The 补苍诲听聽unveil plans for聽a major survey, entitled聽Merce Cunningham: Common Time, 聽due to open in February 2017. Organised by the Walker Art Center, this upcoming showcase will聽explore the revolutionary and collaborative practice of a key聽innovator of the 20th century: the iconic choreographer and dancer聽Merce Cunningham. Divided into thematic sections聽that refer directly to compositional principles and frameworks active within Cunningham and composer John Cage鈥檚 collaborative approach, this innovative presentation will showcase the depth of the Walker鈥檚 Merce Cunningham Dance Company (MCDC) collection.
Curated by聽Fionn Meade, Walker Art Center Artistic Director, with Philip Bither, Director and Senior Curator of Performing Arts, in collaboration with curators from MCA,聽this exhibition will focus on a wide selection of聽sets, sculptural props, and costumes devised by Cunningham with an eclectic range of artists, including Jasper Johns, Rei Kawakubo, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, Ernesto Neto, Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol,聽to name a few. 聽The survey will also聽present some of the many musical compositions commissioned by the artist聽from notable聽composers such as David Behrman, Morton Feldman, Takehisa Kosugi, Pauline Oliveros,聽and David Tudor, alongside聽major film and video partnerships with the likes of Charles Atlas, Nam June Paik, Stan Van Der Beek, 补苍诲听Tacita Dean.
Common Time聽will examine聽the聽key influences upon Cunningham鈥檚 early career, from Sergei Diaghilev鈥檚 Ballets Russes to Northwest Coast American Indian symbolism; Cunningham鈥檚 use of chance procedures in his choreographic process; the evolving role of technology in his work; his exploration of mimesis within nature; as well as the impact of his company鈥檚 global travel and truly international cultural exchange, which includes the company鈥檚 early 1964 tour to 30 cities in 13 countries, including India, Japan, and Sweden. In addition, the exhibition will consider his聽dialogue with the pivotal movements of Fluxus, the Judson Dance Theater, and Experiments in Art and Technology.
Throughout the show’s聽three-month run, a variety of new commissions and performances聽will be presented by renowned contemporary dancers, choreographers, musicians, and sound artists at both the Walker and MCA. International touring companies, including France鈥檚 Ballet de Lorraine, will showcase Cunningham鈥檚 choreography, as will one-off events聽performed by a small ensemble of former Cunningham dancers, to include Dylan Crossman, Silas Riener, Jamie Scott, and Melissa Toogood, among others.
Merce Cunningham: Common Time,聽11 February 2017 – 29 May 2017,聽Walker Art Center, Minneapolis聽and the聽Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
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Credits
1.聽Carolyn Brown, Steve Paxton, Mr. Cunningham and Barbara Lloyd performing Suite for Five in 1963.聽Photo: Marvin Silver/Cunningham Dance Foundation.
