Matter transformation: A process work

Matter Transformation, a collaborative work, performed at Apple space in NYC in 1971 included Geoff Hendricks, Billy Apple and myself, Jerry Vis. It began with each artist independently selecting a basic material to be manipulated as each saw fit. There was no agenda or predetermined goal other than a possibility that the individual activities might come together in a collaborative work. The format required all individuals to be present and work during standard gallery hours. Borders between the individual spaces were respected and maintained with little verbal interaction of any kind occurring.

The piece began by dividing up the twenty five by twenty five foot square space into three equal spaces where each worked in isolation from the other: Geoff with sod from a suburban lawn, Billy with glass neon tubes, and myself with brown sandstone blocks. 

Geoff separated and sorted his materials into various piles of grass, soil, insects, and random objects. 

Billy’s glass tubes were configured  in various constructions and arrangements in part or whole, while I worked with a chisel, and hammer.

I began reducing my blocks into small cubes with the end goal being sand. 

Without consent or discussion I arrived early one day, mixed and spread all materials evenly throughout the room then created a grid of cleared squares with a cube of sandstone in each. When the others arrived no comments or questions occurred, instead we began working together which continued throughout the remainder of the show which brought us to the ultimate dilemma, how to conclude the work. At that point disposing of all the materials became a serious aspect of the piece. Should the disposal not be a part of the overall piece?. None of the materials were toxic and had been reduced to uniformly small particle sizes. 

It was mutually agreed that as a part of the piece the materials could be recycled which was accomplished by transporting  everything to a dirt lane in upstate New York were we spread it evenly upon the road surface. As a perfect  conclusion to this work it began to snow totally obscuring this the final activity of our collaboration even as it took place.  In conjunction with this brief description several pictures taken during this show plus the article found in the new Museum book are included below.

Sample photos

1. Myself, Jerry Vis,  jumping on a Billy Apple sandwich
   
   

2. Gallery space / working together
   
   

3. The gallery at the show's end / spreading materials on a dirt road as found in the 1981 book published by The New Museum from the show titled:
   Alternatives in Retrospect - an historical overview 1969 -1975