About Us
THE ACTION BUREAU is a curatorial collective dedicated to furthering the discourse connecting contemporary and historical performance art. Founded in Los Angeles by artists Parker Davis and Paul Waddell, and subsequently joined by Catherine Taft, the group aims to re-establish the boundaries between the specific discipline of action-based, body-centric performance art and those of the performative arts(music, dance, theater, spoken word). While not averse to works which transgress the divisions between these practices, THE ACTION BUREAU insists on a kind of performance art which maintains a rigorous engagement with the rich history and basic fundamentals of the medium. The BUREAU seeks to promote this discourse, both locally and abroad, through the production of live-art events, exhibitions, lectures, print and multimedia publications, and our blog.
THE FREE CLINIC, is a series of events organized by THE ACTION BUREAU, which provides a platform for contemporary artists to present new works in performance to the Los Angeles audience. The CLINIC pairs emerging and established artists from Los Angeles and abroad, seeking to foster the development of a discourse between participants. By curating exhibitions with artists who share intersections of method and practice, The BUREAU aims to provide an entry point for audience members into the growing discourse surrounding the medium. In this same spirit, a small zine-style publication featuring photographs and writing on the participating artists’ work is produced and distributed free-of-charge to attendees. The series is hosted by Human Resources, the performance-focused art collective occupying the former Cottage Home space in L.A.’s Chinatown gallery district.
We are currently accepting submissions for inclusion on our tumblr and proposals for possible collaborations on events, exhibitions, lectures and publications.
Please email us at actionbureau@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions. We are eager to open a dialogue!
CORPUS ACTIO!
