Marina Superfan Speaks Out

Courtesy of MoMA

For those closely monitoring MoMA's Flickr account, which gets updated with portraits of each visitor that sits across from Marina Abramović, some familiar faces have popped up. But today we're not talking James Franco, we're talking Paco Blancas, a NYC-based make-up artist who has sat across from the legendary performance artist 14 times (and counting). One of the museum's interns tracked him down recently and grilled the (former) mystery man on his penchant for popping up in front of Marina.

In the interview Blancas explains why he keeps coming back, saying: "It’s hard to explain but it’s almost like you feel this force, it draws you in, like a magnet. Sitting with her is a transforming experience—it’s luminous, it’s uplifting, it has many layers, but it always comes back to being present, breathing, maintaining eye contact. It’s an amazing journey... Also, I love meeting people in line. I’ve met a lot of people and have made a lot of new friends, many of them artists, but really all sorts of people. I keep in touch with them and we e-mail constantly to talk about our experiences. It’s like a little community of people who come to participate in the piece." Marina groupies, they exist!

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By Jen Carlson in Arts & Entertainment on May 11, 2010 4:53 PM

Comments [rss]

Etna

How do I get in touch with PACO? I am an artist and would like to speak with him.

Guest

""It’s hard to explain but it’s almost like you feel this force, it draws you in, like a magnet. Sitting with her is a transforming experience—it’s luminous, it’s uplifting, it has many layers, but it always comes back to being present, breathing, maintaining eye contact. It’s an amazing journey..."

he's gotta be high as a motherfucker. look at them eyes!

theboneranger

jockey's horse, klipklop, is put to sleep today as his master, henry, watches tearfully

Gotham Extremist

Hitler with a full mustache?

ddhboy

thinking the same thing.

SeaKris

I sat with her for an hour and 40 minutes... She is amazing. Truly a life changing experience. It doesn't make sense to a lot of people unless you do it and sit with her. Everyone gets something different out of it... All I can say is that it is worth it. I understand why Paco keeps coming back.

jules1000

If you had sat with her a bit less than an HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES, perhaps more visitors would have had the opportunity to experience this besides you.

SeaKris

I waited for over 6 and a half hours on Saturday to sit and didn't get to and I arrived at the museum at 9AM on Sunday and didn't get to sit until 11:30. Since I'm assuming you haven't sat, you have no idea of the experience. I didn't think I had sat for that long.

jules1000

that's right. I have no idea about the experience, precisely because many visitors are selfish and sit there endlessly.

You obviously didn't get what my post was about. I wasn't slamming the experience, I was complaining about visitors that take the opportunity away from other visitors

SeaKris

No. I did get exactly what your message was about. YOU didn't understand mine. When I stood up, I had NO IDEA it was an hour and 40 minutes. I'm sorry that you haven't had a chance to sit yet. And I know how it feels not to get a chance because I sat ALL DAY on Saturday waiting and despite being the VERY first person at the museum at 9AM on Sunday, I still had to wait over and hour for the "VIP" type people to go before us "regular" schleps. I hope you get to sit soon... Just know that your chances are very small unless you arrive before the museum opens with ticket in hand.

clockwiseleft

WOW.

SeaKris, I'm going to quote your words from your blog:

"I told him that I could have absolutely kept going, but that I was trying to give others a chance as well. BUT... I do think I want to go back and just see how long I can go. I won't get all warm and fuzzy with the other people in line, that way I won't feel guilty."

I was waiting in line about 5 people behind you that day, even though I had arrived at MoMA well before opening, and had a pass - I would've had a chance to have my turn (as would 5 more people behind ME) had you not sat there for nearly 2 hours.

Thank you for that "unplanned adventure" of yours.

I should've just followed my instinct the moment I saw you, judged you for your heinous sandals and blinding New Jersey aura, and just left without wasting hours in line.

SeaKris

Well, actually my unplanned adventure was the fact that I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 26, but you're welcome. And for the record. I'm from Seattle. Not Jersey. :)

clockwiseleft

OMG everyone! Look! It's the cancer card!

Well, in that case, let me just retract everything I said, because your cancer adventure NATURALLY entitles you to bratty behavior.

Hah. I'll be damned - I never would have guessed that you weren't from Jersey.

SeaKris

You are a moron. I wasn't "pulling the cancer card". I had cancer and that is a fact. My ENTIRE blog with the exception of the last 3 posts is about me having had cancer.

clockwiseleft

I wish you knew how hilarious I find your words. Especially when you call me names, that's extra cute.

SeaKris

Oh, and if you bothered to read my entire post, I revised it about 30 minutes after I posted to to add this...

"

***Edited to add... After reading an interview were Marina was asked about the fact that some people might want to sit with her all day, she said this:

'That’s fine. That could very easily happen. I don’t want to restrict it. Other people will have to organize themselves, not me. That’s how it has to be managed. If somebody’s sitting there all day, he’s responsible for his conduct, which is depriving other people of the experience. But he has to have his own social consciousness about it, and in the end it’s his decision. I just want to be there like a rock, so when you come in I’m always there.'

After reading this, I think I might reconsider my desire to go back and see how long I can go. Endurance on the part of the secondary participant is not the purpose of the performance and I wouldn't want to deprive others from getting to experience sitting with her and being allowed to find that place deep inside with her help... So... I will definitely go back, but I'm not sure if I will sit again. (I want to, but I actually do care about others... As a nation, I wish we cared about each other a little more.)

"