The Kitchen (art institution)

{{Short description|Avant-garde art center in Manhattan, New York}}

{{Short description|Avant-garde art center in Manhattan, New York}}

{{Other uses|Kitchen (disambiguation)}}

{{Other uses|Kitchen (disambiguation)}}

{{Promotional|date=March 2026}}

{{Infobox venue

{{Infobox venue

| name = The Kitchen

| name = The Kitchen

}}

}}

'''The Kitchen''' is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary [[avant-garde]] performance and experimental art institution located at 512 [[19th Street (Manhattan)|West 19th Street]], between [[Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)|Tenth]] and [[Eleventh Avenue (Manhattan)|Eleventh]] Avenues in the [[Chelsea (Manhattan)|Chelsea]] neighborhood of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]]. As the organization undergoes a multi-year renovation it is currently sited at a satellite loft space in the West Village located at 163B Bank Street, where exhibitions and performances are regularly held. It was founded in [[Greenwich Village]] in 1971 by [[Steina and Woody Vasulka]], who were frustrated at the lack of an outlet for video art. The space takes its name from the original location, the kitchen of the Mercer Arts Center which was the only available place for the artists to screen their video pieces.{{Cite book|title=Alternative art, New York, 1965-1985 : a cultural politics book for the Social Text Collective|date=2002|publisher=Drawing Center|others=Ault, Julie., Social Text Collective., Drawing Center (New York, N.Y.)|isbn=0816637938|location=New York|oclc=50253087}} Although first intended as a location for the exhibition of video art, The Kitchen soon expanded its mission to include other forms of art and performance, and incorporated as a not-for-profit arts organization in 1973. In 1974, The Kitchen relocated to a building at the corner of [[Wooster Street (Manhattan)|Wooster]] and [[Broome Street (Manhattan)|Broome]] Streets in [[SoHo]]. In 1987 it moved to its current location in Manhattan, New York City.

'''The Kitchen''' is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary [[avant-garde]] [[performance art]] and [[experimental]] art institution located at 512 [[19th Street (Manhattan)|West 19th Street]], between [[Tenth Avenue (Manhattan)|Tenth]] and [[Eleventh Avenue (Manhattan)|Eleventh]] Avenues in the [[Chelsea (Manhattan)|Chelsea]] neighborhood of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]]. It was founded in [[Greenwich Village]] in 1971 by [[Steina and Woody Vasulka]], who were frustrated at the lack of an outlet for [[video art]].

The space takes its name from the original location, the [[kitchen]] of the Mercer Arts Center which was the only available place for the artists to screen their video art pieces.{{Cite book|title=Alternative art, New York, 1965-1985 : a cultural politics book for the Social Text Collective|date=2002|publisher=Drawing Center|others=Ault, Julie., Social Text Collective., Drawing Center (New York, N.Y.)|isbn=0816637938|location=New York|oclc=50253087}} Although first intended as a location for the exhibition of video art, The Kitchen soon expanded its mission to include other forms of art and performance, and incorporated as an arts [[not-for-profit organization]] organization in 1973. In 1974, The Kitchen relocated to a building at the corner of [[Wooster Street (Manhattan)|Wooster]] and [[Broome Street (Manhattan)|Broome]] Streets in [[SoHo]]. In 1987 it moved to its current location in Manhattan, New York City.

The first music director of The Kitchen was composer [[Rhys Chatham]]. The venue became known as a place where many [[no wave]] artists like [[Glenn Branca]], [[Lydia Lunch]] and [[James Chance]] performed. Notable Kitchen alumni also include [[Philip Glass]], [[Laurie Anderson (performance artist)|Laurie Anderson]], [[Ed Bowes]], [[Rocco Di Pietro]], [[John Moran (composer)|John Moran]], [[Jay Scheib]], Young Jean Lee's Theater Company, [[Peter Greenaway]], [[Michael Nyman]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Pauline Oliveros]], [[Gordon Mumma]], [[Frederic Rzewski]], Ridge Theater, [[The Future Sound of London]], [[Leisure Class (band)|Leisure Class]], [[Elliott Sharp]], [[Brian Eno]], [[Arthur Russell (musician)|Arthur Russell]], [[Meredith Monk]], [[Arleen Schloss]], [[Vito Acconci]], [[Keshavan Maslak]], [[Elaine Summers]], [[Lucinda Childs]], [[Bill T. Jones]], [[David Byrne]]/[[Talking Heads]], [[chameckilerner]], [[John Jasperse]], [[Bryce Dessner]], [[Nico Muhly]], [[Dave Soldier]], [[Soldier String Quartet]], [[Komar and Melamid]], [[Ethel (string quartet)|ETHEL]], Chris McIntyre, Sylvie Degiez, Wayne Lopes/CosmicLegends, [[Cindy Sherman]], and [[Swans (band)|Swans]].

