Mercier (Merce) Philip Cunningham (April 16, 1919-July 26, 2009)
Merce was an American dancer and choreographer who stayed on the leading edge of the avant-garde for over fifty years. He was a creative force to be reckoned with, celebrating his 90th birthday with the opening of a new work entitled Nearly Ninety. He was an extensive collaborator (Robert Rauchenberg, Andy Warhol, designer Romeo Gigli, architect Benedetta Tagliabue) who's influence stretched far beyond the world of dance. His greatest collaboration may have been with John Cage (September 5, 1912-August 12 1992) avant-garde composer, poet, artist and philosopher who was Merce's partner in love and life as well as in dance and music. The couple met in 1944 while Merce was dancing for Martha Graham.
"The Legacy Plan is a comprehensive roadmap for the future of the
Cunningham Dance Foundation, as envisioned by founder Merce Cunningham.
The precedent-setting plan represents Cunningham’s vision for
continuing his work in the coming years; the transitioning of his
Company once he is no longer able to lead MCDC; and the preservation of
his oeuvre.
The Plan will position the Merce Cunningham Trust – established by
Cunningham in 2000 as the successor organization to the Cunningham
Dance Foundation – to hold and administer all rights to his
choreography after Cunningham’s own involvement in the Foundation
ceases...The Legacy Plan is the first of its kind in the dance world, and
involves systematic preparation, a high-profile international tour,
comprehensive documentation and digitizing efforts and, at the
appropriate time, a thorough and well-prepared closure of the
Cunningham Dance Foundation’s operations and organized handover to the
Merce Cunningham Trust. It will enable the Company and its partners
worldwide to celebrate Cunningham’s creative achievements and to ensure
that present and future generations of students, scholars, artists, and
audiences will be able to study and enjoy the work of this
groundbreaking artist...
When Cunningham is no longer able to serve as Artistic Director, the following components of the Legacy Plan will take effect:
- Celebrate Cunningham’s work with a world tour and a final performance in New York City;
- Provide dancers, musicians and staff with compensation and resources for career transition upon closure of Company;
- Transition to Merce Cunningham Trust,
which has been established by Cunningham as the successor organization
Merce may best be remembered for his innovations in choreography such as the belief that dance and music should be created separately and both he and Cage used a method based on the I ching in which they randomly chose the components of their works instead of using traditional methods. He also pioneered the belief that the dancer need not represent an idea or historical character but could instead be a creature of movement for the sake of movement.
Mercer and Cage may also be remembered as proof that same gendered couples can have longevity as well as passion and that one can simultaniously be bound by and defy gravity.
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Comments
—Melissa
Great piece, Tijo.
Scoub- Despite the many attempts at reproduction the original Twilight Zone had an eerie intensity that the latter shows never captured. Serling's other work, Night Gallery was even more eerie.
Earnie Kovaks was just plain scarey at times despite being a comedy and showed the depth of absurdist art (where humor and sadness are extensions of each other not opposing forces.) This is not to deny Cage and Cunningham their due just to add the context of their era to the discussion.
Owl- I haven't appreciated the artists of that era enough and now I keep reading ( and writing) about them. I hope I don't turn into, "that guy who writes about dead fags.)
Chi- I hope she's educating you well. What an interesting person he was. For instance he only took a pain pill once in his life and didn't take anything but vitamins thereafter because he didn't like the way they made him feel. He worked with injuries that would have stopped most people and did an hour of training every day well up into his eighties. I like to think of him as a pansy in the sense that it is the most cold hardy, enduring flower that pops through the snow and frost, goes dormant when the heat gets too high and comes out again in the autumn and blooms well into winter. Funny choice of flowers to call someone weak and foppish with.
I think dance may be our must under-appreciated art form (and the most dangerous to engage in) tell your wife I respect her tenacity and that I am sorry she lost someone so innovative in the world of dance.
I just had a conversation with a friend who is in her late 50's regarding how the world has changed and is changing for we GLBT folk. She remarked that many of the younger generation are beneficiaries of those who came before (including us, to some degree), but have no idea who/what came before.
Besides, you write other stuff too - and really, it's all good!