Keith A. Buchholz
Curator
GEORGE MACIUNAS AND BEYOND: FLUXUS NEVER STOPS
In the time it took to organize this show, major shifts occurred – shifts in location, works to be shown, participants, activities, and ideas of what Fluxus was, is , and could be. A call for works was put out to the “Eternal Network” of Artists, Non-Artists, Poets, Flux people, and Friends to interpret the idea of Fluxus, and in doing so, honor the legacy of George Maciunas, the founder of Fluxus, who was born in Kaunas and emigrated with his family to the United States.
The premise for the show was simple – interpret the concept as you like, using the idea of Textile as a point of departure. Both Flux people and Mail Artists share the inherent love of found materials, and alternative processes. Works range from Found and altered objects, to postcards, boxes, digital images, film, publications, poetry, E-mail, and performance scores. The works often have some handmade quality, and in the process of curating the show, nothing is edited. Some unwritten rules of the network are: “Show everything that you receive” and “All artists are given equal billing”. As you explore this exhibition, feel free to handle the objects, open and close the boxes, and interact with the works. Fluxus works are tactile works – Meant to Communicate and Inform.
When Fluxus started, roughly 50 years ago this year, Maciunas brought together a wide variety of artists who were working outside the boundaries of what was seen as art by the general public. In Al Hansen’s “On Fluxus” (which has been republished in a pamphlet form as part of this exhibition), he states that “Fluxus rejected what was felt to matter in the New York and European art machinery.” In many ways it still does.
Recent institutional interest in Fluxus has changed some things, as the cheaply made multiples (intended to derail the value of art) have become fetishized. Values of early Fluxus works have risen dramatically, and an expanding crop of Curators and Collectors have enshrined works made during Maciunas’ lifetime, drawing and end date on Fluxus at 1978 with George’s death. With most Movements in art this would be easy, but Fluxus, a fluctuating group of international artists, has never considered itself a “Movement”. Artists have continually been drawn to Fluxus, and have taken up its banner since the exit of its chairman, sometimes with the blessing of its early participants, sometimes bravely on their own, building networks that eventually interweave with others to form the broad spectrum seen in this exhibition. It can be guaranteed that no matter how remote, these artists, by minimal degrees of separation, can draw a path back, directly to George.
In the words of Dick Higgins, a member of that first circle of George’s, “Fluxus has a life of its own, apart from the old people in it. It is simple things, taking things for themselves and not just as part of bigger things. It is something that many of us must do, at least part of the time. So Fluxus is inside you, is part of how you are. It isn’t just a bunch of things and dramas, but is part of how you live. It is beyond words.” George’s gift for organizing and developing such a network, which has been described as “An Attitude”, “Way of Life”, and “An extended family”, is bigger than anything a date or label can contain. We salute George best by continuing on this path. Ben Vautier may have said it best, “Fluxus Never Stops”
Artists List / Kaunas Biennial / George Maciunas and Beyond : Fluxus Never Stops
Robert Tucker, JAV/USA
Mike Dickau, JAV/USA
Cordula Kagemann, Vokietija/Germany
Maria Jose Silva Mize, Portugalija/Portugal
Horst Baur, c/o Zhu Zhaohni, Kinija/China
Battistella Eliza, Italija/Italy
Mandeep Singh Manu, Indija/India
Simon Warren, Jungtinė karalystė/United Kingdom
Cem Demir, Turkija/Turkey
