Uploaded April 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Civilians’ experimental performance “Liveness: A Performance Made From The WNYC Archives” brought audiences back to 1970s NYC–a time when WNYC aired “Artists in the City,” a show designed to introduce listeners to local professional artists and “Arts Forum,” monthly interviews in collaboration with Anthology Film Archives.
For the second installment of their Artist in Residence program, The Civilians took the audio from archival interviews, spliced them up, and had performers reenact the conversations on stage. The outcome gave audiences the feeling of being transported back in time and dropped into the 1970s art and culture world.
The following artists were featured in this event:
Kenneth Anger (b. 1927) is an iconic underground experimental filmmaker who worked exclusively in short films. Known as “one of America’s first openly gay filmmakers,” his movies combine homoeroticism and surrealism. In this interview, he discussed actor Bobby Beausoleil’s participation in his film “Lucifer Rising” and involvement with the Manson Family shortly after.
Yvonne Rainer (b. 1934) is a dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker whose work can be considered minimalist art.
Lorenzo Thomas (1944–2005) was a poet and critic who was born in the Republic of Panama and grew up in NYC.
George Kuchar (1942–2011) was an experimental filmmaker who inspired generations of eccentric art fans and award-winning directors. His 1966 film short “Hold Me While I’m Naked” is considered one of camp’s defining texts.
Harry Smith (1923–1991) was a multidisciplinary artist, collector, and pioneer who was a central cult figure among artists and poets between the 1950s and 1980s. He believed in creating a life outside of institutions and capitalism and brought about major revolutions in the arts. His unorthodox methods of cultural engagement are still influential today.
Visit greenespace.org/watch to see the entire performance and get your tickets to The Civilians' final show that tackles failures and flops on May 15th!
Watch the full stream from The Greene Space Artist in Residence: The Civilians: Liveness: A Performance Made from The WNYC Archives: @
Stay up to date with upcoming events at The Greene Space by signing up for our newsletter: thegreenespace.org/contact-us/sign-up-for-our-newsletter
Follow The Greene Space on social:
Facebook: facebook.com/thegreenespace
Instagram: instagram.com/thegreenespacenyc/?hl=en
Twitter: twitter.com/TheGreeneSpace
The Greene Space is funded by you. Make a monthly donation of $10 or more to support us and all the programs and podcasts you love from WNYC, WQXR, Gothamist and more! pledge3.wnyc.org/donate/tgs/onestep/?utm_medium=partnersite&utm_source=tgs&utm_campaign=donatebutton
The Civilians’ experimental performance “Liveness: A Performance Made From The WNYC Archives” brought audiences back to 1970s NYC–a time when WNYC aired “Artists in the City,” a show designed to introduce listeners to local professional artists and “Arts Forum,” monthly interviews in collaboration with Anthology Film Archives.
For the second installment of their Artist in Residence program, The Civilians took the audio from archival interviews, spliced them up, and had performers reenact the conversations on stage. The outcome gave audiences the feeling of being transported back in time and dropped into the 1970s art and culture world.
The following artists were featured in this event:
Kenneth Anger (b. 1927) is an iconic underground experimental filmmaker who worked exclusively in short films. Known as “one of America’s first openly gay filmmakers,” his movies combine homoeroticism and surrealism. In this interview, he discussed actor Bobby Beausoleil’s participation in his film “Lucifer Rising” and involvement with the Manson Family shortly after.
Yvonne Rainer (b. 1934) is a dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker whose work can be considered minimalist art.
Lorenzo Thomas (1944–2005) was a poet and critic who was born in the Republic of Panama and grew up in NYC.
George Kuchar (1942–2011) was an experimental filmmaker who inspired generations of eccentric art fans and award-winning directors. His 1966 film short “Hold Me While I’m Naked” is considered one of camp’s defining texts.
Harry Smith (1923–1991) was a multidisciplinary artist, collector, and pioneer who was a central cult figure among artists and poets between the 1950s and 1980s. He believed in creating a life outside of institutions and capitalism and brought about major revolutions in the arts. His unorthodox methods of cultural engagement are still influential today.
Visit greenespace.org/watch to see the entire performance and get your tickets to The Civilians' final show that tackles failures and flops on May 15th!
Watch the full stream from The Greene Space Artist in Residence: The Civilians: Liveness: A Performance Made from The WNYC Archives: @
Stay up to date with upcoming events at The Greene Space by signing up for our newsletter: thegreenespace.org/contact-us/sign-up-for-our-newsletter
Follow The Greene Space on social:
Facebook: facebook.com/thegreenespace
Instagram: instagram.com/thegreenespacenyc/?hl=en
Twitter: twitter.com/TheGreeneSpace
The Greene Space is funded by you. Make a monthly donation of $10 or more to support us and all the programs and podcasts you love from WNYC, WQXR, Gothamist and more! pledge3.wnyc.org/donate/tgs/onestep/?utm_medium=partnersite&utm_source=tgs&utm_campaign=donatebutton