The first music director of The Kitchen was composer [[Rhys Chatham]].[https://www.radiofrance.fr/francemusique/podcasts/l-experimentale/documentaire-the-kitchen-une-avant-garde-musicale-3493813] France Radio Documentaire: "The Kitchen, une Avant-garde musicale"

Today, The Kitchen focuses on presenting emerging artists, most of whom are local, and is committed to advancing work that is experimental in nature. Its facilities include a 155-seat black box performance space and a gallery space for audio and visual exhibitions. The Kitchen presents interdisciplinary work in music, dance, performance, video, film, visual art, and literature.[http://www.thekitchen.org/ The Kitchen website]

Dimanche 17 octobre 2021 The venue became known as a place where many [[no wave]] artists like [[Glenn Branca]], [[Lydia Lunch]] and [[James Chance]] performed. Notable Kitchen alumni also include [[Philip Glass]], [[Laurie Anderson (performance artist)|Laurie Anderson]], [[Ed Bowes]], [[Rocco Di Pietro]], [[John Moran (composer)|John Moran]], [[Jay Scheib]], Young Jean Lee's Theater Company, [[Peter Greenaway]], [[Michael Nyman]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Pauline Oliveros]], [[Gordon Mumma]], [[Frederic Rzewski]], Ridge Theater, [[The Future Sound of London]], [[Leisure Class (band)|Leisure Class]], [[Elliott Sharp]], [[Brian Eno]], [[Arthur Russell (musician)|Arthur Russell]], [[Meredith Monk]], [[Arleen Schloss]], [[Vito Acconci]], [[Keshavan Maslak]], [[Elaine Summers]], [[Lucinda Childs]], [[Bill T. Jones]], [[David Byrne]]/[[Talking Heads]], [[chameckilerner]], [[John Jasperse]], [[Bryce Dessner]], [[Nico Muhly]], [[Dave Soldier]], [[Soldier String Quartet]], [[Komar and Melamid]], [[Ethel (string quartet)|ETHEL]], Chris McIntyre, Sylvie Degiez, Wayne Lopes/CosmicLegends, [[Cindy Sherman]], and [[Swans (band)|Swans]].

Today, The Kitchen focuses on presenting emerging artists in the areas of music, dance, performance, video, film, visual art, and literature. Its facilities include a 155-seat black box performance space and a gallery space for audio and visual art exhibitions.[http://www.thekitchen.org/ The Kitchen website] As the organization undergoes a multi-year renovation it is currently sited at a satellite loft space in the West Village located at 163B Bank Street, where exhibitions and performances are held.

==History==

==History==

* In 2011, The Kitchen marked its 40th anniversary with a number of events throughout the year, beginning with the Spring Benefit Gala, which honored [[Philip Glass]] on May 4. Next, were two music events celebrating the anniversary. The first event, ''Aluminum Music'' April 15–16 – which itself was a 30-year commemoration of a 1981 Kitchen event ''Aluminum Nights''Bennett, Bruce. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703518704576258951958107650 "A Party So Nice They're Throwing It Twice"] ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' (April 13, 2011) – featured [[Z'EV]] and No-Wavers [[Bush Tetras]] on April 15, followed by former music director (and Aluminum Nights co-curator) [[George E. Lewis]] with [[Peter Gordon (composer)|Peter Gordon's Love of Life Orchestra]] on the bill April 16. The second music event was September 9–10, curated by the first Kitchen Music Director [[Rhys Chatham]], '''Pioneers of the Downtown Sound'' with [[Pauline Oliveros]], [[Joan La Barbara]], and Chatham playing on September 9 and [[Tony Conrad]], [[Laurie Spiegel]], and Chatham featured on September 10.Schultz, Charlie [http://www.artslant.com/ny/articles/show/28032 "Downtown Sound: Rhys Chatham at The Kitchen NYC"] on ArtSlant The anniversary culminated with the summer-long exhibition ''The View from a Volcano: The Kitchen's Soho Years, 1971-85'', which highlighted the rich history of the early years with video documentation and ephemera from works by such artists as [[Vito Acconci]], [[Laurie Anderson]], [[Karole Armitage]], [[Robert Ashley]], [[Charles Atlas]], [[Beastie Boys]], [[Eric Bogosian]], [[John Cage]], [[Jean Dupuy (artist)|Jean Dupuy]], [[Molissa Fenley]], [[Joan Jonas]], [[Bill T. Jones]], [[Christian Marclay]], [[Meredith Monk]], [[Nam June Paik]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Rock Steady Crew]], [[Arthur Russell (musician)|Arthur Russell]], [[Elizabeth Streb]], [[Talking Heads]], [[Steina and Woody Vasulka]], [[Bill Viola]], and more.{{cite news|url=http://dialectmagazine.com/2011/08/09/the-view-from-a-volcano/ |title=The View from a Volcano |work=Dialect Magazine |access-date=2014-01-04}}

