On Friday night’s A Think & A Drink, Walker members held a Happening of their own. Interactive tours of the exhibition Art Expanded, 1958–1978 encouraged discussion of this wonderfully disorienting era and provoked questions ranging from the profound (“What is art?”) to the puzzling (“Why is the cellist topless?”). When asked to imagine their own Happening, here’s what some of our Walker members suggested:
Sarah Vig:
“The experience has to be both pleasant and repulsive, with no explanation of the elements involved. Live animals should be included – probably lizards. For my Happening I’d have people walk past progressively larger terrariums housing progressively larger lizards until you encounter the biggest enclosure, which is empty. Then through a door participants would enter a room which is actually a giant terrarium, turning them into the lizards! And maybe I’d include someone in a French maid costume dusting and a bad tuba player performing while facing the wall. That sounds about right.”
Jonathan Gross
“There would have to be vintage ’60s clothing – leather vests with fringe, jumpsuits, headbands, and frizzy wigs – with everyone performing a set task, the more mundane the better.”
Susan Spray
“For me Happenings were like a Kafka play with no established cast. There would be food, music, lighting, plenty of props, and costumes for people to take, structural objects to stand on or against, and an agitating person to get things moving. Let’s throw some taxidermy cats in there, as well.”
Glen de Guzman
“Drinks, decorations, and door prizes!”
Amy Ilstrop
“I’d take every museum gift shop postcard and bring each corresponding work into one gallery, like my favorite museums combined. There would be a massive concert and top chefs serving dessert. And, if I pull a John Lennon and Yoko Ono, I can claim that it’s all for peace and is completely worthwhile.”
Kristi Running
“I cannot top that, so I’m going to Amy’s. I’m also going to use the line ‘But it’s for peace!’ as an excuse in everyday life.”
“Kristi and Amy, would you mind if I took a photo of you for the blog? Come on, it’s for peace!”
A Think & A Drink: Member Events provide intimate looks at exhibitions, performing arts and film followed by drinks and conversation. Our next A Think & A Drink evening offers an insider’s introduction to Tere O’Connor Dance BLEED with curator Philip Bither, a discounted performance ticket, and a complimentary drink in the Balcony bar after the show. Space is limited, so RSVP here.