"I am for an art..." by Claes Oldenburg & "Happenings in the New York Scene" by Allan Kaprow

The "I am for an art..." reading is kind of a meditation on art by Oldenburg in the context of the Happenings, which were a combination of installation and theatrical improvisation undertaken by artists that would involve an audience.  In this reading, Oldenburg lists what kinds of art he is for, basically anything that is gritty, everyday, unpredictable and revealing of life's inner truths.  He is for an art that does not just sit a museum, but takes place in random locations and involves people in the art-making. 

The next reading is almost an expansion or explanation of the first one in that Allan Kaprow details what Happenings are, where they take place, etc.  Essentially, Happenings don't have a predetermined structure.  They are artistic/theatrical performances that involve the audience in the art-making.  They can take place anywhere, as long as the locations are intimate and support the interactive feel of the pieces.  Happenings don't have any strict beginning, middle and end, they usually begin with an idea or a set of ideas to explore and are left to chance to see what will happen.  In these performances, "failure" will often lead to a greater realization or exploration.  One of the most essential components of these works is that they cannot be sold, they are only around for a short time and are undertaken at most several times and at the least, just once.  Kaprow also looks at fame and success of artists towards the end of his writing.  He sees successful artists as not being free to produce work like the Happenings, as being pressured by dealers and the public to create art that will look good on a wall or that is suitable to be placed in a gallery or museum.  At this point, he sees many artists as dead in respect to their craft and unable to pursue work that is really meaningful.      

Reinvention of "Drag" (1984) in 2008 by USC Masters of Fine Arts Program