First Day of Performance Art

Performance art is suppose to involve the audience, capturing their reactions and expressions. When each set of partners went outside, an audience was drawn in immediately. It was raining, and four to six students were holding mirrors and making faces. The few people that were outside were underneath umbrellas, but we were not; rain was falling on our mirrors, making it harder for us to see one another and us. When we switched pieces, the strange looks and laughs continued from the small audience. The reactions would have been different if the weather was more pleasant, bring more people outside, and if the number of groups was larger.
I do not really understand performance art. I realize that it is supposed to get the reaction of the audience, but is that not the point of most art? For the most part, works of art can be interpreted several ways, depending on who is viewing it. In my mind, performance art is theatre, not two people doing something ridiculous in a crowded place. Even though this is the way I feel, I can still appreciate performance art, just not necessarily as much as “traditional” art.