Our main stop was through Fales' latest exhibit, "A Sanctuary for the Arts: Judson Memorial Church and the Avante Garde, 1954-1977." The exhibit, which runs from October 28,2010, to January 7, 2011, showcases material from the church, which served as a performance space for some of the most groundbreaking artists in downtown New York City.
The multimedia exhibit includes photographs and pamphlets from the church, but the most eye-catching display is the video of several dance performances in the basement, including "Meat Joy," by Carolee Schneemann. This dance requires several types of raw meat to be used, including chicken, sausage and raw fish. One of the female dancers actually places a fish between her legs while a man shoves a chicken down his pants. You can't help but laugh.
In addition to the exhibit, the Fales Library serves as a research center for students at NYU and researchers with an appropriate project in NYC. Taylor took us through the Fales' impressive collection on Punk music in their Downtown Collection. We saw original prints of Punk Magazine and Patti Smith's diary. Smith is known as the "Godmother of Punk," to many.
Most important to myself, is the collection of graphic music scores, where conventional staff notation is ditched in favor of a more liberal drawing of symbols, text or whatever the composer deems necessarry. This requires a bit of creativity for the performer of course. However, "All music really is," said Taylor," is sound moving in time."
If you want to stop by, either enroll at NYU or come up with a pretty decent reason to be there.
For more information, visit the Fales Library Website.
Marvin Taylor flips through a magazine for the students
A look at the boxes of materials Taylor set aside to show us
The exhibition room for the Judson Memorial Church
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