ESSENTIAL EVENT // Our Picks For This Month's Performa 11 Performance Biennial

This week marks the start of Performa 11, the fourth edition of New York's internationally renowned visual performance art biennial. Running now through November 21, Performa will feature work by more than 100 contemporary artists at more than 50 arts institutions across the city.

We've rounded up our 10 Performa picks for the coming weeks (and provided all the info you'll need for each one.) Hit the jump to check out our recommendations, which run the gamut from beer brewing and skateboarding to Fluxus and James Franco.

Print Showing - Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama recreates his 1971 performance, in which he photocopies his work and assembles staple-bound photobooks based on viewers' input into the selection and sequence. Friday, November 4, 2-4pm & 6-9pm, Saturday November 5, 12-3pm & 5-8pm. $75.

Free Ride - Raphaël Zarka, a Paris-based artist, will present a project incorporating his research on the "geometry of skateboarding" and how it relates to modern sculpture. He'll also attempt to create the first ever cycloid skateboard ramp, inspired by Galileo. Saturday, November 5, 3-5pm at Performa Institute at the Performa Hub. Free. $10.

Fluxus Weekend - Fifty-two hours of Downtown creativity and goodness stemming from the influential Fluxus movement that emerged in the 1960s, ranging from actions and ideas to music, films and objects. Participants will include renowned Fluxus artists such as Alison Knowles, Jonas Mekas, Milan Knížák and Ben Vautier. Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13 at various venues.

Creative Networking Workshop - A workshop that will explore networks and networking as a creative medium. Focusing on the design of large scale networks, participants will collaborate and build their own intricate compositions. Saturday, November 12, 1-4pm at Performa Hub. $10.

Brew Day - Colorado artist Eric Steen brings together NYC home brew enthusiasts to brew beer, swap tips and sample each others' creations, highlighting and fostering the knowledge and creativity that goes into the hops-filled hobby. Saturday, November 12, 12-4pm at Performa Hub. Free.

Fluxus Cabaret - Renowned filmmaker Jonas Mekas presents a new film featuring Fluxus performances, anecdotes and more, including Nam June Paik in Times Square, Joseph Beuys singing and John Lennon, Yoko Ono and George Maciunas taking a trip up the Hudson River. Saturday, November 12, 6-7:30pm at Anthology Film Archives. $9.

Three Performances in Search of Tennessee - James Franco is everywhere! Franco and Laurel Nakadate will present a three-part project inspired by Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagarie, including a séance in which they'll attempt to communicate with Williams, auditions for the part of Laura by female actresses interacting with a life-size video projection of Franco, and auditions for the part of Tom by male actors. Sunday, November 13, 12-2pm at Abrons Art Center. $30.

Crazy English - Shanghai-based artist Zhou Xiaohu has invited Li Yang, a Chinese celebrity educator, to give English as performance. Yang runs Crazy English, a company that teaches English to huge groups of Chinese students in stadiums and other large spaces. Through the performance Xiaohu presents both a unique theatrical teaching method as well as the distorted effects of cultural imperialism. Saturday, November 19, 1-2pm & 4:30-5:30pm at Judson Memorial Church. Free with registration.

Otomo Yoshihide and Christian Marclay Turntable Duo - The two influential sound artists and turntablism pioneers come together for a rare and exciting live concert. Saturday, November 19, 8:30-9:30pm at Japan Society. $25.

That Morning Thing - This is only the fourth performance of composer Robert Ashley's legendary 1967 experimental opera That Morning Thing. Ashley himself has promised that this will be the definitive version. Saturday, November 19, 8-9pm, Sunday, November 20, 3-4:30pm & 8-9:30pm, Monday, November 21, 8-9:30pm at The Kitchen. $30.

-- John Ruscher