Performance Art - Ray Johnson Estate

Ray Johnson at the opening of Invitation Correspondence, Western Illinois University, Macomb, 1974. Photograph by John Orlandello

" . . . Visitors began to enter the premises. Most of them looked quite dismayed that nothing was going on . . . Well, finally Ray arrived . . . and he brought with him a large corrugated cardboard box of wooden spools. Soon after arriving Ray emptied this box of spools down the staircase … with these …one had to step cautiously to avoid slipping …I was delighted with this gesture.”

- Ed Plunkett

Johnson was an early instigator of performance art, actively participating in events by James Waring and Susan Kaufman, among others, and staging his own starting in 1957 that included "Funeral Music for Elvis Presley" and "Lecture on Modern Music.” Johnson's compositions were performed at The Living Theatre and during events such as the Fluxus “Yam Festival” of 1963. From 1961 on, Johnson periodically staged events he called "Nothings,” described to his friend William S. Wilson as “an attitude as opposed to a happening,” which would parallel the “Happenings” of Allan Kaprow and later Fluxus events. The first of these, "Nothing by Ray Johnson," was part of a weekly series of events in July 1961 at AG Gallery, a venue in New York operated by George Maciunas and Almus Salcius. Ed Plunkett later recalled entering an empty room: " . . . Visitors began to enter the premises. Most of them looked quite dismayed that nothing was going on . . . Well, finally Ray arrived . . . and he brought with him a large corrugated cardboard box of wooden spools. Soon after arriving Ray emptied this box of spools down the staircase … with these … one had to step cautiously to avoid slipping … I was delighted with this gesture.” Johnson’s second Nothing took place at Maidman Playhouse, New York, in 1962. Furthermore, the carefully orchestrated circumstances of his suicide on Friday the 13th, 1995 prompted the suggestion that the process of his drowning was his “final performance.”

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Ray Johnson and Suzi Gablik staging Johnson&rsquo;s Moticos, 1955. Photograph by Elisabeth Novick

Ray Johnson and Suzi Gablik staging Johnson’s Moticos, 1955. Photograph by Elisabeth Novick

Ray Johnson&#39;s &quot;Second Nothing&quot;, New York Poets Theater, Maidman Playhouse, 3/24/1962. Photo by William S. Wilson.

Ray Johnson's "Second Nothing", New York Poets Theater, Maidman Playhouse, 3/24/1962. Photo by William S. Wilson.

Ray Johnson with Sari Dienes &quot;stealing&quot; back his work, Robin Gallery event, 1963. Photo by William S. Wilson.

Ray Johnson with Sari Dienes "stealing" back his work, Robin Gallery event, 1963. Photo by William S. Wilson.

Dead woodpecker attached to Toby Spiselman&rsquo;s dress by Ray Johnson, at the opening of &ldquo;Pictures to Be Read/ Poetry to Be Seen,&rdquo; Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, 10/24/1967

Dead woodpecker attached to Toby Spiselman’s dress by Ray Johnson, at the opening of “Pictures to Be Read/ Poetry to Be Seen,” Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, 10/24/1967

Ray Johnson and May Wilson at NYCS Halloween Stlit Walk Meeting, 1968. Photograph by John Willenbecher

Hot Dog Drop, 7th Annual New York Avant Garde Festival, Ward&rsquo;s Island and Mill Rock Island, NY, 1969

Hot Dog Drop, 7th Annual New York Avant Garde Festival, Ward’s Island and Mill Rock Island, NY, 1969

A New York Correspondance School &quot;Feeting&quot; at the Sacramento State College, Spring 1969. Photo by Junglefoot.

A New York Correspondance School "Feeting" at the Sacramento State College, Spring 1969. Photo by Junglefoot.

Ray Johnson in NYCS Exhibition and Valentine&#39;s Day performance in conjunction with &quot; Invitation Correspondence&quot; Exhibition, Western Illinois University at Macomb, February 1974. Photograph by John Orandello

Ray Johnson in NYCS Exhibition and Valentine's Day performance in conjunction with " Invitation Correspondence" Exhibition, Western Illinois University at Macomb, February 1974. Photograph by John Orandello

Ray Johnson, circa 1975. Photographer unknown.

Ray Johnson drawing Christoph De Menil&#39;s silhouette, 10/26/77. Photo by Toby Spiselman.&nbsp;

Ray Johnson drawing Christoph De Menil's silhouette, 10/26/77. Photo by Toby Spiselman.

Ray Johnson at the Walker Art Center, 1979. This act was a reference to another Ray Johnson, who had streaked at the Vatican and who Johnson had met previously at the Wadsworth Antheneum. Photographer unknown.

A Ray Johnson performance during which he asks participants to walk through each others&#39; legs, 1980. Photographer unknown.

A Ray Johnson performance during which he asks participants to walk through each others' legs, 1980. Photographer unknown.

Ray Johnson at &quot;Rooftop Event&quot;, otherwise known as &quot;Drive-In Amusement Event&quot;, sponsored by the Hempstead Harbor Artists Association in conjunction with &quot;Avant Garde Performance / Installations&quot;, Brewster Street North Garage, Glen Cove NY, 9/23/84. Photograph by Edvard Lieber.

Ray Johnson at "Rooftop Event", otherwise known as "Drive-In Amusement Event", sponsored by the Hempstead Harbor Artists Association in conjunction with "Avant Garde Performance / Installations", Brewster Street North Garage, Glen Cove NY, 9/23/84. Photograph by Edvard Lieber.

Ray Johnson at &quot;Jean Dubuffet Fan Club Meeting&quot;, Nassau County Museum of Fine Art, Roslyn NY, 9/21/1986. Photograph by Richard P. Meyer.

Ray Johnson at "Jean Dubuffet Fan Club Meeting", Nassau County Museum of Fine Art, Roslyn NY, 9/21/1986. Photograph by Richard P. Meyer.

Ray Johnson with a bunny banner to be placed on display in his show, &ldquo;More Works by Ray Johnson 1951-1991&rdquo; at Goldie Paley Gallery, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, 12/1991. Photographer unknown.

Ray Johnson with a bunny banner to be placed on display in his show, “More Works by Ray Johnson 1951-1991” at Goldie Paley Gallery, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, 12/1991. Photographer unknown.