Conceptual Art, Happenings, John Cage, George Brecht, Fluxus, Event Scores, Tasks, Experimental Music and Theatre, Ideas, La Monte Young, Kaprow, Psychogeography, Cardew, Scratch Orchestra, the Sixties, Poetry and Thoughts
SIX_EVENTS is a global project by Matthew Lee Knowles
http://uk.youtube.com/matthewleeknowles
Performance videos by Matthew Lee Knowles
Original publicity videos
The performance element of six_events is now over and finished. The exhibition took place on sunday 10th February 11:30am to 6pm at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
More events will be following soon; I am writing a collection of 1000 new events.
if you wish to make contact with Matthew Lee Knowles please see www.myspace.com/composermatthewknowlespianist
to view the details of Matthew's next project please see www.myspace.com/nothingness_happening
It doesn't matter where you are in the world, you can do six_events in any country.
SIX_EVENTS allows us to reflect on what we do in our daily routine, looking for examples where there might be elements of ‘art’ in our own lives, rather than being the passive consumers of ‘art’ created by others. Matthew thinks of this project as a worldwide simultaneous happening and is encouraging performers to record their involvement in any way (photo, film, audio, poetry, writing, drawing) to be exhibited in London after the event.
The first event takes place on January 21st 2008 and there is an event every day (with exception to Saturday 26th) with the final event being on Sunday 27th January.
Performers are free to execute their performance at any point during the day and in each event have to follow through a task. These tasks range from clapping hands once, to simply not thinking about the length of time one will ride a bus for. You do not have to take part in every single event, you can choose just one if you so wish.
Events call for certain times and durations to be recorded and sent to the composer; these timings and durations will go to writing a new piece of music in late 2008.
Event four (supermarket) calls for receipts to be kept, it is hoped that performers will send their receipts to Matthew through the post or scan and email them to six_events@yahoo.co.uk
Performers should constantly listen to the sounds around them, they are hearing a very unique composition. Also, anything at all of interest should be documented, if something happens (someone accuses you of acting suspicious, a pigeon sits on your head, you fall asleep, you trip up....) please write this down and email to the above address.
(If you wish, as so many do, to be sent a reminder for the events in January, please send a blank email to six_events@yahoo.co.uk and you will receive a reminder, simple!)
Event one BUS Monday January 21st 2008
On the prescribed day you should board any bus, at any time.
The length of your journey should not be premeditated.
When you are ready, alight the bus.
You should record the times you boarded & alighted the bus.
Event two ROAD Tuesday January 22nd
On the prescribed day, walk down any road.
You should clap your hands together once, at any point.
You may walk at any pace, but must record the name of the road & the duration of how long you walked for.
It is at your discretion to how long you walk for (at the end of the road, you could turn around & walk back.)
Event three BUILDING Wednesday January 23rd
On the prescribed day you should enter any building.
Discover the building for a duration of up to one hour.
Sit down at least once & close your eyes.
You should record the time you entered & left the building.
Event four SUPERMARKET Thursday January 24th
On the prescribed day you should enter any supermarket.
Walk down every isle at your own pace.
On your way round you must pick up any item for less then £1
Go back to your original starting place, in the supermarket.
Before paying for your item you must move one other item in the store to another place, an incongruous position on another shelf.
Pay for your item & keep your receipt.
You may not own the bought item, it must be given away or thrown into a bin.
Event five PUB Friday January 25th
On the prescribed day you should enter any pub & ask one person any question you wish.
You should request a glass of water, you should not drink it.
Leave the pub.
You should record the time you entered & left the pub.
Event six PARK Sunday January 27th
On the prescribed day you should enter any park
Sit or stand on a green area for any length of time
You should look up to the sky at least once.
You should record the time you entered & left the park.