Luc Fierens, Belgija/Belgium
Ryosuke Cohen, Japonija/Japan
J.F. Chapelle, Prancūzija/France
Silvano Pertone, Italija/Italy
John M. Bennett, JAV/USA
Serse Luigetti, Italija/Italy
Belka and Strelka ( Svetlana Pesetskya & Victoria Barrenko ), Rusija/Russia
Stefano Pasquini, Italija/Italy
Kathleen Susan Nash Logan, Ispanija/Spain
Adamandia Kapsalis, JAV/USA
Guido Capuano, Sicilija, Italija/Italy
Yasuyuki Uzawa, Japonija/Japan
Ernst Gabelor, Vokietija/Germany
Chris Day, JAV/USA
Silvio de Gracia, Argentina/Argentina
La Toan Vinh, Kanada/Canada
Helder Coelho Diaz, Portugalija/Portugal
Christine Tarantino, JAV/USA
Rod Summers / VEC, Nyderlandai/The Netherlands
Carlyle Baker, Kanada/Canada
Vittore Baroni, Italija/Italy
Tiziana Baracchi, Italija/Italy
Domenico Severino, Italija/Italy
Norbert Koczorski, Vokietija/Germany
Giovanni Bonanno, Italija/Italy
Torma Cauli, Vengrija/Hungary
Samuel Montalvetti, Argentina/Argentina
Roberto Scala, Italija/Italy
Michel Della Vedova, Prancūzija/France
Alejandro Thornton, Argentina/Argentina
John Held Jr., JAV/USA
Joel Cohen ( Stickerdude ), JAV/USA
Lancillotto Bellini, Italija/Italy
Angela Behrendt, Vokietija/Germany
Doyle Dean, JAV/USA
Claudio Grandinetti, Italija/Italy
Valentine Mark Herman, Prancuzija/France
Yves Maraux, Prancūzija/France
Achille de Moewald, Prancūzija/France
Periklis Costopoulos, Graikija/Greece
Alexandru Jakabhazi, Rumunija/Romania
Jarmo Sermila, Suomija/Finland
Vaiva Kovieraite, Lietuva/Lithuania
Monica A. Gonzalez, Argentina/Argentina
Esteban Valdes, Puerto Rikas/Puerto Rico
Dorian Ribas Marinho, Brazilija/Brazil
De Villo Sloan, JAV/USA
Felipe Lamadrid, Ispanija/Spain
Petala Eytihia, Graikija/Greece
Lubomyr Tymkiv, Ukraina/Ukraine
Theodore Lalos, Graikija/Greece
Edward Kulemin, Rusija/Russia
Dobrica Kamperlic, Serbija/Serbia
Antonio De Marchi-Gherini, Italija/Italy
Katerina Nikoltsou, Graikija/Greece
Osvaldo Morales Barraza, Čilė/Chile
Christian Vettrus, JAV/USA
Matthew Rose, Prancūzija/France
Adriano Bonari, Italija/Italy
Marci Katz, Kanada/Canada
Lezcano Cerelia, Argentina/Argentina
Diane Bertrand, Kanada/Canada
LuAnn Pallazzo, JAV/USA
Carmela Rizzuto, JAV/USA
Thierry Tillier, Belgija/Belgium
Miguel Jiminez, Ispanija/Spain
Vincent Pons, Prancūzija/France
Jennie Hinchcliff, JAV/USA
Manfred Heinze, Vokietija/Germany
Marina Salmaso, Danija/Denmark
Gregory Scheckler, JAV/USA
Patrick Anderson – McQuoid, Airija/Ireland
Walter Ciansuicci, Italija/Italy
Judith Railton, Anglija/England
Mailarta Queen of Poste, Kanada/Canada
Bruno Neiva, Ispanija/Spain
Piet Franzen, Nyderlandai/The Netherlands
Marianne Midelburg, Australija/Australia
Don E. Boyd, JAV/USA
Plagium 2000, Vengrija/Hungary
Rupert Loydell, Anglija/England
Bibiana Padilla Maltos, JAV/USA
Thom C. Courcelle, JAV/USA
Francisco Sanchez Gil, Ispanija/Spain
Jaromir Svozilik, Norvegija/Norway
Judy Mangiameli, JAV/USA
Nula Horo, Ispanija/Spain
Reid Wood / State of Being, JAV/USA
Paul Tillia, Suomija/Finland
Lisa Iversen, JAV/USA
C. Mehrl Bennett, JAV/USA
Lome Lorenzo Menguzzato, Italija/Italy
Inez Olude da Silva, Belgija/Belgium
Mailart Martha, Jungtinė karalystė/United Kingdom
Alexandre Holownia, Vokietija/Germany
Mary Campbell, JAV/USA
Kommisar Hjular & Mama Baer, Vokietija/Germany
Allan Revich, Kanada/Canada
Ginny Lloyd, JAV/USA
Vittore Baroni, Italija/Italy
Kelly Courtney, JAV/USA
Snappy, Kanada/Canada
Mack McFarland, JAV/USA
Daniel De Culla, Ispanija/Spain
Caterina Davino, Italija/Italy
Douglas Galloway, JAV/USA
Serena Rossi, Italija/Italy
Alexandra Pharmakidis, JAV/USA
Roland Halbritter, Vokietija/Germany
Kiera Pannell, Kanada/Canada
Diane Keys, JAV/USA
Yvette Jansen, Nyderlandai/The Netherlands
Test Tower, JAV/USA
Mariano Filippetta, Italija/Italy
Dewi Johan, Kanada/Canada
Evie Satajadi, Indonezija/Indonesia
Terry Reid, Australija/Australia
Alison Knowles, JAV/USA
