Frivolous Artist

an ongoing series

The Frivolous Artist series examines what is forced, fake, fake by intention, real, real by action, authentic and/or necessary. At its heart, there is not just one subject but a quicksand of questions, interrogations, and dualities considering what makes art and artists worthwhile and meaningful. We believe it’s critical to not just ask these questions in the creation process but present the labor of answering these questions publicly, in order to purposefully inspire a dialogue with audiences.

In June 2021, Another Frivolous Artist was presented on the Attic 506 rooftop in Chapel Hill, NC. Performers Dana Livermore, Ginger Wagg. This program was supported by the Orange County Arts Commission.

In October 2019, Frivolous Artist: Sculpture Garden

was presented by Performance Is Alive at the Satellite Art Show in Brooklyn, NY.

Performers Patience, Carley McCready, Ginger Wagg

photo recap of Satellite Show

press about the show: Creatrix - Sensory Potential – Interview with Quinn Dukes // Hyper Allergic - An Anti-Mainstream Art Fair Feels More Like an Immersive Bazaar

In October 2018, a 90-minute Frivolous Artist: Sculpture Garden was performed at the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, NC. Performers: Carley McCready, Zach Aliotta, Ginger Wagg

video by TJ Carr

In May 2018, Frivolous Artist: More Metal was performed at 21c Museum Hotel as part of Moogfest in Durham, NC. Performers Patience, Mike Geary, Ginger Wagg.

Friv Art premiered as a full length evening production,

part of the 2017-18 DIDA season 4 at the Durham Fruit in March 2018.

Director Ginger Wagg / Co-creator Patience

Collaborators/Performers - Crowmeat Bob, Mike Geary, Danny Grewen, Carley McCready, Jil Christensen, Meg Williams

Is art allowed to be frivolous, disposable? Is it a kind of needless luxury? Does the current state of our world change its significance? What do you stand for - does that influence the art you rely on?

What's the value of walking away from a show having simply been entertained? Slightly politically challenged? Deeply moved? Emotionally transformed? If you come away with more questions than answers, have you wasted your night?

Will you give us the privilege of wasting your night?

Do you want us to prove it's worth it?

And what if we can't convince you...

insisting you didn’t fall down while your face is mashed into the grass, ridiculous, common and unavoidable nature of life, mostly being a professional artist while still struggling with how the fuck to define that and how others’ insist on defining that, serious not serious, break objects by hand, then small tool, then large tool, strength and endurance, both physical and emotional, real fakeness is real, often hidden, unattainable, and disputable world of language, everyday/mundane & contradictory self-awareness, disheartened lack of motivation, profound in-articulation of one’s thoughts and feelings at the worst possible moments, smooth, all these expressions, experiences, emotions are at once universal and utterly meaningless to everyone but myself…

Frivolous Artist is dedicated to Steven Walls, Nhique Hipple, Ed Tyler & Valere Wagg

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BIG thank yous to DIDA & our sponsors - Bowbarr (Carrboro, NC), The Durham (Durham, NC), and The Fruit (Durham, NC). And to our contributors for helping make this show materialize - anonymous, Jane Holding, Walker Brown, Amelia Vogler, Kelly McChesney, Jen Wolfe, Sarah Honer, Chris Vitiello, Mic Finger, Kevin Bullick, Phil Morrison, Susan Harbage Page, Richard Butner, Tim Walter, Rodney Derrick, Sensho Wagg, Jaclyn Bowie, John Rice, TJ Ward, Meg Williams, Bob Proctor.

Immense gratitude to WA collaborators - Patience, Mike Geary, Carley McCready, Crowmeat Bob, Danny Grewen, Jil Christiansen, Meg Williams, Soleil Konkel, Angela Hugghins, Sylvia Herbold & advisors - Tommy Noonan, Sarah Honer, Murielle Elizéon.

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Ginger Wagg & Wild Actions Ginger Wagg & Wild Actions is a container for independent, collaborative, movement-based performance installations. A rotating group of artists create intimate, small-scale shows, evening length performances, and opportunities for collaboration and new work. We address alternative points of view with non-linear narratives, noise/experimental sound scores, and improvised choreography. WA is committed to using site-specific venues and public spaces in order to invite audiences to interact and purposefully impact performances in real time. Wild Actions revels in approaching the obstacle, the impossible, the everyday, and the momentary.

DIDA (Durham Independent Dance Artists) raises the profile of independent dance in Durham by curating a season of dance performances by local choreographers. We connect audiences and artists, providing audiences with easy access to exciting local work and providing artists with increased visibility to local audiences.

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Want to find out more or support the creation of this work? Email us at contactgingerwagg@gmail.com

Wild Actions is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. Contributions for the charitable purposes of Wild Actions must be made payable to "Fractured Atlas"only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.