City as Stage: Performance Art in New York During the 1970s

Executed daily over the period of one month, Vito Acconci followed a randomly selected stranger through the streets of the city until he or she entered a private location, culminating in a work he titled Following Piece (1969). Standing on the streets of New York City with her feet frozen in blocks of ice and playing a violin duet with her pre-recorded self, Laurie Anderson performed her work Duets on Ice (1974). In the late 1970s, Michael Smith transformed into Baby Ikki, crawling around on the sidewalks of the city as an oversized infant wearing a diaper, bonnet, and sunglasses. Developing ritual and character-based performances, these artists often performed to unwitting audiences. In this Olio we will explore what prompted these artists to freeze, follow, and crawl, moving out of sanctioned art spaces and onto the streets of New York City.

Coworkrs Gowanus

68 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Tickets $14