Maria Damon, JAV/USA
Sharul Sahee, Malaizija/Malaysia
Laura Sherritt Ligon, JAV/USA
Monica Michelotti, Italija/Italy
Pedro Bericat / Mute Sound, Ispanija/Spain
Tina Festa, Italija/Italy
Ted Moss, JAV/USA
Miche – Art – Universalis, Belgija/Belgium
Rosa Gravino, Argentina/Argentina
Anne Braunschweig, JAV/USA
Elke Grundmann, Vokietija
Cheryl Penn, PAR/South Africa
Claudia Kipps Aulita, Argentina/Argentina
Angie Cope, JAV/USA
Monica Rex, JAV/USA
Marcia Cirillo, JAV/USA
Suzlee Ibrahim, Malaizija/Malaysia
Angela Caporaso, Italija/Italy
Barrie J Davies, Jungtinė karalystė/United Kingdom
Costis, Graikija/Greece
Jorge Artajo, Ispanija/Spain
Reed Altemus, JAV/USA
Bifidus Jones, JAV/USA
Ernie Bar, Vokietija/Germany
Marcela Peral, Argentina/Argentina
Ptrzia TICTAC, Vokietija/Germany
Helen Aymes, Australija/Australia
Cory Peeke, JAV/USA
Merry Rozzelle, JAV/USA
Carlos Zurck, Brazilija/Brazil
Melissa McCarthy, JAV/USA
Cecil Touchon, JAV/USA
Darlene Domel, JAV/USA
Joshua Rutherford, JAV/USA
Marina Miletic, Airija/Ireland
Picasso Gaglione, JAV/USA
Gary A. Bibb, JAV/USA
Jim Leftwich, JAV/USA
Clemente Padin, Urugvajus/Uruguay
Allen Bukoff, JAV/USA
Alice Bradshaw, Jungtinė karalystė/United Kingdom
Vladimir Jakushonok / Bolderaja group Fluxus, Latvija/Latvia
Jokie X. Wilson, JAV/USA
Neosho, JAV/USA
Saeri Kiritani, JAV/USA
Aaron Flores, Meksika/ Mexico
Narvis Bracamonte & pedro ( Pez ) Lopez, Venesuela/Venezuela
Echo June Vincent / EJVA NSVA, Kinija/China
Jamie Newton, JAV/USA
R. F. Cote, Kanada/Canada
Anna Boschi, Italija/Italy
Sharon Zimmer, JAV/USA
Jon Johnson, JAV/USA
David K. Thompson, JAV/USA
Jeff Sass, JAV/USA
Michelle Sass – Hake, JAV/USA
Jennifer Kosharek, JAV/USA
David Dellafiora, Australija/Australia
Ex Post Facto, JAV/USA
Litsa Spathi, Nyderlandai/The Netherlands
Pal Csaba, Vengrija/Hungary
Susana Picasso, Argentina/Argentina
Carol Starr, JAV/USA
Maurizia Carantani, Italija/Italy
Sun Young – Jin,Belgija/Belgium
Darko Alexovski, Makedonija/Macedonia
Aaron Almieda Holmquist, Venesuela/Venesuela
Keyla Holmquist, Venesuela/Venesuela
Robert Znajomski, Lenkija/Poland
Kathlyn Tilton, JAV/USA
Tulio Restrepo, Kolumbija/Colombia
Keith A. Buchholz, JAV/USA
Monica Gonzalez, Argentina/Argentina
Matt Taggart, JAV/USA
Judith Mangianelli, JAV/USA
Ruud Janssen, Nyderlandai/Netherlands
Angela Ferrara, Brazilija/Brazil
Mark Bloch, JAV/USA
Rein Rain, JAV/USA
Susan Shulman, Kanada/Canada
William Evertson, JAV/USA
Ria Van Eynde, Belgija/Belgium
Patrick Lichty, JAV/USA
Tara Verheide, JAV/USA
Jonas Mekas, JAV/USA
Chris “ Mudhead “ Reynolds, JAV/USA
Demetrios Coutarelli, Graikija/Greece
Konstantin Kalendaroff, Rusija/Russia
Viv de Dada, JAV/USA
Doyle Dean, JAV/USA
Caterina Davinio, Italija/Italy
The Kinsena’s – Jean Kusina / Tammy Kinsey, JAV/USA
Jonas Lozoraitis, JAV/USA
Olchar Lindsann, JAV/USA
Marco Giovenale, Italija/Italy
Ed Varney, Kanada/Canada
Ana Garcia, Portugalija/Portugal
Aristotelis Triantis, Graikija/Greece
Warren C. Fry, JAV/USA
Jonathan Leiter ( aka- Reuben Sandwich ), JAV/USA
Reid Wood, JAV/USA
Al Hansen, JAV/USA
Echo June Vincent, Kinija/China
Geof Huth, JAV/USA
Perry Garvin, JAV/USA
Brandstifter, Vokietija/Germany
Matthew Lee Knowles, Anglija/England
One Response to George Maciunas and Beyond: Fluxus Never Stops
Matthew L. Jankowski
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As thr current MailART exhibit WORDS is winding down @ the Bay County Public Library a glut of FLUXUS info and images are being presented at workshops and related events in Panama City Florida. Fluxus Bay County and Fluxus Florida have been established @ the M L J archive 505 East 7th Street Panama City, Florida 32401. Stickers, magnets and propaganda with audio / video links and instructions are being well recieved and intrest to create objects is great. look for personal invites in snail mail.
m. FLUXUS FLORIDA. m.