Performance Piece (detail, Photo by Harmon Outlaw) 1977

This is Senga Nengudi's *Performance Piece*, captured in a photo by Harmon Outlaw, and it's like encountering a force field. The black and white adds to the drama, right? I imagine Nengudi, the artist herself, becoming part of the sculpture—a living, breathing element. She’s pushing against these taught, dark elastic bands radiating out from her body like dark sun rays. It makes you think about tension, resistance, and the body's capacity to adapt and endure. There's an element of vulnerability, too, but also an incredible strength. Looking at this makes me think about other artists who explore the body in performance, like Carolee Schneemann or Marina Abramović. Nengudi's work speaks to the power of ephemeral art and how a single moment can challenge how we understand form, space, and the self. It's a reminder that art doesn't have to be fixed. It can be a dynamic, ever-changing conversation.