ALONE OF YOUR SEX
But informality is a time-honored tradition in performance art, and Abelson is young. I saw Karen Finley perform here in 1982, and the work was interesting but sloppy, wholly lacking the polish it has now that she performs at Lincoln Center. Was Finley’s work bad art? No, it was merely not as developed as it is now. One must start somewhere. And so it is with Abelson: she might not always be on target, but she is always interesting–there’s that seed of something worth watching and cultivating.
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A great deal of research, thought, writing, and construction went into Alone of Your Sex. There is much here to think about–the mythology, the quasi-anthropology, and the autobiographical material surrounding women and pregnancy. Like Mel Brooks, Karen Finley, and much vaudeville and early performance art, it will not be to everyone’s taste. This is not the work of a mature artist, but neither is it the work of an amateur: it’s the work of an artist at the beginning of her career. Cleverly designed and imaginative, it has humor and honesty. So if you’re looking for profound statements–art with a capital “A”–look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for something sincere and real, small, humble, and a little camp, here it is.
