As a phenomenon, Fluxus was neither a part of the contemporaneous Pop Art movement nor a form of Neo-Dada. Spawned in the 1960s through the collaborative efforts of such artists as Nam June Paik, Josef Beuys, and Yoko Ono, Fluxus has had a big impact on art produced ever since. In many ways, it was a lifestyle, and no one lived it more completely than George Maciunas, founder and prime mover. Born in Lithuania, he possessed a great capacity for organizing materials as well as people. He hated waste and suffered much of his life from respiratory difficulties, accomplishing much with very few resources and a lot of ingenuity. As an individual, he was the quintessential artist with a mission, someone who passionately practiced what he preached. Until this biography, few sources could begin to pin down this complex and eccentric man. In keeping with the Fluxus spirit, it is an international collective work, written by the people who knew Maciunas. Above and beyond the biographical material, this book is loaded with insightful anecdotes about the art world of the 1960s. Recommended for all contemporary art history collections.ASusan M. Olcott, Columbus Metropolitan Lib., OH Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
