Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine

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Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine was an audio cassette magazine publication on cassette active from 1983 to 1993. Originally intended as a subscription bimonthly, it was launched in the Lower East Side of Manhattan to create an avant-guard media focus on no wave, downtown music, performance art, experimental electronica, noise music, and audio art. [1] [2] Over the span its activity, Tellus broadened its curatorial focus to include such diverse subjects as the contemporary music of China, Just Intonation, Fluxus, Tango, and Paul Bowles. [3]

Contents

History

Tellus publishers and executive editors – visual artist and noise music composer Joseph Nechvatal; former curator-director of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia and curator-director of The Jewish Museum, Claudia Gould; and new music composer and director of Harvestworks, Carol Parkinson – conceived of the compact cassette medium as a no wave Fluxus-inspired media art form in itself.

Nechvatal and Parkinson had met in the mid-1970s and performed in a performance art / minimal art dance trio with Cid Collins influenced by the post-Merce Cunningham postmodern dance/choreography of Deborah Hay (with whom they studied in 1977) and Carolee Schneemann (with whom they toured Europe in 1978). In 1979, Nechvatal, Collins and Parkinson had organized the five night Public Arts International/Free Speech performance art festival in May at 75 Warren Street in Manhattan and Nechvatal and Parkinson continued to see each other in the art music milieu of the downtown minimal music scene, as they worked for the Dia Art Foundation as archivist (Nechvatal) and assistant (Parkinson) to La Monte Young. [3] [4]

Nechvatal, who originated the concept of the project, chose the name Tellus from Tellus Mater, the Roman earth goddess of fecundity. In 2007, French music blogger Continuo and Stephen McLaughlin created an online mp3 archive of all of the Tellus tracks and accessibly archived them at Ubuweb. [5]

