Fluids: A Happening by Allan Kaprow

Meanwhile, Back in L.A….

While everyone in the free world was at Coachella this weekend, I stayed in L.A. and enjoyed the fabulous weather (HOT! It was really hot here, people). Some friends and I decided to cool down on Saturday by stopping by one of the Fluids: A Happening by Allan Kaprow gigantic ice igloo art installations at the Rios Clementi Hale Studios on Larchmont. Given the fact that it was 122 degrees, hanging out with some gigantic ice blocks sounded pretty great.

The Union Ice Company truck pulled up and volunteers started unloading and stacking the 50-pound blocks of ice. But my first question was why? Apparently, “Happenings” is a term coined by pioneering performance artist Allan Kaprow in the 1950’s to define art which is extracted from the environment. So, in conjunction with the exhibition Allan Kaprow—Art As Life at MOCA, LACMA organized volunteers to recreate Allan Kaprow’s Fluids from his 1967 exhibition. From April 25th to 27th, rectangular ice block installations, measuring 30 feet long 10 wide and 8 high, were built at several locations around town. My dog Rufus just wanted to know if he could lick it. It was hot, people.

It took about 3 hours to complete and when finished, it was a really beautiful structure. But I couldn’t help think about all the margaritas we could have made with that ice instead.

» Fluids (LACMA)
» Document your work on Flickr