* In 2011, The Kitchen marked its 40th anniversary with a number of events throughout the year, beginning with the Spring Benefit Gala, which honored [[Philip Glass]] on May 4. Next, were two music events celebrating the anniversary. The first event, ''Aluminum Music'' April 15–16 – which itself was a 30-year commemoration of a 1981 Kitchen event ''Aluminum Nights''Bennett, Bruce. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703518704576258951958107650 "A Party So Nice They're Throwing It Twice"] ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' (April 13, 2011) – featured [[Z'EV]] and No-Wavers [[Bush Tetras]] on April 15, followed by former music director (and Aluminum Nights co-curator) [[George E. Lewis]] with [[Peter Gordon (composer)|Peter Gordon's Love of Life Orchestra]] on the bill April 16. The second music event was September 9–10, curated by the first Kitchen Music Director [[Rhys Chatham]], '''Pioneers of the Downtown Sound'' with [[Pauline Oliveros]], [[Joan La Barbara]], and Chatham playing on September 9 and [[Tony Conrad]], [[Laurie Spiegel]], and Chatham featured on September 10.Schultz, Charlie [http://www.artslant.com/ny/articles/show/28032 "Downtown Sound: Rhys Chatham at The Kitchen NYC"] on ArtSlant The anniversary culminated with the summer-long exhibition ''The View from a Volcano: The Kitchen's Soho Years, 1971-85'', which highlighted the rich history of the early years with video documentation and ephemera from works by such artists as [[Vito Acconci]], [[Laurie Anderson]], [[Karole Armitage]], [[Robert Ashley]], [[Charles Atlas]], [[Beastie Boys]], [[Eric Bogosian]], [[John Cage]], [[Jean Dupuy (artist)|Jean Dupuy]], [[Molissa Fenley]], [[Joan Jonas]], [[Bill T. Jones]], [[Christian Marclay]], [[Meredith Monk]], [[Nam June Paik]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Rock Steady Crew]], [[Arthur Russell (musician)|Arthur Russell]], [[Elizabeth Streb]], [[Talking Heads]], [[Steina and Woody Vasulka]], [[Bill Viola]], and more.{{cite news|url=http://dialectmagazine.com/2011/08/09/the-view-from-a-volcano/ |title=The View from a Volcano |work=Dialect Magazine |access-date=2014-01-04}}

==Archive==

==Archives==

In 2014, the [[Getty Research Institute]] announced its acquisition of [http://www.getty.edu/research/special_collections/notable/the_kitchen.html The Kitchen’s archives], including 5,410 videotapes and more than 600 audiotapes, as well as photographs and ephemera documenting performances, exhibitions and events staged from 1971 to 1999. Also included in the archive are 246 posters designed by artists like [[Robert Longo]] and [[Christian Marclay]].Carol Vogel (January 23, 2014), [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/arts/design/seized-by-nazis-now-for-sale.html Kitchen Archives Go To Getty] ''[[The New York Times]]''.

In 2014, the [[Getty Research Institute]] announced its acquisition of [http://www.getty.edu/research/special_collections/notable/the_kitchen.html The Kitchen’s archives], including 5,410 videotapes and more than 600 audiotapes, as well as photographs and ephemera documenting performances, exhibitions and events staged from 1971 to 1999. Also included in the archive are 246 posters designed by artists like [[Robert Longo]] and [[Christian Marclay]].Carol Vogel (January 23, 2014), [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/24/arts/design/seized-by-nazis-now-for-sale.html Kitchen Archives Go To Getty] ''[[The New York Times]]''.

The Vašulka Kitchen Brno Archive is maintained at the Center for New Media Art in [[Brno]] [[Czech Republic]].[https://vkba.vasulkakitchen.org/en] Vašulka Kitchen Brno Archive

==Notable directors and curators==

==Notable directors and curators==