My Mother Worked in A Factory

On the evening  Monday January 26, 2009 I debated whether I should go home and call my parents before they got in bed or whether I should stay at school and attend "My Mother Worked in A Factory". The show was curated by Genevieve Cloutier and included performances by Francisco-Fernando Granados and The Cruz Brothers. Because I have working and personal relationships with each of these artists, I decided to skip out on the phone call to my parents to support my friends at the show. 

The Cruz Brother's performance "waiting" began when the brothers sat on the floor facing one another. A hand quilted blanket was placed at their sides. Patrick held a microphone with a live feed in front of Francis's mouth as he let out a whimper, which eventually turned into a cry.  When Francis' crying died out, Patrick proceeded to put down the microphone, cover his brother with the blanket as he carried his brother outside of the room. 

In relationship to the performance, Francis Cruz states: 

"desperation, comfort, vulnerability, and assurance were the fundamental elements that arose from our conversation". 

The roles in the performance were delegated very strategically. While Francis'  expressed desperation and vulnerability, Patrick supported this action with gestures of comfort and assurance.  While the microphone was used to amplify the cry, the blanket was used to conceal or shield the performer.

 In a show that I curated last year at VIVO, together they explored the power dynamic of brotherhood through a series of gestures towards one another.  The performance came to climax as the brothers spat on one another's war painted faces. Conversely, "waiting" seems to explore a dynamic that is closer to one of  child and motherhood.  Francis  seemed to be in the role of the child as he expressed his vulnerability, while Patrick was in the role of the mother while supporting Francis with loving detachment.