Art + Life + Joke = FLUXUS?
The Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center and the Lithuanian National Martynas Mažvydas Library presented an improvised discussion/action Art + Life + Joke = FLUXUS? During which we proved that Fluxus is still alive and well!
Composer, Fluxus artist and director of the Jonas Mekas Visual Arts Center Gintaras Sodeika participated along with one of Klaipėda’s and Lithuania’s avant-garde art leader, performance artist, actor, shaman Benas Šarka and randomly selected Kęstutis Šapoka for this particular action, who is an employee of the National Library.
The event discussed the radical Fluxus art movement that took place in New York in the 1960s and 1970s and one of whose leaders was George Maciunas (Jurgis Mačiūnas). The discussion also touched upon the influence on Lithuanian artists from the re-birth of the nation during the Sąjudis times and over the end of the 20th Century from 1987-1988: the happenings festivals held in Anykščiai by young composers, Benas Šarkas’ activities in Klaipėda, Redas Diržis’ organized street art festivals in Alytus and similar.
The event featured documentary video films from the festivals, there was a specially prepared action in Fluxus style, Benas Šarka treated all of the attendees to healing water and a mixture of white clay. There was also a mini-exhibition of books about Fluxus, prepared by employees of the National Library.
The event took place on April 18 at 17.30 at the Lithuanian National Library (Gedimino pr. 51), Meeting Hall, 7th floor.