Jeffrey Gibson: To Name An Other IDENTIFY Performance
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery presents a work by multimedia artist Jeffrey Gibson for 'IDENTIFY', the performance-art program created by the museum to recognize individuals who are missing from its historical collections. 'To Name An Other' explores the relationship between injustice, marginalization and identity and features 50 volunteer performers who self-identify as people of color, LGBTQ, Indigenous or Native American.
The performance draws on the traditions of drumming to bring awareness to current sociopolitical issues. 'To Name An Other' is the artist’s largest performance to date and travels to the New Museum, New York and Calgary/Esker Foundation and Fluid Fest in summer 2019.
Premiered in 2015, 'IDENTIFY' focuses attention on activism, visibility and experimentation through portrayal. The series is directed by Dorothy Moss, curator of painting and sculpture.