From Library Journal
Still active at the age of 80, Cunningham has investigated movement that is independent from story, music, or costume but coexists with those elements. Influenced by the work of avant-garde composer John Cage, Cunningham employs chance techniques to create movement that is defined by time and space and has worked with other original musicians and artists, including Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, and David Tudor, among many others. With the exception of a new article by David Vaughan, the Cunningham company's archivist, this bilingual (Spanish and English) volume considers the artist's career via more than 20 previously published articles and interviews, some quite obscure. The host of authors, including dancer Karole Armitage, choreographer/ filmmaker Yvonne Rainer, critic Roger Copeland, and composer Earle Brown, examine different aspects of Cunningham's work, focusing on his numerous innovations. A wonderfully eclectic mix of black-and-white photos of performances, sets, costumes, musical scores, performance spaces, composers, artists, and dancers underscores Cunningham's versatility and many contributions to the performing arts. An ideal companion to Merce Cunningham: Fifty Years edited by David Vaughan (LJ 3/1/98), this is recommended for both public and academic libraries.AJoan Stahl, National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
