The main goal is to create an archive for experimental art - to keep history alive as well as provide interesting, integrated ways in which artists and audiences can learn about the work of their predecessors. The Kitchen integrates archival material into its current programming and works...
The Kitchen was founded in Greenwich Village in 1971. Although first intended as a location for the exhibition of video art, the Kitchen soon expanded its mission to include other forms of art - plastic and performance. The venue was a place where many No Wave bands like Glenn Branca, Lydia Lunch and James Chance performed.
The Kitchen is an space for creativity that provides innovative artists working in the media, literary, and performing arts with exhibition and performance opportunities to create and present new work of art. It organizes, supports, and presents the artists who are making significant contributions to their respective fields but it serves a space for the established ones to take unusual creative experiments. The Kitchen has been a significant force in shaping the cultural landscape for more than three decades. Founded in 1971 by Woody and Steina Vasulkas, The Kitchen was a space where video artists, experimental composers and performers could present their new ideas. It was one of the very first American institutions that has influenced the fields of video and performance art. The Kitchen helped launch the careers of many artists who have defined the American avant-garde, including Jean Lee's Theater Company, Peter Greenaway, Anna Silk, Michael Nyman, Ridge Theater, The Future Sound of London, Leisure Class, Brian Eno, Arthur Russell, Bryce Dessner, Sylvie Degiez, Wayne Lopes /CosmicLegends, Cindy Sherman, Vito Acconci, Gary Hill, Kiki Smith, Charles Atlas, Constance de Jong, Lucinda Childs, and also board members Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, and Meredith Monk. Today, The Kitchen is an institution still widely known for its commitment to experimental work as it continues to provide instrumental support for the current generation of artists.
The Kitchen Archive Project was created to preserve and modernize The Kitchen's collection of historic audio and videotapes, dating back to 1972. It contains also the work by some of today’s most influential artists including John Cage, Laurie Anderson, Robert Longo, Pauline Oliveros, The Talking Heads and many others. The main goal is to create an archive for experimental art - to keep history alive as well as provide interesting, integrated ways in which artists and audiences can learn about the work of their predecessors. The Kitchen integrates archival material into its current programming and works towards making archival materials accessible on the internet. So, it's creating a greater context for experimental and collaborative performance and traditional work. This is very important to the development of both contemporary artists and audiences. In The Kitchen over 500 of approximately 3600 videotapes dating back to the early 1970s are already digitally remastered as well as over 500 audio tapes. The audio project has already received support from such artists as Sonic Youth, Charlemagne Palestine, and Frederic Rzewski to remaster their early works. The Kitchen is in the process of making special video compilations from the video archives, which will be distributed to anywhere there is interest in the history of contemporary performance.
The education program is one of the less familiar element of The Kitchen’s work, but they are of great importance. For example The Lunchbreak Performance Series is The Kitchen’s longest running education program and has introduced thousands of school students to their first performing arts experience. The program offers a series of free afternoon performances, each of which is followed by a question and answer session with the participating artists. The goal of the in-school workshops is to increase writing and verbal language skills, provide a safe environment where students can express themselves and build confidence, foster respect cross-culturally and finally and to offer young people experiences with live performance, experimental theater, music, dance and other interdisciplinary genres.
The main goal is to create an archive for experimental art - to keep history alive as well as provide interesting, integrated ways in which artists and audiences can learn about the work of their predecessors. The Kitchen integrates archival material into its current programming and works...