Gestures Ritual – An excerpt from Frank Moore’s The Uncomfortable Zones Of Fun, recorded Saturday, February 27, 2010 at Temescal Arts Center, Oakland, California
Gestures was a ritual that Frank developed during his three year performance series at University of California, Berkeley in the 1980s and that he continued to use as a module in many of his performances for the next 30 years.
It is based upon the book MANWATCHING by Desmond Morris. During the ritual, those who choose to participate are paired, then strips of paper are drawn randomly from two bags and read aloud; one bag filled with the gestures (the complete list is below), one bag filled with adjectives.
The Gestures bagsAdjective and gesture strips.
Here is the introduction to the ritual that was read during a performance:
A Chanter sings:
“This is a ritual, a magical ritual, a ritual of Gestures which will open up a physical, magical force within those who choose to participate. At times the ritual will be very silly. At other times there will be a raw vulnerability, an intimacy that is not limited by social taboos, not framed in by romance or sex.”
“This magical ritual operates on the random principle. Magicians and mystics have used the factor of change throughout the ages to get past the rational, the logical, the linear, to get to inner knowledge or to universal wisdom. Shuffling the tarot cards and the throwing of the yarrow sticks for the i ching are but two examples of this random principle. In this ritual, the random principle, pulling gestures out of the box, will direct the ritual. Some gestures are silly. Some gestures are intense and intimate. The random principle makes each gesture equal. The random principle will remove the linear limiting taboo, sexual, romance context.”
“Linda will now pair people … to do the gestures.
The Chanter waits until Linda finishes pairing. Then the Chanter sings:
“Slowness is important in the quiet gentle sounds and laughter will help the magic. Watchers should refrain from talking during the ritual.”
“Each gesture has a special time length. You should keep doing one action until Linda sings the next gesture.”
“You will start releasing the physical force of eroplay in your bodies. This ritual will take eroplay out of social, moral, sexual, and romantic contexts, so that the focus will be on the pure magical fun and pleasure. It is important that each act be done gently, slowly, softly, completely.”
The Chanter quietly exits. Linda takes over.
“Gestures”, U.C.B. Series, Spring 1985. Photo by Mary Sullivan.
Here is the complete list of gestures:
HUNCH YOUR SHOULDERS
PUT YOUR HANDS OUT PALMS UP
TILT YOUR HEAD TO ONE SIDE
LOWER THE CORNERS OF YOUR MOUTH
RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS
HUG YOUR LEGS
CROSS YOUR LEGS
CROSS YOUR LEGS
CROSS YOUR LEGS
CLASP YOUR HANDS ON YOUR THIGHS
OPEN YOUR EYES WIDE
OPEN YOUR LEGS WIDE
OPEN YOUR LEGS WIDE
OPEN YOUR LEGS WIDE
OPEN YOUR LEGS WIDE
SHAKE YOUR WHOLE BODY
SHAKE YOUR WHOLE BODY
OPEN YOUR LEGS WIDE
OPEN YOUR LEGS WIDE
WAVE
SMILE
LIFT YOUR EYEBROWS UP
BLOW A KISS
SHAKE HANDS. Focus on having all touching and exchanges be deep, gentle, firm, self-confident, and fun.
SPREAD YOUR ARMS AS IF YOU ARE GOING TO HUG
LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER, VISUALLY EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER, PASS TABOOS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BACKS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S RIBS
PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ONE ANOTHER’S SHOULDERS
MAKE BRIEF EYE CONTACT WITH THE OTHER, THEN JERK AWAY
HOLD HANDS
RUB EACH OTHER’S HANDS. Feel the gentle warming pleasure
EXPLORE EACH OTHER’S HANDS. Feel the gentle warming pleasure
HOLD HANDS. We have started releasing a physical force in our bodies, EROPLAY. We feel this EROPLAY now as we hold hands. This ritual will take EROPLAY out of social, moral, sexual, and romantic contexts, so that the focus will be on the pure magical fun and pleasure. It is important that each act be done gently, slowly, softly, completely.
RUB NOSES
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BARE ARMS.
RUB FORHEADS
RUB EACH OTHER’S HEAD, HEAD TO HEAD. Turn on each other’s scalps. Make one another feel like a puppy having its belly rubbed.
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S SHOULDERS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BARE ARMS, ARMS ON ARMS.
