Performance Time Again: Lunch With Runn Shayo At the Astral Building. On Thursday, I took a cab to Greenpoint to visit my friend Runn at his place in the historic Astral Apartments for lunch. It was Rosh Hashanah, and in a celebratory mood—and remembering the incredible breakfast buffets at the Jerusalem Hilton when I visited Israel in 1984—I brought some Hawthorne Valley Ranch yogurt, hazelnuts and raspberries for dessert. The Astral Apartments is an extraordinary, massive Queen Anne Style building, built in 1885-86 as affordable, safe housing for the workers of the Astral Oil Works, industrialist/philantropist Charles Pratt's lamp oil company. Pratt Institute was started with the profits from this company. I love the sweeping archways and austere stairwells of the building, as well as the subtle gargoyles that adorn and protect the building, ensconsced within finials and other architectural details. And the name Astral—of the stars—conjures the imagination and ideas of the occult, making me think of the astral plane where archangels reside as well as other immaterial beings. Some Theosophists call this plane the realm of emotions; in the Marvel Universe it's the realm of the mind. At any rate, entering this building gave me a warm, good vibration, completely in accord with Runn's own gregarious, smart and insightful nature. After a warm greeting, we sat at the kitchen table, where a rice cooker exuded a lovely aroma. I helped Runn slice some onions while he cut up kale, chard and radish greens, to make a delectable dish accompanied by scrumptious homemade lentil burgers he had already prepared, as well as brown rice. We started talking about the crucial importance of focus on our true desires and Runn mentioned he is curating the presentation of a New York debut of his compiled performances throughout the years, to be presented at a Midtown storefront and sponsored by Chashama. Runn is a talented dancer, performance artist and videographer. The event will include live performance and video, and he mentioned on the last day of the event—which will be October 19th—he is inviting guest performance artists to participate. He invited me to partake, saying the theme is "coming out" from shells of various kinds, be it as gay person, artist, or any notion one may have. We had talked about the process of growing up earlier in the conversation, and about the idea of coming out, and in doing so I had a flash of inspiration that gave me an instant map for what will be my presentation. (Incidentally, Idan also invited later on to be a part of his performance—he will also be a guest of Runn's.... I am so delighted to be collaborating with these two fellows I so admire!) As we talked and shared delicious food, I felt the great vibes of the Astral and as I posed for the first picture here, which Runn took, I sensed many had been in this space before. I communed silently with their presence. The views from the many windows of the apartment are stunning, transporting me to Walt Whitman's time and the views of low-rise buildings, now with the iconic skyline of Manhattan across the East River. For the day, I was wearing a Pendleton button down short sleeve tattersall shirt, with an also Pendleton vintage Irish walking hat and Scooter's jeans. I also wore a night camo parka without the lining I had bought with Bubi and Paul at a flea market in Williamsburg, my signature vintage black and white Adidas Superstars and Fulton Soho umbrella. I photographed Runn is his kitchen with one of his delightful aprons. I love aprons, of course, and he has many, as he volunteers often cooking for the homeless and needy. Runn walked me to the subway station as I headed on to meet Agnes to check out her new knit hats. I admired the staircase of the Astral, so sparse, narrow and rounded. I wondered if Runn would have any images of the stairs, and he told me he had shot a film, CAGE, featuring Taylor Mac, in 2006, using them as a setting. He sent me the still you see here, and you can check out the entire movie at http://vimeo.com/11033921.
