Leah DeVun loves “Putting the Balls Away”
By Leah DeVun
Published: June 26th, 2008 | 12:08am
On the 35th anniversary of the “Battle of the Sexes,” artist Tara Mateik commemorates the historic tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs that was a touchstone for 1970s feminist politics. Mateik has become well-known in New York art circles for his performances and videos. In his multimedia live performance, “Putting the Balls Away,” Mateik plays both Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. He volleys balls back and forth with a life-size projection of himself and creates a shot-by-shot reenactment of what was at the time the most watched sporting event in history. During the performance (which took place at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City and at the Aurora Picture Show in Houston), Riggs spouts chauvinist insults while King points to the ways in which popular entertainment and mass media can challenge assumptions about gender and society. An excerpt from the performance is online.
Leah DeVun is a Venus Zine writer.
Issue #34
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