio de la literatura hispánica, el arte comprometido es el arte que implica una actitud crítica o no conformista, actitud que mantiene todo artista que tiene la obligación moral de poner su obra al servicio de una causa social o política (3). Guillermo Gómez-Peña, definido por él mismo como un artista que vende ideas, nos presenta una obra de arte comprometida, el producto resultante de siete años de arduo trabajo y dedicación. Su nueva obra, DOC/UNDOC, es una fusión de ideas basadas en la combinación de dos naciones, dos culturas, dos idiomas, que incita a romper con las nociones que se tienen actualmente de lo que una persona “ilegal” tiene que vivir en el viaje de “cruzar la frontera”. Muestra a través de métodos artísticos poco convencionales la lucha diaria que millones de mexicanos tienen que enfrentar día a día en una sociedad que rechaza el idioma español, y todo lo que conlleva la cultura de aquellos quienes lo hablan.

Nacido y crecido en la ciudad de México para después emigrar hacia Estados Unidos, convierte a Gómez-Peña en un agente intercultural, experiencia de la cual hace uso en sus obras. Su trabajo incluye performance, video, audio, instalaciones, poesía, periodismo y teoría cultural, abordando cuestiones interculturales, inmigración, política del lenguaje, y nueva tecnología en el mundo actual (Pocha Nostra).

Desde hace algunas décadas, Guillermo Gómez-Peña ha explorado a través de su arte cuestiones culturales a través del uso de “arte mixta”, y de la combinación de dos idiomas, Español e Inglés. A través de su arte que se ha desarrollado de manera continua, Gómez-Peña ha creado performances que incluyen una narrativa bi-nacional, creando lo que diversos críticos han definido como “Chicano cyber-punk performances” y “ethno-techno art” (Pocha Nostra).

Esta obra forma parte de la colección disponible en la sección de Rare Books de la Universidad de Utah. Siendo parte del grupo de SPAN 6900 Analyzing Texts: Form & Content, con la profesora Isabel Dulfano, tuvimos la oportunidad de a lo largo del semestre acudir a esta sección en varias ocasiones. La primera visita la hicimos para conocer de códices, manuscritos y glifos mayas, empezando de esta manera nuestra incursión a la literatura. Habiendo discutiendo previamente en clase los siguientes temas, tuvimos nuevamente la oportunidad de una segunda visita para conocer el concepto de manuscrito, conocimos versiones antiguas de libros que incluyen diversos géneros literarios como poesía, drama, ensayos, prosa, pertenecientes a las regiones de Latinoamérica y España. Para cerrar el semestre, acudimos una vez más a la sección de Rare Books, esta vez para conocer los diversos formatos en los que los libros más actuales son presentados, por mencionar algunas obras tenemos la obra de Antonio Frasconi, 19 poemas de Hispano América, una colección exclusiva de poemas de diversos autores, impresos en papel japonés, firmados cada uno por el artista. Otra obra es Manifesto, de Nicanor Parra, una obra en la que el autor revela lo que el considera la forma en que un poeta debería de escribir. Y como parte final, conocimos la obra de Guillermo Gómez-Peña, DOC/UNDOC, la cual aborda temas de concepto de identidad, contexto, transición, frontera y reinvención del individuo.

19 Poemas, 1969

19 Poemas, 1969

Manifesto, 1963

Manifesto, 1963

Haber tenido la oportunidad de formar parte de un grupo en el que se conoció de literatura desde sus inicios hasta la actualidad, es una experiencia que todo estudiante debería de tener, y si acaso no está dentro de su alcance el matricularse en una clase como éstas, los invito a conocer la sección de Rare Books, será una experiencia que no olvidarán.

20151201_155123

(Last paragraph translation: Having the opportunity to form part of a group that became familiar with literature from its inception to the present was an experience that every student should have. If by chance this type of class does not fit into your schedule, I invite you to visit the Rare Books collection, as it will be an unforgettable experience.)

