For Her Own Good: Opening Night Featuring Special Artist Performance


An interactive art installation by Ofri Cnaani in conjunction with exhibit 1917: How One Year Changed the World

“When the preliminaries were over and several speeches had been delivered, the time came for Goldman’s speech. As the chairman began explaining her regrettable absence, out onto the stage strode Red Emma, a large handkerchief stuffed in her mouth. There she stood facing her audience without a word, as she had promised. It brought down the house.” (Alix Kates Shulman, 1971).

For Her Own Good is a mixed media installation exploring the multivalence of Emma Goldman’s performances, voices, and silences. A poetic commentary on the public speeches and closed hearings of “the most dangerous woman alive,” the video, sound, and sculpture installation weaves archival footage from various speeches and hearings. Especially, the installation recovers and reenacts Goldman’s final hearing in the US before her deportation on September 11th, 1917 – a hearing in which she was not allowed to speak, ostensibly “for her own good.” The installation will welcome visitors to witness, interact, and interfere with the materials and mechanisms of the installation and participate in the making of an alternative Emma Goldman audiovisual sculptural archive. On view through November 1st.

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available for this event; please RSVP your request.











When: Thu., Sep. 7, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Where: American Jewish Historical Society
15 W. 16th St.
212-294-6160
Price: Free, registration required
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An interactive art installation by Ofri Cnaani in conjunction with exhibit 1917: How One Year Changed the World

“When the preliminaries were over and several speeches had been delivered, the time came for Goldman’s speech. As the chairman began explaining her regrettable absence, out onto the stage strode Red Emma, a large handkerchief stuffed in her mouth. There she stood facing her audience without a word, as she had promised. It brought down the house.” (Alix Kates Shulman, 1971).

For Her Own Good is a mixed media installation exploring the multivalence of Emma Goldman’s performances, voices, and silences. A poetic commentary on the public speeches and closed hearings of “the most dangerous woman alive,” the video, sound, and sculpture installation weaves archival footage from various speeches and hearings. Especially, the installation recovers and reenacts Goldman’s final hearing in the US before her deportation on September 11th, 1917 – a hearing in which she was not allowed to speak, ostensibly “for her own good.” The installation will welcome visitors to witness, interact, and interfere with the materials and mechanisms of the installation and participate in the making of an alternative Emma Goldman audiovisual sculptural archive. On view through November 1st.

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available for this event; please RSVP your request.

Buy tickets/get more info now