PERFORMANCE
"Frank Moore is a revolutionary and highly respected artist of the underground community...." fAZE3 Magazine July 1998 (see expanded quote below)
"Best of the Bay Area!" S.F Bay Guardian
"One of the few people practicing performance art that counts." Karen Finley, performance artist
"(Frank Moore is a)...major American artist" Joey Manley, Director FStv Web Project
"You are a true sexual revolutionary, and a winner." Annie Sprinkle, performance artist
"...one of the U.S.'s most controversial performance artists,...." P-Form Magazine
"...Jesse Helms-offending performance-art guerrilla Frank Moore...." LA Weekly
"Frank Moore is the King of all media." Lob, Vinyl Solution
"I refer to you often when I talk about truly inspired people.... I have always marveled at your ability to find happiness in so many places. It is a wonderful trait. You definately pull other people into your energy with all the things you do. Please keep up the good work." Mike Hovancsek, artist
Resisting "the easy and superficial descriptions..., Moore's work challenges the consensus view more strongly in ways less acceptable than...angry tirades and bitter attacks on consumer culture." Chicago New City
"...He's wonderful and hilarious and knows exactly what it's all about and has earned my undying respect. What he's doing is impossible, and he knows it. That's good art...." L.A. Weekly
"Transformative..." Moore "is thwarting nature in an astonishing manner, and is fusing art, ritual and religion in ways the Eurocentric world has only dim memories of. Espousing a kind of paganism without bite and aggression, Frank Moore is indeed worth watching." High Performance Magazine
"...perhaps Phoenix's oddest, most affecting, and certainly most participatory art event...." Phoenix New Times
"Art Event of the Year: Moore's 'Passions Play' allowed us the freedom to live out the potentials inherent in our lives, to freely explore the nature of our bodies and our collective experience as human beings. Using artistic techniques in a ceremony that broke the boundaries of art to become shamanic ritual, Moore challenged us to go deeper into the realms of the human spirit and physical body, reminding us that art is about living, exploring, and expanding our sense of what is possible in our lives." Phoenix's >From the Ashes
"If performance art has a radical edge, it has to be Frank Moore." Cleveland Edition
"In performance, Moore takes advantage of his disadvantage, becoming an unlikely guide into the pleasures of the body, taking audiences where they would probably never go without the example of his vulnerability and trust... That Moore should be the one urging us to stay connected to our physical selves is both ironic and poetic..." Village Voice
"Frank Moore isn't your average artist... one of the more provocative writers, film directors and - yes - performance artists around since the early 70's." The Oregonian
"Surely wonderful and mind-goosing experience." L.A. Reader
"Picture Joe Cocker with a beard and glasses in a wheelchair, with that look as he hits that one high note from "A Little Help From My Friends" (the one that sounds like tearing sheets).... Frank doen't sing. He groans. Yet his attempt to belt out "My Way" (the Tom Jones version) WITH hand gestures (sort of), had the crowd mesmerized!" Raindog, The Casiotones
"Frank Moore with Michael LaBash and Linda Mac has spent may years developing semi-public rituals that use extended time periods to shape reality and bring diverse crowds into an intuitive ensemble that he sometimes refers to as the 'tribal body'. Despite severe cerebral palsy, Moore has become the centre of a rich international community of artists. His fearless explorations of human sexuality and spirituality have made him a prime target of US political right." Paul Couillard, Toronto curator
“As you point out in one of your writings--the shamanism at the heart of your arts (all of them—including writing painting and performing) is nominally "old fashioned"--but is still immensely powerful and rings true as "psychic" currency, whether or not "we", "I" or "They" believe in it.” Kelly Knox, artist & teacher
“Fuck Burning Man. This (Performance) is great!” Kim, artist (after attending “The Magical Gestures of Play” performance at Dr. Suzy Block’s Speakeasy Gallery, Los Angeles 9/2/00)
“Frank’s art inspired me and showed me how far it was possible to go in the direction of art as an engulfing experience, and of doing genuine, no-bullshit magic in the modern world” Fred Hatt, visual and performance artist and photographer