Friedman, Edward, Virgillo, Carmelo, Valdivieso Teresa, and Edward H Friedman. Aproximaciones Al Estudio de La Literatura Hispańica. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2003.
<http://www.pochanostra.com/antes/jazz_pocha2/mainpages/bios.htm>
<http://movingpartspress.com/publications/doc-undoc.>

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DOC/UNDOC — Part 3/6, “This Type of Trespass”

23 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by rarebooks in Uncategorized

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accordion, Alexander Calder, archival, art, artist, audio, books, border, borders, boundary, Carl Andre, ceramic, children, codex, comments, communication, definitions, dialogue, dialogues, dice, DOC/UNDOC: Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática, Donald Judd, experiences, fashion, fragmented, Francisco X. Alarcon, Guillermo Gomez Peña, Gyula Kosice, ideas, iguanas, impression, Isabel Dulfano, J. Willard Marriott Library, Joaquín Torres-García, Jorge Luis Borges, Joseph Beuys, literary analysis, Luise Poulton, Lygia Clark, Marta Minujín, medium, mobiles, mystery, objects, oils, Pablo Neruda, performance art, performances, performative, Peter Tanner, Piedras del Cielo, plexiglass, rare books, Rare Books Department, reader, requests, rhetoric, Santa, sculpture, Siete Poemas Sajones, sounds, Spanish, sweat, three-dimensional, toys, transgressive, trespass, University of Utah, videos, viewer, visual

During Fall Semester, 2015, University of Utah graduate students in SPAN6900-2 Analyzing Texts: Form and Content visited Rare Books. During the third and final session with Rare Books, the students were introduced to late 20th century/early 21st century fine press and artists’ books. The session ended with the premiere viewing of our copy of DOC/UNDOC Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática, purchased in September. Student response was so strong that managing curator Luise Poulton, in her typical over-enthusiastic way, exclaimed, “You should post your thoughts on Open Book!” Prof. Isabel Dulfano, in her own enthusiastic way, immediately took up the suggestion and made this a new assignment, right then and there. Bless the beleaguered grad students! Rare Books is pleased to present these responses, one post at a time.

 

Doc/Undoc photo courtesy of Moving Parts Press

Doc/Undoc photo courtesy of Moving Parts Press

From Peter Tanner

The work of Guillermo Gómez-Peña has always caused quite a stir. The manner in which he has maintained a dialogue with, around, and trespassed over the subject of borders and in particular definitions that have been accepted as fixed in defining such borders, has always raised open questions that his viewer, or reader in this case, must confront in order to establish their own relationship to his work. The art book/performative book DOC/UNDOC: Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática (2014) is a work that questions the fashion in which the book is both a static and malleable medium for communication of both ideas and experiences. When one interacts with this work one is forced to cross one’s own limits as to what can and should or should not be done with an object of obvious value, which is also meant to be used and discovered. To illustrate I will describe my first encounter with this phenomenal performative work/performative book.

Several colleagues and I from my department (Spanish) were viewing many extraordinary limited edition artistic texts that are held by the Rare Books Department at The University of Utah’s J. Willard Marriott Library. Works such as Francisco X. Alarcon’s De Amor Oscuro, Pablo Neruda’s Piedras del Cielo, and Jorge Luis Borges Siete Poemas Sajones are just a few of the amazing collection held by the library. All of these texts were developed with the highest quality craftsmanship and when possible the direct collaboration and input of the artist. While these texts were fascinating for their quality, and the fact that the text in some cases they had actually been handled and signed by the author, for example the Borges book, they are none the less texts that are beautiful books to be owned and perused with the hands, mind, and eyes of the reader. However, the performative text by Guillermo Gómez-Peña was a different experience entirely.

De Amor Oscuro, 1991

De Amor Oscuro, 1991

Las Piedras del Cielo, 1981

Las Piedras del Cielo, 1981

Siete Poemas Sajones, 1974

Siete Poemas Sajones, 1974

The case for the performative book contained several traditional collections of works of visual art that, while much more visual oriented than those of the texts listed above, were still in book format (either codex, accordion format or a more contemporary edge book binding were used). The difference between these more traditional texts and the more performative text of Gómez-Peña was apparent in the reaction of my colleagues to my exploration of the text. Before I explain my experience delving beneath the protective plexiglass, which separated the traditional texts from the more performative elements found below, I should say something regarding the history of interactive art.

From arguably the 1920’s forward there has been a movement in art that involved the idea of not just having a work of art to behold, but rather one that must be manipulated to be fully appreciated. Some early examples are Alexander Calder’s mobiles, and Joaquín Torres-García’s manipulable toys for children. Later works such as Lygia Clark’s Bichos and Máscaras sensoriais; Gyula Kosice’s kinetic sculptures, Carl Andre’s minimalist tile patterned floor displays, as well as Donald Judd’s sculptures required either manipulation or activation by the presence of the viewer/participant to complete the experience with the work in a three-dimensional world. This of course also relates to the dialogues that performance artists such as Joseph Beuys and Marta Minujín present to the world that must relate in some fashion to their work, and in the case of Minujín the environments that she produces. These types of works are fantastic examples where art breaks down the barrier between life and art, the more common interpretation of the effect of these works. They also reinforce the fact that the viewer, unless initiated to the need to trespass, will not understand that they are supposed to interact with the work and allow the work to facilitate their crossing the border between life and art. It is this very transgression of the boundary between visual witness of a work versus participation that Gómez-Peña seeks to break down.

