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Friedman (Ken) Collection
MSS 0128
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Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Ken Friedman Collection
Creator:
Friedman, Ken, 1949-
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0128
Physical Description:
7.8 Linear feet
(9 archives boxes and 31 oversize folders)
Date (inclusive): 1964 - 1971
Abstract: Correspondence, manuscripts, conceptual and mail artwork, and ephemera documenting Ken Friedman's affiliation with Fluxus
art movement spearheaded by George Maciunas. The collection includes examples of Friedman's Fluxus offset press, art work
of other Fluxus artists, publications by Aktual, and examples of work by the Cleveland poet d.a. levy. Significant correspondents
include George Brecht, John Cage, Dick Higgins, Ray Johnson, Milan Knizak, d.a. levy, George Maciunas, Jerry Rubin, and Paul
Sharits.
Languages:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
The bulk of the materials in the Ken Friedman Collection date from 1967 to 1970 -- for Friedman, a period of expansive production
of Fluxus materials and a continuing commitment to Happenings / events, collaborations, and the Unitarian Universalist Church
and its affiliate organizations of Free Religious Youth (FRY) and Liberal Religious Youth (LRY). The collection best documents
graphic design of the period (with many examples from Friedman's Fluxus offset press), works of the Fluxus group and publications
by Aktual. Numerous scenarios, musical compositions, prose and poetry works are also included. Another interesting facet of
the collection are the works and correspondence by poet d.a. levy and New York Correspondence School founder Ray Johnson.
Arranged in five series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) WRITINGS, 3) COLLABORATIONS, 4) FLUXUS, and 5) D.A. LEVY.
Kenneth S. Friedman (born September 19, 1949- ) attended Shimer College (1966-1967) where he studied music theory and composition
with Richard Maxfield. He later received an MS from San Francisco State University in 1971 and, after that a Ph.D. from the
Graduate School of Human Behavior at U.S. International University in 1976. From 1967-1968, he was an instructor at San Francisco
State College Experimental College, where he taught course in the literature of surrealism, the avant-garde, and expanded
arts.
Ken Friedman experimented with many forms of conceptual art during the period covered by the collection, from the graphic
and concrete arts to music, writing and performance. While at Shimer College, Friedman directed an "underground" radio program,
"Garnisht Kigele." Later, he edited ephemeral magazines as a member of the Underground Press Syndicate and became Editor-in
Chief of Fluxus West Publications and General Manager of Something Else Press. Friedman founded Fluxus West in 1966 shortly
after becoming acquainted with George Maciunas and other members of the New York Fluxus coterie.
George Maciunas was the first person to use the term "Fluxus." In 1961, he sent out an invitation for an exhibition at the
AG Gallery, noting on the invitation that the $3.00 cover charge was to be used for publishing FLUXUS magazine. The term came
to designate an attitude toward art best exemplied in the work of Marcel Duchamp, the Dadaists, and John Cage. Indeed, many
of the participants in the movement during the 1960s had personally studied with Cage or one of his disciples such as Richard
Maxfield. Artistic values championed by principal Fluxus artists such as Friedman, Dick Higgins, George Brecht, and Yoko Ono,
included spontaneity and indeterminacy.
Besides Fluxus, Friedman also participated in Aktual and the New York Correspondence School, two other conceptual art movements
occurring during the time represented by the collection. Since the date of the collection, Friedman's work has appeared in
a number of exhibitions, and he has received commissions from the Joslyn Art Museum, the Western Museum Association, and the
University of Tulsa.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Ken Friedman Collection, MSS 0128. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Not Available
Original media formats are restricted. Viewing/listening copies may be available for researchers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Mail art
Fluxus (Group of artists)
Art, Modern -- 20th century
Avant-garde (Aesthetics)
Happening (Art)
Performance art
Levy, D. A.
Fugs (Musical group)
Liberal Religious Youth
Free Religious Youth