fluxus

Fluxus is not: a movement, a moment in history, an organization. Fluxus is: an idea, a kind of work, a tendency, a way of life, a changing set of people who do Fluxworks.

—Dick Higgins

Dick also described Fluxes as 'intermedia'.

    Caroline, our tour guide, was; incredible.  I know a lot of people didn't like being told what to think, or what the artist intended.  a lot of people wanted to be able to roam around the gallery aimlessly.  i am grateful that caroline was kind enough to share her knowledge with us.  before the tour, i found most postmodern art to be distasteful, and obnoxious. now that i know it's objective and purpose.. i value it.  i value the fact that our society is constantly changing the norm; the standard.  it forced me to contemplate about what the next possibly art movement could be? anti-art?  hmmmm.  i have a completely different prospective about postmodernism and its purpose now.  i believe i am going to write about fluxus, but i want to get more external information before i begin my reassessment.

     I think this piece at the Walker could be easily looked over, which is a shame.  The more I learn, the more I want to learn.  now that's powerful.  upon first glance, it looks like a glass case of 'stuff.'          precisely!  Fluxes emerged in the late 1960s.  Artists, writers, performers, and filmmakers sought to break down the barriers between art and life.  I would consider Yoko Ono as the most popular, well-known reluctant Fluxes member, however John Cage and George Maciunas are accredited for starting it.

     Most of the fluxes pictures i was able to find online was that of Gilbert and Lila Silverman.  It appears that they must dedicate most of their lives to collecting.  it is the 'only major collection in the world that holds uncompromisingly to the Maciunas-based paradigm for Fluxus (Higgins).  Event performances and Fluxkits are the common denominator of Fluxus practice.  Event performances typically consist of simple, everyday actions, which may seem puzzling.  Fluxus is all about rethinking.  It is a quite difficult concept to understand, and i think I will only understand more with more research.  To truly understand the movement, one must be aware of all the experiments, movements, and films.  It is an art of all of the senses, and sometimes even the lack of senses.   The persuasive argument that I am attempting to cajole is simply that of awareness.  For those who don't know about this fascinating movement to know.  Not to understand, not to love, not to hate.  Just to be aware.  It is an attempt to find something significant in the insignificant.

    I think the Walker Art Center is privileged to have a piece of this history.

http://collections.walkerart.org/item/object/8730