“Moore is ‘proudly underground’ and has never made any concession to try to be commercial, to fit into any respectable art scene or to be acceptable to any institution” Fred Hatt, visual and performance artist and photographer
”His stamina is unrelenting, and the music goes on and on. I am repelled but stuck: I can’t turn away.” San Francisco Weekly, 2001
“Frank Moore, California’s notorious spastic shaman and performance artist, brings his completely unique happening to New York for the first time in over a decade! His performances have been described as radical, intimate, tacky, erotic, outrageous, magical, shocking, initiatory rituals. This is guaranteed to be different from anything you’ve experienced before. “ Fred Hatt, artist (on Frank’s Passions’ Conductor Performance in Brooklyn, NY August 25, 2001)
“Luv you guys. Performance art alone is compelling. Sexuality alone is compelling. Politics alone is
compelling. Philosophy alone is compelling. Psychology alone is compelling. You combine all of the above! Does anyone else? Yet, the masses flock to movies with car chase scenes. Go figure.” Michael Rosenthal, audience member
“Your show at Pleasure Dome remains one of the highlights in our 13 years of exhibition!” Tom Taylor, Pleasure Dome, Toronto, Canada
“(The Cherotic All-Star jam) was frighteningly original!” Dirty Dave Sanchez, “Rampage Radio” KUSF, San Francisco
“Just wanted to share with you how much fun I had at the free-form jam.... Holy Shit! I’ve been looking for new musical experiences since I was knee-high to an ewok. Not to brag, but I’ve prided myself on being open and unconcerned about form, syle, etc., always listening for that special something that would raise the hair on me’ arms. I’ve probably played hundreds of such “shows”, but I have never heard anything like what we all went through the other night!!! Wow!! Thanks for bringing it all together, man.” Russell Kline, bassist “Formerly the No-No’s”
“To me, the first time I heard Frank’s Jam at 848 S.F., it began somewhat tentativelyl and smoothed out gradually like a big taffy pull. It boiled down tighter and tighter and characterized by being ‘another planet’ music, or as old musician friends would have siad ‘outer space’ – It’s ‘good grass’ in sound-form, everybody’s high and it didn’t coast a dime. The only one who would be ‘out of tune’ would be the one who was in tune, on time, counting the measures, waiting for a cue, and came with prepared arpeggios! It was mesmerizing...” Dorothy Jesse Beagle, musician, poet, etc.
“At the Intimacy Performance Saturday nite, I did the most new things in one room in one nite I've ever done in my life, I'm pretty sure--and think about that, how often does that happen in anyone's life!?” Marie Kazalia, writer
“I love your stuff. It’s so courageous, daring, surreal and compassionate.” Kmax, Toronto artist
“Your performance was the most original thing I’ve ever seen.” Vinnie SPIT Santino, musician, artist
“Frank Moore has been one of the most original, provocative and inspiring American artists for decades.” Mark Mackintosh, Underdog Online, Holland
"Next time Marilyn Manson comes to town, I'm going to tell him that his show is pretty normal, pretty ordinary. If he really wants to see something intense, he should come to San Francisco and see Frank Moore."Audience member after see Frank Moore’s Cherotic All-Stars perform at Kimo’s in San Francisco
"We meant the night to be a gradual meltdown, but that was insane, that was beyond
insane, it was great!" An events’ organizer after the Cherotic All-Star Band performed
“Started listening to some of your music reminds me of why I liked early Gong. You (and I am sure you realise this) are exercising far more freedom than the average man, very smart!” Steve Siddell, UK Teacher
“The musical collaboration (The Cherotic All-Stars) … was one of the most unique avant-experimental jams I’ve seen.” Bryan, Detroit Cable Access T.V. viewer
“It’s really quite remarkable that your work gets to such raw and deep areas and provides and manages to provide ‘safe’ (not the bad kind’a safe!) support.” K.Atchley, artist
“I'm listening to the whole Shaman’s Den Jam again and it is really turning me on! I am> writing about the work and it's really flowing through me. At points I > feel tears welling up in me, at other times I'm smiling from ear to ear almost laughing - it is touching so many things in me. Really amazing. You guys put on an incredible jam!!!” Jen Wilson, photographer, artist
