New Performance. 1977-1981

O’Connor, Michael, Pamela Quinn, Hannah Schwarzschild, and Brenda Way, Eds. New Performance. Vol. I, no. 1 (Fall 1977) through Vol. II, no. 3 (1981) (lacking Vol. III, no. 1). San Francisco: Oberlin Dance Collective, 1977-1981. Oblong 8vo, 8-7/16 x 8-11/16 in., altogether seven issues comprising two complete volumes (lacking only the final issue), each approx. 50-90 pp.; b/w illus. throughout; orig. wrappers with color photocopied(?) illus. tipped on (except Vol. II, no. 3 with integrated cover illus.), minor wear incl. light toning, a few small creases or marks; overall very good.

This west coast serial was an early and important effort to define the new, multimedia genre that came to be known as “performance art.” In the inaugural issue the editors describe “new performance” as a “revolution in artistic consciousness” and the journal as “forum for the discussion of the particular and theoretical issues raised by the experimental performing arts.” Contributors and subjects included Harold Rosenberg, Rosalind Krauss, Susan Sontag, Christo, Moira Roth, body art, Lynn Hershman, George Coates, Snake Theater, puppetry, experimental music, dance criticism, contact improvisation, video art, and Blackearth.

OCLC locates 18 institutional holdings with scattered issues in North America and only 4 complete runs.

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