by Alison Knowles 1965

Here's a handwritten script by Alison Knowles, with a list of performance instructions—"Make a salad," "Make a soup." It’s raw and immediate, like a glimpse into her thought process. I get a sense of play and experimentation. The instructions invite the viewer to consider everyday activities as art, riffing on the idea of art as a proposition or suggestion. Knowles wasn’t precious or fussy; instead, she was direct, humorous, and improvisational. It reminds me of Fluxus artists, especially Yoko Ono’s performance scores, which invite participation and interaction. What I love about Knowles' script is that it encourages us to think of art as something that is made in real time, but also highlights the fact that art can happen anywhere. We, as viewers, also become participants. Looking at this makes me want to make my own score. Maybe it's a painting, maybe it's a walk, maybe it's cooking dinner. It's all connected.