“Again, it was an amazing experience playing with all of you.. The music was so damn good, the performancce was so dreamy and the whole experience was extremely uplifting.” Carl F. Off, Refrigerator Mothers
“I probably spent 4-5 nights a week at the Mabuhay during its heyday and so did Howie Klein. The Outrageous Beauty Pagent, Dummy Dirksen and Mabuhay popcorn were staples of nascent SF punk culture.” Jane Hamsher: RIP Dirk Dirsen
“…wonderful red hot glowing ensemble wunderwork…opened eyes enlightened minds and basically rocked so fuckin hard. What a warm group of artists you embrace and collaborate with. Lotta love on that stage brother!” Rich Warner, producer of The Annual Hollywood Performance Marathon at The Theatre of Note, Hollywwod
“Frank Moore and his Cherotic Allstars”, words cannot describe the aural and auditory hallucinations, preparations and incantations that Frank and his merry band of musicians will astound and confound you with.” After Saint Stupid’s Day Parade, After Party Extravaganza Press Release
“Wow, Spit and Moore together! I met Vinnie in Syracuse, NY after drinking a bottle of cough medicine at his show in 1992, and Frank Moore in Wilmington, NC in 1999 during We-Fest. Vinnie is a crazy guy, and also a talented musician who plays 50+ instruments. Moore rides a perverted wave of performance and psychedelic prose. A good meeting of minds here.” Coydigga
“Frank Moore strips away the outer layers of sound with his music just as he unmasks the outer layer of culture and mind in his performances.” Wildknights
“Thank you again for the opportunity to play at your shows. Your performances are powerful stuff that confronts assumptions abaout sexuality and handicaps and a myriad of other topics. I felt the performance was moving, beautiful and challenging all at the same time. Thank you again for the opportunity to participate.” Mark Soden, musician
(Your performance Molten Core was) “Utterly incomprehensible and astounding! “ Blog comment
“I was taken back to a softer version of the "Living Theatre" verson of "Paradise" in New York! Carry on your good work! You are courageous and wonderful.” Carol Swann, dancer, teacher
PERFORMANCE--expanded quotes:
"The final 'official' performance of the night was from Frank Moore and The Cherotic All-Star Band. For those of you that don't know, Frank Moore is a revolutionary and highly respected artist of the underground community that during the '70's was targeted by Senator Jesse Helms along with four other noted artists as being 'obscene'. Frank is also sadly stricken with cerebral palsy and his only way of communication is through his writings, art, and his wife of ten years. This performance consisted of Frank moaning and groaning in primordial ecstacy as the band tore through some freaky free jazz excursions and his wife recited some of Frank's acclaimed poetry. A truly different and eye opening experience."
"After the music was over, we again adjourned back to The Exchange for more late night sacrilege. While there were no bands (technically) on this night, we did have Frank Moore's interactive performance piece The Cave of the Metasensual Beast. While a free jazz duo of guitar and drums played some really freaky shit in the corner, you were asked to step into the room, take your shoes off, and sit on the floor by a man in nothing but a cape and sunglasses. Half the room was cut off by this large, hanging mural. As the people filed in and began to casually socialize, the caped man periodically came to blind fold and lead away members of the crowd. When he did so you were given this eloquent rap about losing your inhibitions and led behind the mural. Everyone got their turn. What went on behind the mural I'll leave up to your imagination as we are not allowed to reveal the secrets of the cave. Needless to say it was a very interesting evening." fAZE3 July 1998
re: Flophouse performances @ Crazyspace June 6 & 7, 2003
hi frank, sorry it's taken me so long to respond, life has been crazy with 9 shows, job and more, so please accept my apologies. i think you guys shook people up--some loved the show, some were deeply affected, others didnt like it and/or didn't understand it. i know some who thought that this work was truly radical and risk-taking, others who thought it was manipulative or wanted you to dive right in sooner. all in all i think the show was really fantastic, a great thing for la, because we are often accustomed to aesthetically based works and don't often have our chains pulled. i thank you so much for coming down. I look forward to more communication and hope everyone is well.