The need for participation now explained, I was absolutely giddy at the chance to interact with the work of so transgressive an artist as Gómez-Peña. As a group we looked at the traditional texts and looked at all the objects behind the plexiglass resting in the bottom of the case. The plexiglass rested upon the tops of small partitions within the bottom of the metal case that serves as the container of all the books, objects, sounds, and videos that form this piece. Each partition below the plexiglass contained a collection of objects, some of which were easily visible, though much remained invisible, placed with in small velveteen-looking bags. Extending from the partitions tops and protruding through holes in the plexiglass are buttons that could be pressed by the viewer to activate a recording that would be played by the sound system also contained in the “books” box-like metal case.

While my colleagues looked on I couldn’t help but ask if we could remove the plexiglass and examine, that is touch, fondle, and explore the items within the case. At that moment there was a sort of awkward laugh that went around the group. The laughter seemed to express two feelings: the first, there he goes again with odd requests and comments; the second, of course he will not be allowed or actually ever touch the items in the case, it is after all behind the plexiglass. In retrospect this perceived reaction illustrated to me the way that we all seem to let ourselves be contained by the expectation that the glass, the plexiglass in this case, is not meant to be transgressed when it comes to those objects that we are visually told are archival, and thus separate because someone has set them apart.

When I was told that the plexiglass could be removed, and that I could examine, that is touch and explore the objects, I waited with anticipation while my colleagues watched, seemingly unsure of what to do. I further asked if I could touch everything and get into each and every velveteen bag. I was told I could, and so I did. A plethora of objects that were at times both disparate though connected fell out of each bag into my hands, including collections of fragmented body parts: ceramic heads, arms, legs, and even an iguanas severed and preserved paw. There were two sets of dice, which I picked up and rolled, to see if they were loaded (they weren’t). I tried on the pair of flip lens sun glasses and said to my colleagues, “I am seeing you with the artists’ eyes.” They laughed. There were only two things I did not get to either use or try on, the luchador mask (which I did hold but did not wear), and a metal container that was shrink wrapped. I was not permitted to open it this final container (a mystery never to be solved). Only one or two of my colleagues handled any of the objects, and no one handled them all like I did. It was amazing to hold them, to see the mystery unfold and realize that, as the video and audio performances state, I was leaving my impression or trace upon each object that I held, with my own oils and sweat. More importantly, I feel that by transgressing the plexiglass border, that I was fulfilling not only the intention of the artist as he sought to have his viewer/reader move beyond their own boundaries, but also, and I do not mean to be egotistical but I cannot think of another way to say it, modeling this type of trespass for my colleagues that seemed more or less unwilling to cross the boundary.

20151201_154843

This type of work is meant to cause the viewer/participant to not only trespass the art/life border of the object imbued with the aura of artistic production, but also to cross over the porous definitions that we use around us. To investigate something unfamiliar one must experience something outside of one’s comfort zone. It is the very investigation of definitions beyond those that one sets upon oneself that facilitates the reformation and discovery of perspectives beyond one’s own, both conceptual and physical as this work demonstrates. By this kind of questioning the significance of the boundary as a fixed and defined concept is also redefined as more porous and flexible than perhaps previously believed. Ironically, for those that choose to not cross such boundaries, even in the most cursory way, their choice is one that solidifies the boundaries defining rhetoric. This then, at least to me, presents a third option, one which Gómez-Peña has always had as a guiding influence, what is the place of those that are undefined within a system that requires definitions? Are rights only available by functioning within established definitions? What is lost when is one is left undefined? What is their relationship to the definitions and those who both define as well as leave undefined all such positions? Works such as this one by Gómez-Peña, et al., open up all sorts of new concepts for the viewer’s/reader’s contemplation. Not the least of which is, is this a book or a work of art or both in a new hybrid performative format? You can choose for yourself, but I beg you, please move past the plexiglass.

Gómez-Peña, Guillermo, et al. DOC/UNDOC: Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática. Santa Cruz, CA: Moving Parts Press, 2014.

Coming soon: Dallas Fawson

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