Tomorrow's performance artist at the Forum Theater knows what it's like to be censored.
Tim Miller earned fame in the early 1990s as one of the NEA Four, four artists whose National Endowment for the Arts grants were revoked because of their works' content, which focused on gay life and rights. The case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled that art considered for grants should meet decency standards set by Congress.
Miller has continued to perform original material advocating equal rights for all. He came to Ohio University in 2008 and will return at 8 p.m. tomorrow for Lay of the Land
inspired by Proposition 8, the California amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Miller will also conduct a theater workshop with OU students next week. Arts for Ohio, the School of Theater, the School of Art and the LGBT Center collaborated to bring Miller to campus.
The Post's Ashley Luthern spoke to Miller about performance art, the OU workshop and his battle with the U.S. government.
The Post: How do you use performance art to shed light on an issue that many only hear about in a political context?
Tim Miller: This subject is so personal. ... People in so many states, including Ohio, have decided to legislate against the humanity and love of their fellow neighbors. ... It jumps into the largest gay protest (after Prop 8) with visits to childhood, memories and meditation on what's going on in the lay of the land.
Post: Why use the word Lay in the title?
Miller: It has all of these meanings, the most obvious is I'm going to see the lay of the land. I travel so much. ... Then there's the naughty sexy meaning and a lay as a poetic device telling a story, through a themed song. ...'
Post: In your performances and the workshop at OU this week, the self is used as a starting point for performance art. What separates Tim Miller the individual from Tim Miller the performance artist?
Miller: ... There are all kinds of really good borders between your daily life, like my partner Alistair (McCartney) and our dog, I keep home life and family life protected as well and that seems really doable. The harder thing is to protect our family life from the U.S. government. ... That's the real battle. ...
Post: It seems like the U.S. government has tried to censor you in your personal and professional life. What motivates you to continue performing across the county?
Miller: ... I would love to live in a country where I didn't have to make pieces about the crazy policies of our government, and I've spent my entire adult life fending off bigoted attacks against gay people. ... It takes up a lot of energy, but performing helps me deal with all that. ...
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Culture
Ashley Luthern
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