Excerpt from No Is Yes by Laura Parnes
No Is Yes
Single-Channel Video Installation, Mixed Media, 1997, 40:00
Shown at The Spectacular Optical, Threadwaxing Space, New York City, Miami Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami. No Is Yes examines the inevitable co-option of counter culture through two teenage girls that accidentally kill and mutilate their favorite rockstar. It is inspired by MTV' s habitual use of experimental film and video techniques to render elaborate ads for their specialized product—the pop star.
It is further inspired by fashion advertising which is styled after various artist's work (ie. Nan Goldin, Larry Clark).
Many of these artists used photography to document "counter-culture", and/or to critique popular culture. This accentuates the irony, as these these stylized versions of their work re-enter the world in the form of advertisements.
Installation View of No Is Yes
CREDITS
CAST
Torrie...Erica Daking
Tess...Jen Daking
Jimmy Junk...Joey Fraioli
Sarah...Ms. Jackie Breyer
Ken...Joey Kotting
Bum...Chuck Agro
Bouncer 1...Aunrico Gatson
Bouncer 2...Christian Perez
Waiter...Robert Boyd
Groupie...Julie Marlowe
Slave....Joey Fraioli
KFC Worker... Eric Wolski
CREW
Writer, Director, Producer... Laura Parnes
Editor...Einat Sidi
Director of Photography...Dan Moyer
Production Designer...Julie Melton
Original Soundtrack ...David Watson
Assistant Director...Lisa Schroeder
Still Photographer...Laure Leber
Sound Editor...John Halverson
Sound Recordists...Kara Hammond, John Groh, Julie Melton,
David Shapiro, Cathy Went
Art Director...Sue DeBeer, Adam Putnam
Production Manager...Susan James
Camera Assistant...Denise Klien
Gaffer...John Erbes, Joel Hedge
Catering...Suzy Lawrence, Laure Leber, Connie Peters,
Miguel Ventura, Amanda Williamson
Production Assistant...Matthew Abbott, Robert Boyd, Eric Heist, Bill Smart, Miguel Ventura
Art works by....Jackie Chang, Laura Parnes
Additional Music...Bailter Space, Brain, Laura Parnes, John Halverson, Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black
THANKS TO
Michael Ashkin, Leslie Brack, Jackie Chang,.Daniel Collas,Gus Gambino, Gerard @ Film Video Arts,John Groh, Eric Heist, Janet Heist, Barry Hylton, Ken Hooper, Brad Kahlhamer, Cheryl LaRosa, KSK VisualsInc, James F. Murphy, Milton Parnes, Ruth Parnes, Fred Sofa, Jude Tallichet, Jennifer Thomas, Antony Valentin
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Ken Butler, Mike Ballou(Four Walls), Ellen Salpeter and Lia Gangitano
(Thread Waxing Space), Louise Neri, Seth Thompson (Harvestworks), Hank (ETC),
John Halverson, Al Arthur, Ruth Kahn, Einat Sidi (Outpost), Kristen Lucas, The Experimental Television Center LTD, Harvestworks Studio Pass Residency Program, Phillip Morris Companies, Inc.
Edited at The Outpost, Bkln. NY.
Sound Mixed at Earthlink Studios, Bkln. NY.
Shot at Momenta Art & Sauce, Bkln. NY.
Still from No Is Yes
1998, Polaroid, Pictured: Joey Fraioli
Still from No Is Yes
1998, B&W Print, Camera by Laure Leber
"Of all the artists I know working today from such a critical position, few have as effectively underscored the transgressive nature of humor in their work as Laura Parnes has. It helps, of course, that's she's a wickedly funny person with a pitch-perfect sense of comedic timing, gleefully willing to subvert the sanctity of art as well as the institutions that circumscribe its production."
–Jane Ursala Harris, Huffington Post
No Is Yes Movie Poster
1998 Digital C-Print, Camera Laure Leber
(Left)Erica Daking (Right) Jen Daking
Still From No Is Yes
1998, C-Print, Camera by Laure Leber
Pictured: Jen Daking
Still From No Is Yes
1998 B&W Print, Camera Laure Leiber
Pictured: Erica Daking