The Institute for Infinitely Small Things

From my profile of The Institute for Infinitely Small Things:

One night at the end of February, seven members of the Institute for Infinitely Small Things were premiering their new performance, “The Working Is the Work,” at the Institute of Contemporary Art. (They perform it again on April 24.) Wearing their trademark white lab coats, with their Institute’s name and infinity symbol on the back, the collective of artists spread out through the museum and helped the ICA’s staff — scrubbing the lobby, counting visitors, standing guard, cleaning the café.

Instituter Katharine Urbati, who tidied the museum store, was asked about items for sale. Someone turned in a lost guidebook to her. “I love that people think I work here, and I’m wearing this ridiculous coat.”

One person asked Savic Rasovic, who was running an elevator for the evening, how long it took him to learn the job. “About a minute. We specialize in small things. And one of them is operating elevators.” Later, a woman suggested that he expand his horizons. “This is my stage,” he insisted — but then he quipped, “I’ll think about it. I may work in another elevator.”

Read the rest here.

The Institute for Infinitely Small Things, “The Working Is the Work,” Institute for Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., Boston, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., April 24, 2008.

Pictured: Savic Rasovic cleans an ICA bathroom during the Institute for Infinitely Small Things’ March 27 performance of “The Working Is the Work.”