Friedman, Ken (Editor); Weaver, Mike (Editor); Lennon, John; Ono, Yoko; Schneeman, Carolee et al.

Fluxshoe

Devon, England: Beau Geste Press, 1972. First Edition. Softcover. "Decide on one note that you want to play. | Play it with the following accompaniment: | The woods from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. | in summer." ("Secret Piece," Yoko Ono, pg. 63). Lithuanian-American artist, art historian & art organizer George Maciunas (1931-1978) coined the name "Fluxus" in 1961, initially as the title of a magazine. It went on to become, arguably, the most radical of post-war art movements, and almost certainly the one with the furthest reach. Although it started in the US, the "international laboratory for experimental art, architecture, design & music" attracted artists from across the world, including performance artists like German artist Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) & Japanese conceptual artist Yoko Ono (b. 1933). Fluxus works often relied on the element of chance to shape the ultimate outcome of the piece and one of the main ways this was achieved was through audience participation in artworks. This approach reflected a rejection of rigid artistic control and fostered a more interactive and open-ended experience, reflecting a broader, more inclusive approach to creativity. In 1972 a touring Fluxus exhibition was coordinated by art historian & publisher David Mayor (b. 1948), who was based in Exeter, England, with the blessing and support of Maciunas & Fluxus artist Ken Friedman (b. 1949). Called "Fluxshoe," it travelled to a number of provincial locations in England and gave a platform for then emerging British artists like filmmaker Ian Breakwell (1943-2005), sculptor Helen Chadwick (1953-1996) and music & performance art collective COUM Transmissions. This substantial exhibition catalogue of the events, also titled Fluxshoe, was edited by Friedman & Mike Weaver and printed by Mayor's Beau Geste Press. Co-founded with printmaker Felipe Ehrenberg (1943-2017) & visual artist Martha Hellion (b. 1937) in 1971, and located in a farmhouse near Devon England, Beau Geste Press was one of the most influential small presses of the 1970s. This exhibition catalogue features exhibition contributions from American visual artist Carolee Schneeman (1939-2019; pgs. 86-89), American conceptual artist George Brecht (1926-2008; pg. 17), as well as music instructions from the aforementioned Ono (pg. 63), among many others. Ono's husband, The Beatles' John Lennon (1940-1980), participated in the events, but according to page 107, he was one of the "further participants for whom no reproducible materials were available at the time of printing." Also included: contributor biographies, illustrations, black & white photograph reproductions, exhibit/book recommendations & acknowledgements. Cover design by aforementioned publisher Ehrenberg. From the collection of Richard Cupidi (b. 1945), our esteemed mate in the UK who managed the fabled Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, England for founder Bill Butler (1934-1977, the famed American-expatriate bookseller & publisher). From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, Unicorn proffered & published many outstanding productions by William S. Burroughs, J.G. Ballard et al., some of which have become the scarcest, all-but-unobtainable Beat-&-Beyond collectibles (see for example our Item No.s 8217 & 8366). After prevailing against censorious harassment efforts, Unicorn closed & Butler died in short order. Cupidi went on to found the Public House Bookshop in Brighton, which had a long & successful run but is also now closed, & he still resides there. We have been honored to obtain what Cupidi has termed "The Last Hurrah," all the remaining gems of Unicorn & Public House, including this. Trade-Format Softcover Original: First Edition, first & only printing per publication custom. A most collectible, surrealistic & unique time-capsule from 1970s England in its rarest contemporary form, with extremely relevant association & very distinguished provenance. In relatively fine condition with very mild rubbing & scratching to front, back covers & spine; mild bumping/creasing to corners & wear to fine edges of same; occasions of minor spot-staining to front & back covers; an occasion of moderate chipping to fine edge of front cover near lower corner; moderate age-toning & rubbing to text block; Interior fine with mild verging on moderate age-toning mostly to blank margins & fine edges of page leaves; mild chipping to fine edges of some page leaves near aforementioned front cover chip; mild bumping of corners to same. Fine. [Item #8824]

Price: $200.00