BOFFO is a nonprofit arts community and organization in Fire Island Pines, New York. Since 2009, BOFFO has presented the work of 700+ artists across a breadth of disciplines to share and perform work during the summer months.[1] The multidisciplinary organization has aspects of both an artist residency program, with workshops and artist lectures, and a performance festival. At the end of each summer, the program hosts the Boffo Fire Island Performance Festival, which showcases experimental dance, performance, and music.[2] Previous collaborators for the Performance Festival include OCDChinatown and Tavia Nyong'o. Notable past residents include Jeremy O'Harris, Robert Yang, Puppies Puppies, Ryan McNamara, Malik Gaines and Alexandro Segade, Precious Okoyomon, and House of Ladosha.[3]

About edit

BOFFO was founded in 2010 by architect Faris Al-Shathir. In its earlier days, the organization paired designers, like Nicola Formichetti, with interdisciplinary artists, like Gage/Clemenceau, to create thoughtful pop-up art installations.[4]

For BOFFO's inaugural season in 2012, curated by Cay Sophie Rabinowitz, the organization invited such artists as Whitney Biennial participant K8 Hardy and MoMA PS1 2010 Greater New York participant Ryan McNamara. Guest lecturers included architect Charles Renfro and art historian Douglas Crimp.[5] In 2019, playwright Jeremy O'Harris hosted a one-night revival of Water Sports; or Insignificant White Boys (2015), the first script written by the artist.[6]

Notable Participants edit

References edit

  1. ^ Chang, Bee-Shyuan (2012-01-11). "The Cool Kid From Joplin, Mo. (Published 2012)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  2. ^ Lee, Denny (2016-09-01). "Experimental Arts on Fire Island, and Music in the Hamptons (Published 2016)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  3. ^ "Alex Fialho on FIAR and a Boffo benefit on Fire Island". www.artforum.com. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  4. ^ Chang, Bee-Shyuan (2012-01-11). "The Cool Kid From Joplin, Mo. (Published 2012)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  5. ^ Chou, Kimberly (2012-08-12). "A Summer Hotspot Makes a Push for Culture". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  6. ^ "Jeremy O. Harris". www.artforum.com. December 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-17.

External links edit