Lauren Hartman
Crazyspace
“What impresses me most, is how you gently eased this guy into your mindset. he's obviously intelligent or it would have never gotten past the first email exchange, but you didn't just let him stay on his side, the safe side, no you cajoled him into experimenting with the idea (a first step, in my view). And thru your own wit and intelligence and gentle nature, persuaded him that what he was repulsed by was inside himself. Many of my socalled enlightened friends couldn't do that. It's a special gift. And I applaud you for it.” Raindog, poet (Re:theatre of note show)
Re: “I'm glad I experienced a glimpse into the mind of Frank Moore, but saddened it was not much to see and little if any inspiration for anything to me. What art did you exhibit? It’s a free country man, but c'mon... “Chuck, audience member at Theatre of Note Performance January 2009
when someone reacts like this to your artistic expression , IT IS ART. It’s like the tree falling in the forest. this time we are certain that someone was there and THEY DID HEAR THE TREE FALL. it doesn’t matter that the tree fell so close to the guy that it scared him, it fell- it was heard -and a reaction to it was a result. A deepening process ensued and the guy one way or another WILL BE DIFFERENT/changed because of it.
I know because I was one of those guys who was scared of frank and his performance. And I still stand by him 10 years later.
If you think about it, have you ever wanted to get a girls clothes off but just couldn’t think of the right words to say? Well think about how hard that is for frank, HE CANT FORM WORDS ! If that is not inspiring enough. For how many centuries have painters painted nudes? Well this is a different kind of nude. Watch the performance on your computer and let the colors and bodies blend together and see the collage of brilliance swirling bending blending and spilling .
If the great painters of years ago saw what frank is doing they would all sit at his feet.
As a punk rocker I am always trying to find ways to get people to leave or feel disgusted or piss them off. I want people to break out of their shells/ open up to alternatives and loosen the shackles of society. Frank did that to me without hardly trying. He is a natural punk.
my two cents
peace,
John the Baker
Susan M. Block, Ph.D.
My personal roots are in the idealism of the 60's. That was when I broke out of personal physical isolation. I looked for a way to bring about the ideals for me and for society as a whole. The normal channels obviously would not work for me.
So all I had were my fantasies. I read novels like The Magus and Steppenwolf. I started wanting to create other alternative/altered realities just like the magicians in those novels. I read the Beat writers and the French Surrealists, Lenny Bruce and Mort Sahl and Abbie Hofmann, listened to Dylan, watched the hippie movement grow. I wished I could be a hip artist living in San Francisco instead of being stuck outside San Bernardino reading, listening, watching, waiting. All of this brewed inside of me.
yes, having a plant does gives people permission. but that is just one layer of what having a plant does. Rubbing me erotically under my robes arousing, practically unseen, generates energy unlimited by taboos. People feel this energy and because they can't quite see what you are doing under my robes, they amplify the energy unlimited by not knowing for sure. It is important that your rubbing me erotically is as explicit /direct /firm as possible. It is a tanpanic performance.
PANTAN combines various kinds of orgasm [explosions of energy] with ontonse [a regular implosion of energy] within an intensely small/intimate nonlinear play. These explosions and implosions feed off one other, creating a sustainable state of enjoyable pleasure. The sustainable state of pantan can become the context of your whole life. Pantan is the state of turn-on, aroused enjoyment of life and of being together. Within pantan creativity, inspiration, a sense of awe and newness, etc. always are at work.
Tanpanic performances are altered states of physical trance, without the limits of morals, for different magical nonlinear change, in a totally different nonindividualistic context than the normal cultural context. We will call this context "tanpan". Within tanpan, all of the aspects of this physical play are drained of both their normal and hidden meanings and qualities, so that they can be used by the magic through the shaman to effect both local and nonlocal changes. These physical trance rituals of tanpan are magical rather than personal. Tanpanic trances arouse the state of pantan to the surface of being.
I just want to say thank you for posting the show and all of the support
you have shown for my art and all artists.
I'm so glad you are feeling better and are back in action!
I've been in a self imposed exile...
And my sentence is now up I have decided to let myself out on good behavior
and I hope to see you soon!
sincerely
Mr Thumb