Quicktime Movie Quicktime Movie Personal Narratives (Performance carried out at the Helen E. Copeland Gallery in Haynes Hall [MSU] during the Personal Narratives exhibition.) Explanation: on April 16, 2008, the performer sat in the Helen E. Copeland Gallery for five and a half hours, and related personal stories from his history to any visitors to the space. The performance began at 9:15 am, ran until 12:00 pm, and then ran again from 1:15 pm until 4:00 pm. The stories were alternately embarrassing, humorous, or disturbing, but they consistently required the performer to become unusually vulnerable. Video footage courtesy Lori Hiris; photographs courtesy Paul Heaston.

Untitled Performance (Carried out at the Waller Yoblonsky Gallery [MSU] for the Fireborn Project.) Explanation: the performer read texts that characterized fire as an alternately destructive and creative force. After reading a text that treated fire negatively, the performer slapped and beat his body, causing the skin to redden and bruise. After reading a text that treated fire positively, the performer licked and caressed his body. Between texts, the performer recovered by conspicuously drinking large amounts of water. Photographs courtesy Paul Heaston.