RUB FORHEADS, FORHEAD TO FORHEAD
RUB EACH OTHER’S HEAD, HEAD TO HEAD. Turn on each other’s scalps. Make one another feel like a puppy having its belly rubbed.
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S SHOULDERS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S ARMPITS GENTLY
RUB CHEEKS, CHEEK TO CHEEK
LOOK DEEPLY INTO ONE ANOTHER’S EYES
RUB ONE ANTHER’S FEET. Turn them on to an intense warm glow of relaxing pleasure.
STICK YOUR TONGUE BARELY OUT, CURL IT UP AND MOVE IT
HUG ONE ANOTHER…AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH GENTLY. Rock out of any fear or taboos…rock back to primative humaness of being one with another by physical contact
STICK YOUR TONGUE BARELY OUT, CURL IT UP AND MOVE IT
HUG ONE ANOTHER…AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH GENTLY. Rock out of any fear or taboos…rock back to primative humaness of being one with another by physical contact
STICK YOUR TONGUE BARELY OUT, CURL IT UP AND MOVE IT
HUG ONE ANOTHER…AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH GENTLY. Rock out of any fear or taboos…rock back to primative humaness of being one with another by physical contact
STICK YOUR TONGUE BARELY OUT, CURL IT UP AND MOVE IT
HUG ONE ANOTHER…AND ROCK BACK AND FORTH GENTLY. Rock out of any fear or taboos…rock back to primative humaness of being one with another by physical contact
CURL UP, HUG YOURSELF, AND GENTLY ROCK BACK AND FORTH. Rock into comforting trust
JERK YOUR HEAD VERY SLIGHTLY
SHOW EACH OTHER YOUR BARE BELLY AND RUB YOUR BELLY
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BARE BELLY LIKE A PUPPY’S BELLY, SOOTHINGLY
RUB BELLIES, BELLLY TO BELLY
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BELLY
HUG ONE ANOTHER
SQUEEZE ONE ANOTHER’S HANDS
SHOW YOUR BARE CALVES TO THE OTHER
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S CALVES
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S CALVES
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S CALVES, CALVES TO CALVES
RUB ONE ANOTHER, ALL OVER
RUB HEADS, HEAD TO HEAD
STROKE ONE ANOTHER’S HAIR
RAISE YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD AS HIGH AS THEY WILL GO
PUT YOUR HANDS ON YOUR GENITALS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BACK
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BACK
LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER
PUT YOUR HANDS ON ONE ANOTHER’S GENITALS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S SHOULDERS AND NECK
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S CHEST
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BREASTS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S CHEST, CHEST TO CHEST
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BREASTS, BREASTS TO BREASTS
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S CHEST
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BREASTS
EXPLORE EACH OTHER BY USING EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY
RUB BODIES
INTERTWINE YOUR BODIES AND SLOWLY MOVE TOGETHER
ONE LAY UPON THE OTHER AND MOVE IN SLOW MOTION
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BODY BY USING EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY
RUB BODIES
INTERTWINE YOUR BODIES AND SLOWLY MOVE TOGETHER
ONE LAY UPON THE OTHER AND MOVE IN SLOW MOTION
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BODY BY USING EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY
RUB BODIES
INTERTWINE YOUR BODIES AND SLOWLY MOVE TOGETHER
ONE LAY UPON THE OTHER AND MOVE IN SLOW MOTION
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BODY BY USING EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY
RUB BODIES
INTERTWINE YOUR BODIES AND SLOWLY MOVE TOGETHER
ONE LAY UPON THE OTHER AND MOVE IN SLOW MOTION
RUB YOUR GENITALS FOR BODY COMFORT
EXPLORE YOUR GENITALS FOR BODY COMFORT
PUT THE OTHER’S HAND ON YOUR GENITALS AND GUIDE IT SENSUALLY
RUB EACH OTHER’S GENITALS, NOT FOR SEXUAL REASONS, BUT FOR BODY COMFORT
HUG ONE ANOTHER…AND ROCK TOGETHER
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BACK
LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S SHOULDERS AND NECK
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S CHEST
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BREASTS
PUT YOUR HEAD ON THE OTHER PERSON’S SHOULDER. HUG AND ROCK TOGETHER
RUB FACES
RUB FACES, FACE ON FACE
EXPLORE FACES
STICK YOUR TONGUE WAY OUT
LICK ONE ANOTHER’S EAR
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S KNEES
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S THIGHS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S KNEES, KNEES TO KNEES
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S THIGHS, THIGHS ON THIGHS
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S KNEES
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S THIGHS
HOLD ONE ANOTHER’S WAIST
