Eat Me, Drink Me, Homo

July 27 & 28, 2013 @ 2pm

Written and Directed by Niegel Smith

Featuring Jamyl Dobson and Jax Jackson

Produced by JACK & Brooklyn International Performance Art Festival

As a young gay in a Catholic all-boy’s high school, I was often reminded of my outsider’s perspective. But, when communion, a sacrament in which only practicing Catholics (and I have never been one) are supposed to participate, was celebrated at an all school mass, I just couldn’t help myself. I had to join in. Breaking bread. Sharing wine. And muttering Latin phrases. It was the best kind of community performance – an opportunity to transcend our individuality and draw closer through shared experience. So now I invite you to leave the rigid confines of organized religion and join in an intimate walk outside. You’ll be lead in a heightened sensory experience as you share new texts, create ritual gestures and mold the outside into your sanctuary. But, don’t forget to say your prayers, things might get rough when you try to get a little bit closer.

I’m A Nigga

July 3, 2013

Conceived and Performed by Niegel Smith

Produced by VoxFest / Vox Barter and presented by The Hood Museum

In, I’m a Nigga, Niegel Smith appropriates contemporary gallery codes, the ubiquitous Apple text speaking program and American hip-hop and rap lyrics in order to question how we use media to subject ourselves to viewership and objectification. The artist takes a classical pose sitting on a stool, his laptop sits on a stool next to him and throughout the performance, a pre-recorded description of the artist is performed by his macintosh computer. The description is an adaptation, written by the artist, of 50 Cent’s “Poor Lil Rich”.