John Natsoulas Gallery

Performance: Saturday, September 20th, 8 p.m.

The John Natsoulas Gallery has been dedicated to performance art since its inception over a decade ago. This annual festival is starting out small, but strong. Internationally well-known Non Grata from Estonia is on its world tour, and will be stopping in Davis to do a major performance. We are thrilled to host the infamous MOM as well as the Art Task Force, both local artists with a large and dedicated fan base, and perhaps as many critics. Controversial performance artist, writer and presidential hopeful Frank Moore will entertain the audience as the first performer at 8pm.

Frank Moore is an acclaimed American performance artist, famously targeted by Jesse Helms and the GAO for creating art deemed "obscene". He is infamous for long, ritualistic performances with audience participation, nudity, and eroticism. He is also known as an influential author, his work focusing on performance, art, life, and cultural subversion; for his historical influence on the San Francisco Bay Area music and performance scene; and more recently for his webstation, LUVeR(Love Underground Visionary Revolution).

Non Grata is a performance group based in Estonia with around 40 members from across the globe. They are political, vocal and edgy. Members wear masks and handkerchiefs to veil their identities. Thus far, the group has performed in Asia, South and North America, all around Europe, with venues ranging from unsolicited chaotic street performances to long lasting "GHETTOMARATONS" held in experimental spaces and alternative galleries. This group is certain to leave a lasting impression.

MOM is a performance artist also based in Sacramento. She is infamous for putting on gritty, subversive shows that insult as often as they entertain. MOM is the alter-ego of the artist-- a raving, maniacal figure who intimidates her audience and performs socially unimaginable acts. MOM sings, she rants, she undresses, she throws confetti, she mangles flesh and carcasses stringing them around her neck as a socialite wears a mink stole. One can only hope that MOM is nothing like your mother.

The elaborate, raw shows that Art Task Force specialize in can only be called spectacle. They perform with the aid of nudity, cannons, paints, costumes, avatars, music and found objects.