PERFORMANCE ART AND READINGS : Team Is Hoping to Put a New Art Form Aloft

Russ Butler and Lee Mallory can’t be accused of thinking small.

The Orange County artist and poet, respectively, have combined for an effort they brand as the introduction of nothing less than “a new art movement for the ‘90s,” according to the invitations.

The occasion is a new show of works by Butler and fellow artist A.J. Ness at the Art Loft gallery in Costa Mesa. For the opening, Mallory has prepared a 15-minute piece of performance poetry that draws its inspiration from Butler’s ideas on art.

Butler, best known for large-scale murals, says his latest works combine many styles and techniques in a marriage he calls “omnism.”

The last decade of a century, Butler explained, is traditionally a time of artistic summation, of “looking over past accomplishments.” And since the ‘90s also mark the end of a millennium, “there’s all kinds of art to draw upon.”

Butler said his work is also a reaction to a marketing system that forces the compartmentalization of art.

Mallory met Butler after an earlier reading at the Art Loft and found he shared his ideas. In addition to being a published poet, Mallory is founder of the Factory Readings of poetry in Santa Ana and an English teacher at Rancho Santiago College.

The problems of specialization and fragmentation that Butler complains of extend to poetry as well, Mallory said. “We’re refining ourselves out of existence,” he explained. “We’re making ourselves inaccessible to the public and to other artists.”

So Mallory, working with student Gary Tomlinson, wrote “Omnistic Oral Canon,” which he calls his most ambitious performance piece to date.

The piece begins with a lengthy monologue, to be read by Mallory, followed by a section to be chanted by three performers and a closing monologue. Mallory also promises a surprise ending.

Mallory, not shy about using a bit of hyperbole in describing his efforts, said his goal was not only to express in words Butler’s artistic philosophy but to create a “manifesto” for arts and literature in the coming decade and even the millennium: “Let’s try to rejoice and sing and come together as artists across the full spectrum of art.”

What: Opening of exhibit by Russ Butler and A.J. Ness, with poetic performance by Lee Mallory and ensemble and music by Candida.

When: Saturday, Aug. 24, 7 to 10 p.m.

Where: The Art Loft, 711 W. 17th St., Suite J-2.

Whereabouts: From Newport Boulevard, head west on 17th Street to Pomona Street and turn left. The gallery is in the Mesa Business Center.

Wherewithal: Admission is free.

Where to Call: (714) 642-8246.