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Delford Brown, "The Meat Show", An Environment, 1964 (Invitation); Archiv der Avantgarden, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
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Delford Brown, "The Meat Show", An Environment, 1964 (Invitation); Archiv der Avantgarden, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

Robert Delford Brown, MEAT SHOW, New York, 1964

Venue: Washington Meat Market, New York

Dates: October 23, 1964, 5–9 p.m., October 24–25, 1964, 1–6 p.m.

Dimensions: 14.9 x 22.7 cm

Further Information: For Robert Delford Brown, Meat Show functioned as an inauguration of a new religion founded by himself, the “First National Church of Exquisite Panic.” Brown explained, “I am attempting to bring religion, sex and art into the same vital relationship that existed prior to the degenerative plague that Jesus Christ, Mohammed, Moses, Gautama Buddha, and Lao-Tse visited upon humanity. The Meat Show will be created to induce startling spiritual, sexual and aesthetic revelations in the viewer.” The venue’s temperature was kept at just 38 degrees Fahrenheit (around 3.3 Celsius): “It is suggested that heavy clothing be worn, but blankets will be furnished to those who request them.”

ALW

Images: Images of the invitation and all other archival documents shown on this page are part of the online collection of Archiv der Avantgarden, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.

The press release and invitation letter to Brown’s Meat Show can be seen below.

Delford Brown, "The Meat Show", An Environment, 1964 (Press Release) © SKD
Robert Delford Brown, Meat Show, 1964 (Press Release) © SKD

Robert Delford Brown, whose estate is in large parts present in the Archiv der Avantgarden in Dresden, left many notes and sketches for the preparation of his 1964 happening The Meat Show: An Environment. The following is some of his preparation material for the performance, such as a sketch by the artist and notes of what to buy and bring for the event.

Delford Brown, "The Meat Show", An Environment, 1964 (Sketch by the artist) © SKD
Robert Delford Brown, Meat Show, 1964 (Press Release) © SKD
Delford Brown, "The Meat Show", An Environment, 1964 (Notes by the artist) © SKD
Robert Delford Brown, The Meat Show: An Environment, 1964 (Press Release) © SKD