Jared Bark (b. 1944), LIGHTS: on/off, performance at The Clocktower, June 21, 1974. Photograph by Babette Mangolte; © 1974. All reproduction rights reserved
Rituals of Rented Island:
Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan, 1970–1980
Oct 31, 2013–Feb 2, 2014
This exhibition illuminates a radical period of 1970s performance art that flourished in downtown Manhattan, or what filmmaker and performance artist Jack Smith called “Rented Island,” and still remains largely unknown today. Working in lofts, storefronts, and alternative spaces, this group of artists, with backgrounds in theater, dance, music, and visual art, created complex new forms of performance to embody and address contemporary media, commercial culture, and high art.
Rituals of Rented Island includes: Vito Acconci, Laurie Anderson, Jared Bark, Ericka Beckman, Ralston Farina, Richard Foreman/Ontological-Hysteric Theater, Julia Heyward, Ken Jacobs Apparition Theater of New York, Mike Kelley, Kipper Kids, Jill Kroesen, Sylvia Palacios Whitman, Yvonne Rainer and Babette Mangolte, Stuart Sherman, Theodora Skipitares, Jack Smith, Michael Smith, Squat Theatre, Robert Wilson/Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds, and John Zorn/Theatre of Musical Optics. As part of the exhibition, performances will take place both within and outside the exhibition’s galleries, including reinvestigations of groundbreaking 1970s performances by Laurie Anderson, Jared Bark, Julia Heyward, Sylvia Palacios Whitman, and others.
Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan, 1970–1980 is organized by Jay Sanders, Curator and Curator of Performance.
Significant support for this exhibition is provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the National Committee of the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Artworks
Sylvia Palacios Whitman (b. 1941), Passing Through, performance at Sonnabend Gallery, New York, May 20, 1977. Courtesy the artist. Photograph by Babette Mangolte; © 1977 All reproduction rights reserved
Michael Smith, Busman’s Holiday Retreat Revue, performance at The Performing Garage, May 1981. Courtesy the artist. Photograph by Kevin Noble
Ericka Beckman, still from We Imitate; We Break Up, 1978. Super 8 film, color, sound; 28 minutes. Courtesy the artist
Theodora Skipitares, Skysaver, performance at Galerie ak, Frankfurt, November 8–16, 1980. Courtesy the artist. Photograph by Christian Hanussek
Theodora Skipitares, The Venus Café, performance at Byrd Hoffman Studio, June 1977. Courtesy the artist. Photograph by Richard A. Heinrich
Julia Heyward, performance at Franklin Furnace, April 6, 1977. Courtesy the artist. Image courtesy Franklin Furnace Archive, Inc.
Michael Smith, Mike’s House, performance at Whitney Museum of American Art, February 19–March 11, 1982. Courtesy the artist
Michael Smith, Down in the Rec Room, Kansas City Art Institute, February 22, 1979. Courtesy the artist
Jack Smith, Irrational Landlordism of Bagdad (a.k.a. Material Landlordism of Bagdad, a.k.a. The Secret of the Brassiere Factory), Cologne Art Fair, Germany, October 26–31, 1977. All images © Jack Smith Archive, courtesy Gladstone Gallery, New York and Brussels
Squat Theatre, Andy Warhol’s Last Love, performance at 256 West 23rd Street, New York, June 2-September 15, 1978; January-April 1979; and November 1982. Courtesy of the artist
Squat Theatre, Andy Warhol’s Last Love, performance at 256 West 23rd Street, New York, June 2-September 15, 1978; January-April 1979; and November 1982. Courtesy of the artist
Squat Theatre, Andy Warhol’s Last Love, performance at 256 West 23rd Street, New York, June 2-September 15, 1978; January-April 1979; and November 1982. Courtesy of the artist
Jill Kroesen,Excuse Me I Feel Like Multiplying, performance at U. S. Customs House, New York, May 27, 1979. Courtesy the artist. Photograph by Nathaniel Tileston
Jill Kroesen,The Original Lou and Walter Story, performance at The Kitchen, December 21—23, 1978. Courtesy the artist. Photograph by Robert Alexander
Kipper Kids, performance at Vanguard Gallery, Los Angles, 1978. © Kipper Kids, courtesy the artist
Kipper Kids, performance at Forum Theater, Berlin, 1973. © Kipper Kids, courtesy the artist
Kipper Kids, performance at Forum Theater, Berlin, 1973. © Kipper Kids, courtesy the artist
