Letty Eisenhauer
Encyclopedia
Letty Lou Eisenhauer was an American
visual and performance artist known for her free-spirited Fluxus
performances during the 1960s. She is now on faculty at the Borough of Manhattan Community College
as a counselor, professor, and forensic psychologist.
. She befriended Geoff Hendricks and Roy Lichtenstein
, both of whom were teaching art at Douglass College at the time. Watts introduced her to Allan Kaprow
, who persuaded her to perform in his Spring Happening, her first performance. She continued to perform in Happenings throughout the 1960s, often appearing nude or scantily clad. She simultaneously pursued a career in the visual arts, exhibiting sculptures, prints, and paintings, many of which were informed by a Pop
sensibility.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
visual and performance artist known for her free-spirited Fluxus
Fluxus
Fluxus—a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow"—is an international network of artists, composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media and disciplines in the 1960s. They have been active in Neo-Dada noise music and visual art as well as literature, urban planning,...
performances during the 1960s. She is now on faculty at the Borough of Manhattan Community College
Borough of Manhattan Community College
The Borough of Manhattan Community College is one of six two-year colleges within the City University of New York system and the only one in Manhattan. Founded in 1963, BMCC originally offered business-oriented and liberal arts degrees for those intending to enter the business world or transfer...
as a counselor, professor, and forensic psychologist.
Bio
Eisenhauer was an undergraduate at Douglass College from 1953-1957 and was a graduate student and department secretary in the M.F.A. program from 1961 to 1962. She studied art primarily with Robert WattsRobert Watts (artist)
Robert Watts was an American artist best known for his work as a member of the international Avant-garde art movement Fluxus. Born in Burlington, Iowa June 14, 1923, he became Professor of Art at Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Jersey in 1953, a post he kept until 1984...
. She befriended Geoff Hendricks and Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein was a prominent American pop artist. During the 1960s his paintings were exhibited at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York City and along with Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist and others he became a leading figure in the new art movement...
, both of whom were teaching art at Douglass College at the time. Watts introduced her to Allan Kaprow
Allan Kaprow
Allan Kaprow was an American painter, assemblagist and a pioneer in establishing the concepts of performance art. He helped to develop the "Environment" and "Happening" in the late 1950s and 1960s, as well as their theory. His Happenings - some 200 of them - evolved over the years...
, who persuaded her to perform in his Spring Happening, her first performance. She continued to perform in Happenings throughout the 1960s, often appearing nude or scantily clad. She simultaneously pursued a career in the visual arts, exhibiting sculptures, prints, and paintings, many of which were informed by a Pop
Pop art
Pop art is an art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the late 1950s in the United States. Pop art challenged tradition by asserting that an artist's use of the mass-produced visual commodities of popular culture is contiguous with the perspective of fine art...
sensibility.
Selected Performances
- Spring Happening, by Kaprow. Performed at the Reuben Gallery.
- Courtyard, by Kaprow. Performed at the Greenwich (or Mills) Hotel on Bleecker Street in November, 1962.
- The First and Second Wilderness, by Michael Kirby. Performed during the Yam Festival, at Smolin Gallery, NYC, May 27, 1963. Letty Eisenhauer wrote cheers and performed them as a cheerleader for a Civil War-inspired live action board game.
- BLINK, Rolf Nelson Gallery, Los Angeles in 1963. Eisenhauer modeled collaborative creations by Alison KnowlesAlison KnowlesAlison Knowles in New York City is an American visual artist known for her soundworks, installations, performances, and publications. Knowles was very active in the Fluxus movement, and continues to create work inspired by her Fluxus experience....
, George BrechtGeorge BrechtGeorge Brecht , born George Ellis MacDiarmid, was an American conceptual artist and avant-garde composer as well as a professional chemist who worked as a consultant for companies including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Mobil Oil...
, and Watts. - Whipped Cream Piece (Lick Piece), by Ben Patterson. Performed during Fully Guaranteed 12 Fluxus Concerts at Fluxhall in 1964 in New York City.
- Orange, by Kaprow. Performed in 1964.
- Tart, or Miss America, by Dick Higgins, 1965, Queens boxing arena. This piece was dedicated to Eisenhauer who also performed in it.
- Washes, by Claes Oldenburg, May 1965. In this piece Eisenhauer, covered with balloons, floated motionless on her back in a swimming pool, while a man bit the balloons and exploded them.