(KAPROW) New York. The Reuben Gallery.

18 Happenings in 6 Parts. By Allan Kaprow. October 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. [1959.] Admission by advance reservation.

[New York, 1959]. Poster, printed in orange on white stock, with a design of 18 quickly sketched ovoid shapes, of which 16 contain the title statement repeated verbatim. 17 x 16 inches. Folded twice for mailing (as issued). The poster for one of the very earliest Happenings, following on a performance piece at Douglass College at Rutgers University, and a sound event, “Intermission Piece” at the Reuben Gallery, both in 1958. “18 Happenings in Six Parts” “was the first of what generically became known--to everyone save their creators--as Happenings” (Barbara Haskell, in “Blam!”). The participants included Kaprow, Robert Whitman, Sam Francis, Alfred Leslie and George Segal. On the verso of the poster is a long text, printed in orange in a spherical paragraph at upper left: “There are three rooms for this work, each different in size and feeling. The rooms are nearly transparent. No matter where a person is, he is aware of something happening in another room.... The guests will change seats according to numbered cards. Each guest will sit once in a different room. Some guests will also act. Slides will be shown. Tape recorded sounds, produced electronically, come from loudspeakers. From these there will be heard as well a collage of voices.... Human actions will occur of different but similar kinds. In addition there will be non-human actors. There will be a dancing toy and two constructions on wheels. The same action will never happen twice. The actions will mean nothing clearly formulable so far as the artist is concerned. It is intended, however, that the whole work is to be intimate, austere, and of somewhat brief duration....” Stapled to top right of verso: postcard from the Reuben Gallery announcing the Calendar for forthcoming exhibitions: George Brecht (October 16-November 5), Lucas Samaras (November 6-26).

• USD 2,000.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: B06764-1

• bookseller: Ars Libri Ltd. (USA)