Allan Kaprow: 18/6 – Allan Kaprow – 18 Happenings in 6 Parts – 9/10/11 November 2006

I have always dreamed of a new art, a really new art In this different art, the artist takes off from life Do not look for paintings, sculpture, the dance, or music. The artist disclaims any intention to provide them. Something to take place: a happening. Allan Kaprow, 1959 On October 4, 1959, Allan Kaprow premiered his seminal work 18 Happenings in 6 Parts. In the small Reuben Gallery, upstairs on Fourth Avenue in New York City, Kaprow combined new electronic music and music theory, the plastic arts, theatre and dance within an innovative structure that demanded audience participation. Kaprows happening anticipated, and gave form to, the conceptual dialogue of contemporary art. In November 2006, 18 Happening in 6 Parts, was performed a second time. André Lepeckis faithful rendering of 18 Happenings in 6 Parts is a living work as relevant and groundbreaking today as it was for Allan Kaprows audience of 75 invited guests in 1959. This book is a rich visual introduction of both Lepeckis presentation of Kaprows happening and the 2006 exhibition organized and curated by Eva Meyer- Hermann and Stephanie Rosenthal.