Exhibition ±1961 Explores Expanded Arts Through 1963 Anthology and Ephemeral Works

Curated by Julia Robinson and Christian Xatrec, the exhibition ±1961 revolves around the 1963 release of An Anthology of Chance Operations, which was edited by composer La Monte Young and poet Jackson Mac Low, with design by Fluxus artist George Maciunas. Primarily assembled in 1961, this avant-garde anthology featured experimental writings, musical works, choreographies, and other unconventional pieces, influenced by John Cage's late 1950s classes at the New School in New York. Highlights of ±1961 include Simone Forti's Onion Walk (1961), Walter De Maria's minimalist sculptures, a constructivist drawing by Earl Browne, and a matchbook announcement for John Cage's Silence (1961). The exhibition also includes daily dance performances and occasional film screenings, emphasizing live art and a resistance to traditional museum formats. The article originally appeared in December 2013.