1969: From Altamont to Hockney, a Year in Art

The article revisits key art events of 1969, framed around the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. A new musical composition by MartuxM, commissioned by Fondazione Musica per Roma for Rome's New Year's Eve, will debut on January 1, 2019, at via Petroselli, featuring archival footage from Archivio Luce and the Italian Space Agency. The article highlights three major art moments: the Altamont Free Concert (December 6, 1969), documented by photographer Bill Owens in a book published by Damiani, to be launched January 31 at Spazio Labò during Arte Fiera Bologna; Gilbert & George's 'Singing Sculpture', which brought them fame, with a performance scheduled for January 10 in Munich as part of Kino der Kunst's Interlude 18/19 series; and David Hockney's double portrait 'Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott' (1969), a pivotal work from the collection of Barney A. Ebsworth, to be auctioned by Christie's in London on March 6.