Life as Art
I heard about this performance artist on Bob & Tom yesterday morning on the way to work, and then I actually caught her again while she was doing an interview with them this morning on the way in. Apparently Lauren Argo, from here in Lexington, decided to share her life with everyone in a Louisville, KY restaurant display window for at least a week. Here’s the description of her piece:
Argo says, “By exploring the ideas of public and private, reality and presentation, observer and performer, I am trying to find out if one can exist without the other. Because the window insures that the artist is never without the possibility of an audience, can the artist ever be in a state of living and not performing? The project’s purpose is to present private life in a public space and naturally express the experience that comes under such circumstances through performance.”
She said in her interview this morning that she really wanted to see if these reality actors “that are taking all the jobs of us [regular actors]” could really just live naturally when they knew a camera was on them. She commented that it was very difficult to really just act normally when she knew people were watching or that the webcam was on her. Although she does take a bathroom break outside of her ‘box’ and she pulls a privacy curtain when she changes clothes, it would still be a little much for me to have that much exposure. I pick my nose, dig in my ass, and fart WAY too much for something like this to work for me.
Of course, its only really working because, as you can see from her picture, Ms. Argo is a pretty attractive young lady. If it was me, or even some male Abercrombie model, in that window the attention the project is receiving wouldn’t be nearly as wide-spread. Not that I have a problem with that. It’s not like the girl is being a whore in the window, or at least that’s what I’m guessing because the webcam server is way to busy for me to actually see her right now.
She also said in the interview that she was originally from Cynthiana, KY. Which kind of surprised me because she didn’t have much of an accent at all. All you could really tell was that she wasn’t from New England or Minnesota. Cynthiana isn’t exactly Eastern Kentucky (I’m sure I don’t need to go into the stereotypes), but everyone I’ve met from there sounds about as redneck as you can get.
If anyone is actually able to see her on the webcam, take a screen shot and send it to me. I’d love to see it.
not evertyone here it that fucked up and cold…
I’ve never even heard of her. How am I always NOT in the know??
Oooo! The scandal there must be in Cynthiana. You don’t just go around hanging outin windows if you’re from Cynthiana.
Can the lynch mob be far behind?
mulk: What do you mean? Are you from the KY too?
nicole: Well, I’m sure its not ‘national’ yet… I just thought it was interesting since she’s from my hometown and went to college where I did.
Poobah: Good point… although I doubt anyone from Cynthiana is going to hear about her exploits through any artistic publications. Maybe if she makes the front page of ‘The National Enquirer’ then she might have something to fear from her hometown bible-beaters.
thanks for writing about my work– that’s awesome and really part of the project– to hear what people are thinking and experiencing on the outside.
i would have to say, i’m flattered that you think i’m attractive and that my dialect is pretty clear! that is my training in speech coming out, i do sound much more country in person, but this is what an actor can do– but able to do it all..
thanks for the support. truly.
be well. do good.
lauren argo
lauren argo is the shit. i live here and i saw her TWICE now. she is really nice to be around. and i talked to her on the phone.. she does have a country accent! haha
Love, Ellie
Lauren: Thanks for stopping by! Glad you weren’t really offended by anything I wrote. Remember, just one more week!
Ellie: Apparently she is the shit. I wonder how many emails she’s receiving on a daily basis, and she still has time to stop by here and leave a comment.