Robert Wilson, Overture for KA MOUNTAIN AND GUARDenia TERRACE: a story about a family and some people changing, performance at Byrd Hoffman Studio, April 24—30, 1972. Courtesy The Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation, New York. Photograph by Kazuko Oshima
Robert Wilson, Overture for KA MOUNTAIN AND GUARDenia TERRACE: a story about a family and some people changing, performance at Byrd Hoffman Studio, April 24—30, 1972. Courtesy The Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation, New York. Photograph by Kazuko Oshima
Julia Heyward, God Heads, performance part of “Performances: Four Evenings, Four Days” at the Whitney Museum of American Art, February 28, 1976. Courtesy the artist
Julia Heyward, God Heads, performance part of “Performances: Four Evenings, Four Days” at the Whitney Museum of American Art, February 28, 1976. Courtesy the artist
Vito Acconci, still from Claim Excerpts, 1971. Videotape, black and white, sound; 62:11 minutes. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase with funds from the Film and Video Committee 2000.160 
© 2012 Vito Acconci / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Events
View all-
Sat,
Jan 25
Family Fun Art Workshop: What is Performance Art?
1:30–3:30 pm
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Sat,
Jan 25
Family Fun Art Workshop: What is Performance Art?
10:30 am–12:30 pm
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Tues,
Jan 21
Further Rituals of Rented Island: Jack Smith
9 pm
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Tues,
Jan 21
Further Rituals of Rented Island: James Nares
7 pm
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Mon,
Jan 20
Further Rituals of Rented Island: Chantal Akerman
9:15 pm
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Mon,
Jan 20
Further Rituals of Rented Island: Babette Mangolte
7:15 pm
Installation Photography
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970-1980 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, October 31, 2013–February 2, 2014). Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Film Series: Further Rituals of Rented Island
At Anthology Film Archives
In conjunction with Rituals of Rented Island, join us at Anthology Film Archives for a film series co-curated by J. Hoberman, Andrew Lampert, and Jay Sanders. The series includes videos, films, and documentation and features many pieces not on view in the exhibition. All screenings take place at Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003.
January 16
Program 1: Vito Acconci, 7:30 pm
January 17
Program 2: Ericka Beckman/Theodora Skipitares, 7:30 pm
Program 3: Ralston Farina, 9:30 pm
January 18
Program 4: Jill Kroesen, 3:30 pm
Program 5: Julia Heyward, 6:30 pm
Program 6: Michael Smith, 8:45 pm
January 19
Program 7: Robert Wilson, 4 pm
Program 8: Richard Foreman, 6 pm
Program 9: Yvonne Rainer, 8:45 pm
January 20
Program 10: Babette Mangolte, 7:15 pm
Program 11: Chantal Akerman, 9:15 pm
January 21
Program 12: James Nares, 7 pm
Program 13: Jack Smith, 9 pm
In the News
Interview: "Rituals of Rented Island: Babette Mangolte"
—Performa
"Like a time capsule, the show takes you back to the recent past in New York art history. But with enough patience, it becomes clear that work is as relevant today as it was then, defiantly edgy and challenging."
—Time Out
"Rituals of Rented Island is an essential show."
—Gallerist
"The radical performance-art period of the 1970s gets a multimedia rewind."
—Newsday
"A walk-in Wunderkammer whose curiosities include electrified costumes and glow-in-the-dark props as well as film footage, photographs, and ephemera."
—The New Yorker
"Mr. Sanders is doing the right curatorial thing in bringing [certain figures] back to the spotlight."
—The New York Times
"Those ’70s Shows: An Interview with Jay Sanders"
—Art in America
Rituals of Rented Island: Object Theater, Loft Performance, and the New Psychodrama—Manhattan 1970–1980 . . . promises to revisit an era in New York when performance art was still a daringly ephemeral, market-challenging medium, not the big-ticket, deluxe, staged and restaged thing it has become.
—The New York Times
"I Remember Ralston: J. Hoberman on the Art of Ralston Farina"
—Artforum
"8 Museum Shows You Need to See This Fall"
—The L Magazine