Master 2.indd

Prayer for Peace 20"xl6" Photograph

Donna Clovis

T he photo performance explores the "artist's body as an alternative space," a concept created by the artist because of rising rents for gallery space and the difficulty of finding alternative spaces in New York. In "Prayer for Peace", the performance artist and photographer carefully ties seven different varieties of elaborate knots using thick Naval shipyard rope.The skill of tying such elaborate knots comes from her childhood at Governor's Island where her father worked with the Coast Guard and visitors from Korea.

She has combined both knot tying skills into an elaborate collaboration of knots.

After a display of seven knots are completed, she disrobes and poses as a sculpture with the most elaborate knot confining her prayerful hands. The photo performance demonstrates our vulnerability to global war and domestic violence. This is juxtaposed with the hope of the prayerful hands. The final act occurs with the photographer's camera as she uses the photo release cord below her to take a self-portrait.


	Prayer for Peace 20"xl6" Photograph Donna Clovis T he photo performance explores the "artist's body as an alternative space," a concept created by the artist because of rising rents for gallery space and the difficulty of finding alternative spaces in New York. In "Prayer for Peace", the performance artist and photographer carefully ties seven different varieties of elaborate knots using thick Naval shipyard rope.The skill of tying such elaborate knots comes from her childhood at Governor's Island where her father worked with the Coast Guard and visitors from Korea. She has combined both knot tying skills into an elaborate collaboration of knots. After a display of seven knots are completed, she disrobes and poses as a sculpture with the most elaborate knot confining her prayerful hands. The photo performance demonstrates our vulnerability to global war and domestic violence. This is juxtaposed with the hope of the prayerful hands. The final act occurs with the photographer's camera as she uses the photo release cord below her to take a self-portrait.