Durational year long performance art project at the Park Slope YMCA where former New York City Mayor, Bill DeBlasio routinely exercised during his eight years in office and where I am a member. After several failed attempts to discuss municipal policies related to climate justice and education funding with the mayor, I conceived of #messagesforthemayor.
From February 2019-March 2020, I visited the YMCA daily and performed #messagesforthemayor whenever I observed DeBlasio’s security detail parked outside. Messages were printed on custom silkscreened T-shirts and related to failed policy initiatives. I “delivered” them while exercising on whatever machine was directly in front of the mayor (usually the treadmill while the mayor did calisthenics or the stairmaster while the mayor rode slowly on a stationary bicycle). These performances were silent and not documented in process since photography is prohibited in the Park Slope YMCA cardio room.
nora.almeida 