Do312 - What to do in Chicago

FLUXFEST CHICAGO SCHEDULE
Tuesday-Sunday, February 15-20, 2011

Organized by Keith A. Buchholz and Picasso Gaglione, FluxFest Chicago is a week-long exploration of Fluxus activity, from its earliest scores and actions to contemporary interpretations of classic scores. It also includes recent works by contemporary Fluxus artists. FluxFest Chicago is part of the Interactions series of performances that accompany the exhibition, Without You I'm Nothing: Art and Its Audience on view from November 20, 2010 to May 1, 2011.

Tuesday, February 15

In "Guitar Kick (Robin Page)" performers kick a guitar through the galleries until it is completely dismembered. Accompanied by a classic performance score by an artist of the 70's Fluxus group, the performance is led by Picasso Gaglione and Keith A. Buchholz.

The Chicago Fluxus Ensemble - Classic Scores and Interventions
6:35 pm  

Founded in 2009 by Hannah Higgins, Simon Anderson, and Alison Knowles, the Chicago Fluxus Ensemble has performed numerous times with Fulcrum Point's New Music Series (Simon Anderson, Picasso Gaglione, Jeff Abell, Sally Alatalo, Keith A. Buchholz, Joshua Rutherford, Jessica Feinstein, Kyle White, Darlene Domel, and others). Directed by Simon Anderson.

Wednesday, February 16  
Eternal Networking
12:03 pm

Guided by artists Picasso Gaglione, Darlene Domel, Keith A. Buchholz, Andy Oleksiuk, Adamandia Kapsalis, Neosho, and others, visitors have the ability to interact with the Postal Art Network. Supplies for collage, stamping, and postal mail making are provided, along with insights and guidance into making works, which are sent into the "Eternal Network." The postage is sponsored by the Chicago Philatelic Society.

Thursday, February 17

Plastic Oh-No Band, 4"33: Allan Revich, the Dean of Canadian Fluxus, presents a new work that incorporates an homage to both John Cage and Yoko Ono. Duration: 10 min.

Time / Space Ritual: The premiere of this new work by Keith A. Buchholz involves the layering of sound and manipulation of found sources through four turntables. It is influenced by Nam June Paik's turntable manipulations and Steve Reich's tape loop work. Duration: 60 min.

Magic Mushrooms

STEPS: Using a floor plan of the MCA, Reid Wood walks through all the public spaces of the museum. The audience may follow. Duration: 15 min.
 
Jungflux Finger Storàge Box for Ay-O: Premiere of a new work by Mark Bloch. Duration: 15 min.
 
Merzwalk: Gregory Fitzsimmons leads a coordinated walk through the public spaces inside and outside the museum. Participants are urged to find objects and document their experience. Duration: 30 min.
 
Dragging Suite: Performed by an open group of Fluxers, Nam June Paik's Suite calls for the dragging of multiple dolls throughout the space. Comical and irreverent, this is a not often seen work by Paik. Duration: 30-45 min.
 
Friday, February 18
12:36 pm

Tzara in Oblivion: mIEKAL aND and Camille Bacos perform a live video and sound performance exploring the legacy of Tristin Tzara in his home country. Duration: 30 min.
 
A Brief Introduction to Fluxfilm: Artist and historian Jean Kusina leads us into the world of Fluxus films. Duration: 10 min.
 
No Parking: Tulio Restrepo shows performance footage documenting guerrilla performances in the streets of Medellin, Columbia. Duration: 15 min.
 
Short Films: Experimental filmmakers the Kinsinas (Jean Kusina and Tammy Kinsey) present new work being made for the festival. Duration:  7-10 min.
 
Revisiting Chopin: London-based artist/musician Matthew Lee Knowles cuts up and re-assembles a Chopin score. Duration: 3 min.
 
Travel Flux: Keith A. Buchholz shows a Fluxfilm filmed in Chicago's Union Station in 2009 that explores the day-to-day routine of the daily commute. Duration: 2 min.
 
BROKEN Resealed and Remembered: Chicago filmmaker Julian Grant presents a short film showing an overview of his works in Mail Art. Duration: 4 min.
 
Fluxus Performance: Flying Mail: Litsa Spathi, director of Fluxus Heidelberg, documents a found performance in this Fluxfilm. Duration: 3 min.
 
The Chestnut Performance: Fluxus Heidelberg's (Ruud Janssen and Litsa Spathi) short film of a performance with chestnuts found in Ziegelhausen. Duration: 2 min.
 
DADA machine FLUXUS: Manic interpretations of classic Fluxus scores as seen through the direction of Picasso Gaglione. Expected guest performers include Melissa McCarthy (Fluxus New Hampshire), Reed Altemus (Fluxus Maine), Jennifer Kosharek (Fluxus South), Cecil Touchon (Flux-Texas), Allan Revich (Fluxus Toronto), as well as other Flux members. Duration: 60-90 min.
 
Saturday, February 19  
12:34 pm

Be Blank Consort: Formed in 2001 during a residency assembled by critic Richard Kostelanetz, Be Blank Consort is an experimental poetry ensemble that writes, scores, and performs avant-garde textual arrangements. Duration: 45 min.
 
FLUXHIBITION #5B: A selection of small works from the holdings of the FluxMuseum in Fort Worth, Texas, are shown in and around a carrying valise that may be handled and explored by visitors. Cecil Touchon, director of the FluxMuseum, guides visitors through the objects.
 
Fluxus Now!!!: Contemporary Fluxus scores are interpreted by their authors and members of their circle. A sampling of recent work performed by contemporary artists from the Fluxus community, many of whom are coming to Chicago specifically to perform at these events. Artists from throughout the US (and Mexico and Canada) will converge to perform their recent scores. A commemorative zine of scores will be published by FLUXPRESS in conjunction with this event and will be distributed free to MCA visitors during these performances.
 
Sunday, February 20  
12:33 pm

Flux - Solos: A variety of classic and contemporary Fluxus scores are interpreted by contemporary Fluxus artists. This performance gives contemporary performers the opportunity to present works from a 50-year canon of scores that personally resonate with them. Performances run the gamut from irreverent to introspective. A discussion follows with all of the artists involved during the "Fluxweek."