EXPLORE ONE ANOTHER’S BUTTS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BUTTS
RUB ONE ANOTHER’S BUTTS, BUTT TO BUTT
RUB YOUR GENITALS FOR BODY COMFORT
PUT THE OTHER’S HAND ON YOUR GENITALS, GUIDE IT EXPLORINGLY. RUB EACH OTHER’S GENITALS FOR BODY COMFORT, CALMING AND RELAXING
RUB ANYWHERE ON ONE ANOTHER’S BODY
EXPLORE EACH OTHER BY USING EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY
RUB BODIES
INTERTWINE YOUR BODIES AND SLOWLY MOVE TOGETHER
ONE LAY UPON THE OTHER AND MOVE IN SLOW MOTION
RUB YOUR GENITALS FOR BODY COMFORT
RUB EACH OTHER’S GENITALS FOR BODY COMFORT
IN VERY SLOW MOTION, RUB YOUR BODIES TOGETHER AND TALK TOGETHER
Gestures at University of California, Berkeley, July 24, 1986
I think I have finally recovered from my tour of Southern California. As Paul McCarthy would say, it was amazing. It is one of the main projects I used my N.E.A. Grant for. It was a kind of thing I have dreamed about. But my dreams paled against the reality of it. Paul helped us arrange the performances in L.A., connecting us with Jack Marquette of Anti-Club and Robert Gero. But this was after months of soul debating on Paul’s part on what would be the best spaces for me.
It took months setting everything up for the trip. The trying to line up actors for the L.A. pieces. The pile of actors’ resumes melted to zero by the time we left on the trip. It was the same old story … the vulnerability, the avant-garde strangeness, and nudity proved too much for the straight actors to imagine doing. So I prepared myself to wing the performances, as I usually am forced to do.
Also just before our departure, we got a definite red tape NO from U.C. Irvine.
We arrived in L.A. to establish a beach head before going on to San Diego. We received a call from Robin McHeed. I met Robin months before as I was doing my Approach Art on Sproul Plaza at U.C. Berkeley. She will graduate this summer from U.C. Irvine. She is a stranger in a strange land at Irvine. Something clicked in Robin when I told her I was doing a tour in Southern California. It became her personal revolt against the rightist system to get this long-haired, red-helmeted, multi-colored, spastic elf with his giant portfolio of chocolate covered naked live art that the audience has a chance to play in. So when we ran into the red tape dead end, Robin turned into a one woman bulldozer. The call was informing us that she got a classroom in one day for the performance … basically she personally sponsored me. So we had an extra show on the road.
…
Next day, we traveled to Irvine. Robin was kind of disappointed when we rolled up in our big American car. She was expecting a Magic Bus full of wildly dressed artists. But she soon realized I was still that mischievous elf. We followed her around as she busted her buns making last minute contacts. I got more and more freaked out being on a campus which was consciously designed to discourage human contact and a sense of community … where students are identified by for which big company they will be working. I started to think no one would show up for the performance, not to mention participate, in this stronghold of the enemy. So in my mind, I started adapting “Random Gestures” so that if no one became involved, at least it would look like something was happening. To my surprise, there were students waiting outside the performance room when we arrived.
The windowless room became a dark cave with a light strobing. I lay on a table-altar surrounded by neatly dressed yuppies and young republicans. Gestures were randomly read out. Anyone could get on the table with me and do the gestures, and return to their seats when they did not want to do the gesture. At first, nobody did anything at all. But after fifteen minutes, a few timidly started doing the gestures in their seats. Slowly, one by one, people got on the table … especially after Robin broke the ice. It was a trip seeing these ultra-yuppies touching one another in intimate ways. They drank it up. The guy who I got to play music asked in the middle of the piece if he could stop playing music and join the table. Two male roommates found themselves doing things together like rubbing noses … and liking it. We had to push more tables together to make room for all the people. At one point, about 12 bodies piled onto me and slowly rocked … because they couldn’t quite let themselves rock on one another.
After the piece, Robin invited everyone to her house for chili. It gave me a good chance to hear in detail what people thought about the piece, but also to watch the effects of the piece on the people. When they first came out, they were still relating to one another, being high, being physical, being vulnerable. It took several hours for this noticeable change to wear off. It was like waking up from a dream … or coming down from a trip.