Where six_events will be performed (updated 16/01)
America:
Georgia,
Texas,
Illinois,
California,
Michigan,
Arizona,
New York,
New Jersey,
Minnesota,
Maryland,
Washington DC,
South Carolina,
New Mexico,
Colorado
Massachusetts
Other:
Spain,
Egypt,
China,
India,
Greece,
Japan,
Italy,
England,
Scotland,
Ireland,
Finland,
Portugal,
Germany,
Serbia,
Canada,
New Zealand,
Latvia,
Australia,
Malaysia,
Azerbaijan
Israel
Holland
France
Argentina
Croatia
Sweden
Who I'd like to meet: Anyone who is interested in the above, or anyone who wants to take part. I would love to hold a discussion at the end about anyones experiences during the week, thoughts or ideas about the general concepts, whether or not this is art, music or neither.
Get in touch!
Hi! thanks for the add. unfortunately i think i missed the boat. too much happening all at once :) let me know when the next 6events in happening. all the best Max
Thanks for the add. I like your project very much. A few years ago I came up with something similar, inspired by Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies. I called it:
softlogic practices -- Settle into contradiction. -- Develop a personal system for evaluating clouds. Keep it a secret, but keep notes. -- Write anonymous but genuine letters of thanks to people who have wronged you or caused you to suffer. You can, but don't have to, send them. -- Start some things with an intention to fail. -- Make poems of three or four words. -- Read crowds allegorically. -- Extend silences. -- Find three coincidental patterns around you right now. -- Trace the connections from a negative action to three positive outcomes. -- Give yourself time and opportunity for getting lost. -- Entertain insects. -- Forget more. -- Clarify less. -- Give proper names to objects you often use (e.g. "Malcom (the refrigerator) is out of eggs.") -- Carry a stone to water. -- Carry a cup of water to the ocean. -- Give someone the last word as though your silence were a gift. -- Make a list of 100 things that have taught you patience. -- Find a way to see any person's face as innocent. -- Just after finishing something, don't move. Sit or stand motionless and quiet. Then, continue on with your activities. -- Imagine people as half their age and tossing a ball in the air. -- Imagine that you are responsible for the one meter of space surrounding your body. You don't own it. You are merely responsible for it, tending it, to care for it while you are in it. You are not responsible for the area beyond this one meter, unless you move into it. Imagine the care extending to a location when two people are near each other or touching or making love. -- Imagine a complete short film in your mind. Keep it a secret. -- Compose a poem in your mind before certain actions, such as before you turn the car ignition or lock the front door at night. -- Observe people as t
just a thought... but it might be interesting to exhibit six_events in streets or underground stations (is that what you call it? haha)... it might be a nice way to see "elements of ‘art’ in our own lives, rather than being the passive consumers of ‘art’ created by others." a wise man once said that! in other words, don't just put it up on a pedestal or trap it on a canvas! put it out there for people to walk on it, spit in it, urinate around it, or even get a great laugh out of it. of course, i haven't had my coffee yet, so what do i know? :)
hi matthew, i'm so glad you got the dvd and liked it - wish i could see the whole show.. almost all the snow has melted here but i'm sure it ain't over yet paz y abrazos, janewangcomposer
Day 2: 2:22 PM Tucson, Arizona i walked down Cherry Ave. and clapped once. Then my boyfriend and i argued about whether i did it right.... i mean, how hard can it be?
Hi sorry ive not back to u. Ive had so much going on its been quite hard to add more to whats still being developed. I will try my best to get involved. i had a quick read through some comments reg the six events. Will try my best keep up what u know best, just do ur thing. Im quite impressed, ok im actually impressed. Love it. Always somoya xxxxxxx
hi matthew, i missed the 2nd event but plan to do event 3 today and event 6 if i can on sunday - i hope it is ok to use a loose definition of a building and a park respectively - i plan on using a car park building for today's event and a golf course for the park and plan to make two short videos in addition to noting times etc.
Six flowers float in the valley winds six blades searching round to cut them six girls strive to protect their life six demons summoning displaying evil six chances to watch tears and smiles six ways to experiment life's potency
Matthew, Miranda and I had great fun with the bus and we are artmaking write now. We took some pics. Send ASAP. Event 2 was a blast of icy cold air. Love from NYC. Staten Island to be exact) Marguerite
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