Where:
Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Classical Roman Gallery
465 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Admission:
FREE
Categories:
Performing Arts
Event website:
http://www.mfa.org/programs/performance-art/wilmer-wilson-iv-priestess-faust-walk
In Priestess Faust Walk (2015), Wilson embarks on what he terms a “debris-driven dérive,” sourcing discarded lottery tickets from the streets of Boston and weaving them into a ceremonial wreath. For Wilson, the performance traces “an alternate map of Boston based on the loss, desire and economics of the lottery.” The performance culminates when he bestows the wreath upon an ancient Roman sculpture from the Museum of Fine Art’s collection. Wilson combines the laurel—a symbol of achievement in the Western world—with Faust’s wagering of his future for a more prosperous present. By imparting this offering to an anonymous priestess, his intervention equalizes the value and permanence of the Museum’s collection with the ephemeral nature of living life by the lotto.
This performance forms part of Performing Portraiture: Video from the Collection of Manuel de Santaren, currently on view in the Krupp Gallery of the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art. The two-part installation focuses on highly staged and ritualistic actions that reveal how identity is performed on camera and in our everyday lives.
This performance begins at 2:00pm in an unannounced location outside the Museum. It culminates in Gallery 213 at 7:00pm.
Free with Admission - No Ticket Required
Visit the facebook event page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/783466751750432/
Photo: Study for Priestess Faust Walk (Rome, Italy), 2014. copyright Wilmer Wilson IV, courtesy CONNERSMITH.
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 goes until 09/30
Silver Lining Mentoring
Sunday, Aug 23, 2026 7:30p
City Winery Boston
Saturday, Sep 12, 2026 goes until 11/14
W Hotel Boston
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026 2:00p
Alexander Hamilton Statue