“Full of Subtlety, if You Believe Me” was a series of fifteen performative events stemming from my larger work “840 Variations on Vexations,” a project which presents conceptual, poetic responses to duration, endurance, labor, and artistic interpretation, providing possibilities, and inspirations for artists and musicians considering their own roles in labor and the re-inscription of the creative process.

Throughout the recent year we found ourselves going through cycles of restriction, repetition and boredom—noticing more astutely the simple gestures and routines of our daily lives, dictated by the pandemic. Through a selection of works done by single performers—gesture, repetition, and labor will be interpreted and perceived through Co-Prosperity’s glass window displays. Like listening to or playing “Vexations” 840 times, these works approach the evolution of boredom: from an offensive characteristic we are encouraged to avoid, to familiarity, acceptance and investment and finally, to a heightened intensity of experience. As silence offsets, complements and drives sound, so boredom offsets, complements and drives excitement.

Each Saturday a performer in each of the three windows at CoProsperity performed one of my “840 Variations on Vexations” prompts, interpreting them via their own practice and lens.

Saturday, August 7th

Corey Smith – “840 Poses”

Simon Anderson – “Vexations for Pots and Pans – interpreted for tableware”

Lauren Sudbrink – “Vexations for Triangles”

Saturday, August 14th

Zachary Nicol – “Ballet for Vexations”

Todd Frugia – “840 Poems”

Annie Kielman – “840 Fitness Poses”

Saturday, August 21st

Lindsey Whittle – “840 Pantomimes – interpreted for Shape Language”

Marrakesh Glasspool-Frugia & Ezeb Frugia – “840 Chess Moves”

Keaton Fox – “Write Vexations 840 times – interpreted for 840 chroma key green wildflowers”

Saturday, August 28th

Allen Moore – “Vexations for Records”

Asya Dubrovina – “Vexations for a Minute”

Caitlin Ryan – “Blow up a balloon and deflate it 840 times”

Saturday, September 11th

Alejandro Jimenez-Flores (Flor) – “Spin in circles 840 times – interpreted three ways”

Hannah B. Higgins – “Vexations for Typewriter”

Jesse Malmed – “840 Jokes”