about:
what is the Lost Notebook?
The Lost Notebook is an arts initiative that
- develops new forms in contemporary performance
- generates new economically sustainable arts networks to share knowledge and resources
- publishes new artist-authored critical scholarship (okay not yet, but its on the agenda)
corollary question: what is contemporary compositional performance?
Contemporary performance is hybrid work that integrates text, dance, objects, music, costumes, lighting, image, sound, sets, and vocal expression into complex interactive systems. Contemporary performance names a body of work that builds on an aesthetic history beginning in the 1880s with Alfred Jarry and early Dada experiments and unfolds through into the American avant-garde and Performance Art of the 1980s. Contemporary performance collages are often non-narrative, technically rigorous, and carefully orchestrated anarchic chaos. They unsettle perception, demand critical engagement from audiences, address conceptual debates within aesthetics, draw on a diverse range of cultural interests, and bring pleasure to populations across the globe.
why does it exist?
The answer to this is a little complicated. The Lost Notebook began in 2002 as a place to publish artist-authored critical writings. However, by 2004 it was clear that some basic foundations had to be layed before New York City's artists could be asked to spend time writing about their aesthetic ideas and processes. Practical issues - owing in large part to a lack of financial resources - made asking contemporary performance artists to do anything beyond make their art and pay their rent a bit of a stretch. Although many service organizations provide knowledge, training and other resources for the performing arts, artists working in contemporary performance have particular needs derived from their extended processes, expansive aesthetic practices, and international wanderings. It is the Lost Notebook's mission, therefore, to work with this particular community to find solutions to the practical issues that plague them so that they can begin critical discussions about aesthetics and have the time to challenge each other and move the art form forward.
how to find it?
The Lost Notebook is not located in any one place,
but there is a higher probability of finding it in the Northeastern United States.
To contact it and send information about projects
or things for the Action Items news email
Morgan von Prelle Pecelli (bio)
morgan@lostnotebook.org
or
get to know it better via twitter
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