Terrence writes;
I saw an impressive fluxus performance at the Western Front here in Vancouver
around April/May '87. The performer's last name was Hendricks I think. He did
this performance with improvised 'found' materials. Including the performance
space's grand piano and many booming branches that he wore all over his body
and stuffed into the open piano. It was to me a very profound performance. I
spoke to him for a while after his performance, excitedly spelling out my young
approval. Does anyone know of him? He was from NewYork. A tall long haired
bearded fellow around 40+ at that time. He did cloud paintings as well if that
helps.
His performance may have got me into the idea of using locally found materials
and inspirations of nature for my paintings; including using brake grindings
collected from local brake shops. i spent numerous hours and rolls of film on
tree branches and roots. I did over 50 paintings using this material and idea
of nature/process. I got a call from the White Columns gallery in 1996 and went
to see Paul Ha to discuss showing that very work. At the time I explained
things were turning more virtual, but there's bucket of rust nearby as I write
this.
I would be interested if anyone knows is this Fluxus artist is still active.
thanks.
terrence kosick
artnatural
George Free wrote:
> >Is there or was there alot of ppl that are/were part of fluxus in Canada?
>
> There were some connections. I looked into this a while back (2 years ago?).
> There may be some trace of it on the web archive.
>
> In the early 70s there were a number of connections through some of the
> alternative galleries, I believe, like Western Front, one in Calgary and to
> some groups like General Idea in Toronto... These connections, as I
> understand it, were generally a long the lines of younger artists admiring
> the Fluxus artists...
>
> Robert Filliou came to Canada a number of times. And there's a book about
> him by a Torontonian who's name I could look up for you. (I should remember,
> but my mind's blank at the moment.... =Clive R..?)
>
> Emmett Williams taught at the Nova Scotia school of art.. In one of his
> books, he criticizes his student's nationalistic streak, as I recall.
>
> Ken Friedman also spent time in Canada, I believe, so could probably answer
> this question very well.
>
> I'm not sure if any of the Canadians "got it", but that's always a
> subjective judgement needless to say (and probably arrogant on my part as
> well). ...my own view, (please no flames), is that the artistic break
> throughs of the 60s and early 70s were side-swiped by artists who wanted to
> be more directly "political" and in Canada that frequently meant
> nationalistic... but I'm not sure how well I can defend that. Perhaps others
> have more insight...
>
> I'm generally of the view that everything culturally has gone down hill
> since 1974, but I'm odd that way....
>
> George
