The District’s World Series celebrations abound—from “Baby Shark” making its way to the Washington National Cathedral to deals and watch parties galore.
Brian Feldman, a performance artist in D.C., is adding to the city’s Natitude with a new piece ahead of game three on Friday. He plans to stand outside the Center Field Gate of Nationals Park with a microphone and read aloud the official rules of baseball, while donning an authentic MLB umpire uniform.
Feldman specializes in conceptual artwork. His previous works include pieces like txt, a play that consists solely of messages the audience sends him live, and The Feldman Dynamic: 8 Wards of Chanukah where he spends each night of the holiday eating dinner onstage with his family.
His newest project, aptly titled: You’re Out! Brian Feldman Reads the MLB 2019 Official Baseball Rules Book Outside Nationals Park Before Game 3 of the World Series presented by YouTube TV, is free to the public.
Feldman says the central part of the performance piece will be his speaking style. He’ll be presenting the rules in the style of a street preacher. He’s been preparing by watching preaching videos on YouTube.
“The rules are fairly dry,” he admits. “It’s not the most exciting text, which is where the inflection is going to definitely come into play here.”
Feldman won’t be reading the rules book from cover to cover (it’s 155 pages long and he doesn’t want to miss the first pitch). Instead, he’ll jump from page to page, preaching the rules that have higher drama.
“I’ll definitely be focusing on ones that read pretty biblically,” he chuckles. “Like stolen bases, players getting caught stealing, improper play, and misconduct.”
He’s also interested in the rules that focus on who has the “full authority and control over the game,” which is why he’ll be dressed from head to toe as an umpire.
Feldman says he spared no expense tracking down authentic pieces for his uniform through eBay and online stores.
“Let’s see, I have the authentic black field hat, I have an umpire jacket pullover, I even have a pair of umpire New Balance sneakers on the logo on it,” he says.
Feldman performed a similar piece, in which he read basketball rules in Orlando in 2010. He has wanted to something similar since he moved to D.C. in 2012, but was waiting for the perfect moment. “The fact that it wasn’t until last week that this opportunity became a reality expedited the entire process,” he says. Fast shipping was his friend.
While the performance isn’t affiliated with the team in any way, Feldman says he’s a big Nats fan and is optimistic fans will get into the spirit of the piece. He encourages people to tweet @BrianFeldman with the hashtags #YoureOutMLB! #WorldSeries #STAYINTHEFIGHT with any specific baseball rules they’d like to hear him read aloud.
“I don’t know what the overlap between performance art fans and baseball fans are,” says Feldman. “But I’ll find out.”
You’re Out! Brian Feldman Reads the MLB 2019 Official Baseball Rules Book Outside Nationals Park Before Game 3 of the World Series will last from from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, October 25 outside the Center Field Gate of Nationals Park. It is free.
