November 2011

The First Supper

A collaboration between Michelle Gomez and Jonathan Wille, The First Supper is both an installation and three performances that deals with cultural and identity issues by looking at the idea of a non-traditional family. During the performances, viewers witness the artists enacting dysfunction at a family dinner, exploring the notion of roles and performance particular to each family member. The father figure, transformed into a character through generalized stereotypes acts as the main character of the narrative. As three hour performances, viewers are invited to come and go as they please, offering an alternative to a more common audience-performer dynamic. Like a theater set, between performances the vibrant and chaotic dining room installation echoes of the absence of the performers, emphasizing the physical presence of the viewer and their own performative roles as they enter the space.