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Cover
of catalogue to 'Opening' exhibit, Angela Flower Gallery,
London.
I coined the phrase 'self-art' recently to describe
this genre. Its when you want to create an image of
yourself to project a particular energy field or archetype,
and you gather all the props and transform yourself
into the living artwork. The exhibition of table tops
and collages was laid out as a 'menu' with the 'ingredients'
being the materials used. I wanted to play with the
whole idea of the invitation to the 'Private View' and
then the idea of an 'Opening'.
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"She conceived of Opening not just as a traditional
gallery show but as a genuine opening of her own mind
and life and, hopefully, of the minds and lives of
those who participated in the event."
- Spare
Rib, 1973.
A pivotal point in my disillusionment with the traditional
'art world / gallery scene' came when I was unable to
create the kind of opening I wanted for 'Opening'. I
had wanted everyone to come as a bride and/or groom
and we were to have a wedding feast of erotic edibles.
When it didn't happen, I felt my whole vision for the
exhibit to be diluted. I had not wanted sterile objects
just hanging in an art gallery, I had wanted my pieces
to be tokens of an experience. I decided to burn all
the remaining art at the end of the exhibit to make
my point and at least have some kind of ritual. I invited
the press. The night preceding the intended burning,
I mentally, spiritually and emotionally evoked burning
the pieces, so that I went through it in myself, and
released my attachment before the actual event. I was
surprised how big of a let go it was. The next morning
I awoke to the headlines, 'Molten plastic falls on children's
heads' - an amusement arcade had burnt down…Obviously
my gesture would be most inappropriate at this time.
I called off the burning.
"Ms. Slinger thinks that we have lost sight of the real
meaning of ritual, and hence she has taken the themes
of food and sexuality as her mainsprings to stimulate
our orgiastic reawakening, because both eating and sex
still carry the most strident taboos in our society."
Arts and Artists, 1973.
"She abhors categories and tries to make no distinction
between her life and her art. Her art is a process linked
into the development of her personality." Knave May,
1973.
"It's not just a question of showing people my work,
I prefer to give people experiences." Penny, Image Magazine,
1973.
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