The "live art" festival Performa is having its glorious biennial moment again this month (Nov. 1- 22) with an astounding assortment (both in number and spectacularity) of performances. Founded in 2004 by the art historian RoseLee Goldberg -- who wrote the seminal 1979 book Performance Art: From Futurism to Present -- with the goal of giving a contextualized and populist platform for interdisciplinary artists, Performa has been a tour-de-force catalyst in generating genuine excitement for a genre known to be eclectic and mercurial. The past festivals included pieces by Christian Holstad, Gelitin, Laurie Simmons, Isaac Julien, Japanther, Yvonne Rainer and Francesco Vezzoli. The 2009 biennial is dedicated more than ever to crossing boundaries between visual art, music, dance, poetry, architecture, film, television, radio, graphic design and food, and bringing together a potpourri of creative visions and interpretations from around the world. With all these activities, looking at this year's lineup is a dizzying experience that induces hyperventilation because there's simply just too much good stuff going on. So for our sake and yours, here's a trimmed down guide to the best of the best of Performa 2009. Buy tickets and reserve seats early and save yourself the heartache.
NOVEMBER 1 - 22
"Couch; Fake Couch" Darren Bader
Performa Hub, 41 Cooper Square and various venues, times vary
NOVEMBER 3 - 9
"Futurist-Related Performance on Film"
Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Ave. 9 p.m.
NOVEMBER 3 - 22
"Futurist Library" Serge Becker
Swiss Institute, 495 Broadway Tuesday, times vary
NOVEMBER 4 - 6
"Pasta Sauna" Proef (Marije Vogelzang)
Performa Hub, 41 Cooper Square, 12 p.m.
NOVEMBER 5
"Art History with Benefits" The Bruce High Quality Foundation
X Initiative, 548 W. 22nd St. 6 p.m.
NOVEMBER 6
"Jonas Mekas and Now We Are Here"
Emily Harvey Foundation, 537 Broadway, 2nd Fl. 9 p.m.
NOVEMBER 7
Reading from "Those Who Suffer Love" and "Strangeland" Tracey Emin
Performance Project at University Settlement, 184 Eldridge St. 3 p.m.
NOVEMBER 7 - 22
"Cold Water"
La MaMa Galleria, 6 E. 1st St. times vary
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