Mickalene Thomas


 

I am standing in front of a couple of Tom Wesselmann paintings wearing a Jose Duran original ensemble. Seven models from my Oh Mickey! performance surround me. We are prepared for our project for Kreemart [Kreemart takes an umlaut over first e but don't know how to make this] and the American Patrons of the Tate, who have combined to support a unique art event at the Haunch of Venison Gallery in New York City. The piece was inspired by a Balthus painting called La Toilette. In the Balthus, a young girl is wearing tube socks and red slippers, standing alone in an intimate interior space. In my piece, I have a model standing in one of my installations completely nude, except for tube socks and red heels, singing Toni Basil's "Mickey" song. With this work, I am playing with the complex relationship between the artist and the muse, exposing the neurosis of the artist's ego. For the Kreemart performance, I worked with seven women wearing white tube socks and shiny red high heels and serving cake. The only way to get a piece of cake from them is to repeat the secret password, "Oh Mickey, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, oh Mickey, oh Mickey!"