performance art
01 documents
02 hey faggot!
public art
01 intergeneration
02 angels of alcatraz
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Angels of Alcatraz
A temporal work of art directed by Frank Pietronigro in which a group
of “angels” visit Alcatraz prison for the purpose of transforming
the energy of the one-time prison.
Performed October 24, 1994, on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, California.
Angels of Alcatraz provided visitors with the rewarding opportunity to
become angels of transformation and connect with the former inmates of
Alcatraz in an unusual and extraordinary way by extending gifts of affirmation
to the prisoners who once resided within the confines of the prison. These
gifts of positive energy were offered to balance the negative feelings,
mood and energy that pervaded Alcatraz during its existence as a functioning
prison.
Archangel “Al” greeted the Angels of Alcatraz upon their arrival
and handed out a program with instructions. When they reached the main
cell block, Frank took a “mug shot” of the angels holding a
special placard (Fig.
3). Like the identifying placards used at the prison, the placards
read: “US Penitentiary, Alcatraz,” plus one of the following
words:
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The angels were then asked to embody the spirit of that word when connecting with other visitors during their tour and when focusing their attention on the spirits of the prisoners who lived within the cells of Alcatraz.
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3