Historical recognition

Publications

IssueTitleFormatYearCuratorsCover artFeaturing
#1Tellus #1Cassette1983Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol Parkinson Walter Robinson Jody Harris, Jerry Lindahl, Sonic Youth, Brenda Hutchinson, Live Skull, Tom Lopez/ZBS Productions, Rat At Rat R, Bradley Eros, Bruce Tovsky, Gretchen Langheld, Mitch Corber, Barbara Ess (with Barbara Barg), Joseph Nechvatal, Verge Piersoi, Tron Von Hollywood with Raina Jane Sherry, David Linton, Rhys Chatham.
#2Tellus #2Cassette1984Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol Parkinson Jane Dickson Kiki Smith, John Fekner, Vernita Nemec, The Scene Is Now, Tony Papa, Cardboard Air Band, Peter Nechvatal, Charlie Morrow, Alex Noyes, Ikkoh Mine, David Rosenbloom, Carol Parkinson, David Garland, John Fekner, Mitch Corber, Jamie Daglish and George Elliot, Dr. Telecom (Willoughby Sharp, Susan Britton, Robert Stewart, Virge Piersol), Charlie Noyes, Holly Huges+Sally A. White+Maureen Angelos+Jill Kirschen+Janee Pipik, Ron Kuivila.
#3Tellus #3Cassette1984Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol ParkinsonErik KualszikKirby Malone, Jim Farmer, Christopher Knowles, Disband, Chain Gang, Gregory Whitehead, Daniel Shklalr, Bruce Tovaky, Wolfgang Staehle and Steve Pollack, Isaac Jackson, Colab's Cardboard Air Band, John Shirley and Sync 66, Tim Schellenbeum, The Tlnklers, Boom, Brian Reinbolt, Wharton Tiers.
#4PianoCassette1984Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol Parkinson Joseph Nechvatal Julius Eastman, David Weinstein, Michael Byron, Paul Dresher, Carol Parkinson, Ellen Fullman, John Morton.
#5Double Audio Visual IssueCassette1984Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol Parkinson Joseph Nechvatal Louise Lawler, Paul McMahon and Nancy Chun, Julie Harrison, Richard Prince, Julie Wachtel, Perry Hoberman, Ericka Beckman, David Wojnarowicz and Doug Bressler, Paul McMahon and Nancy Chun, Raimund Kummer, Barbara Barg and Barbara Ess, Kathryn High, Bite Like A Kitty, Anne Turyn, Michael Smith, Rhys Chatham.
#6
#7The Word ICassette1984Gregory Whitehead Peter Nagy Linda Fisher, Michael Peppe, Wiska Radiewicz, John Miller, Terry Wilson, Lynne Tillman, Victor Poison-Tete, Jean-Paul Curtay, Claire Picher, Patrick McGrath, Molly Elder, Michael Gira, Gregory Whitehead, Nicolas Nowack, Cid Collins Walker, Richard Kostelanetz, Paul Bob Town, Nameless Stone Productions.
#8USA/GermanyCassette1985 Carlo McCormick Debbie Davis Konk, Joshua Fried, Details At Eleven, Cargo Cult, Destructo, His Masters Voice, Rat at rat r, Yellow Grave, Live Skull, Elliott Sharp, Fast Forward, Christian Marclay, Club of Rome (aka Asmus Tietchens), Saurekeller, Galerie Global, Nicolas Nowack.
#9Music with MemoryCassette1985John DriscollCarol Parkinson Nicolas Collins, John Driscoll, Brenda Hutchinson, Ron Kuivila, Paul DeMarinis.
#10All Guitars!Cassette1985Tom Paine Jane Bauman Lee Ranaldo, Arto Lindsay and Toni Nogueira, Janice Sloane, Butthole Surfers, New Detroit Inc., Bob Mould, Bond Bergland, Joseph Nechvatal, Elliott Sharp, David Linton, Jules Baptiste, Tim Schellenbaum, Bump, Rudolph Grey, Hahn Rowe, John Myres, Lydia Lunch and Lucy Hamilton, Sue Hanel, Blixa Bargeld, Andrew Nahem, Sandra Seymour, Run Nigger Run aka Steve Albini and Nathan Kaatrud, Thurston Moore, Mark C. and Marnie Greenholz, Glenn Branca, James Vidos, Angela Babin and Joe Dizney, Frankenjerry.
#11The Sound of RadioCassette1985Karen Frillmann, Karen Pearlman Steven Frailey Jay Allison, Adam Cornford and Daniel Crafts, Susan Stone, The New York IPS, M’lou Zahner Ollswang, Ginna Allison, Marjorie van Halteren, Lou Giansante, Karen McPherson, Barrett Golding, Rick Harris, Janice Bell and Portia Franklin, Melanie Berzon, Edward Haber, Steve Jones, Helen Thorington, Ginger Miles, Karen Frillmann.
#12DanceCassette1986Gretchen Langheld, Bruce Tovsky Barbara Ess Bill Obrecht, A. Leroy, R. McQuire, Carol Parkinson, Linda Fisher, Lenny Pickett, Anita Feldman+Michael Kowalski, J.A. Deane, Gretchen Langheld, Bruce Tovsky, Brooks Williams, Jim Farmer, Hearn Gadbois, Liquid Liquid, Al Diaz, David Linton.
#13Power ElectronicsCassette1986 Joseph Nechvatal Joseph Nechvatal Maybe Mental, Merzbow, Amor Fati, If, Bwana, Rhys Chatham, Psyclones, Blackhouse, Joseph Nechvatal, Master/Slave Relationship, Maybe Mental, Architects Office, Controlled Bleeding, Mojo (aka Jim Smith), Coup de Grâce, Le Syndicat, Mitch Corber, F/i.
#14Just IntonationCassette1986Just Intonation Network James Nares Harry Partch, Ralph David Hill, Carola B. Anderson, David Hykes, Lou Harrison, Jon Catler, David Canright, David B. Doty, John Bischoff,+Jim Horton+Tim Perkis, Ben Johnston, Erling Wold, Susan Norris, James Tenney, Larry Polansky, Alexis Alrich, Jody Diamond.
#15The ImprovisorsCassette1986Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol ParkinsonScott RichterLive ‘improvisions’ by Chris Cochrane, Anthony Coleman, Carol Emanuel, Tom Cora, Bill Frisell, Bobby Previte, Lindsay Cooper, Fred Frith, Irene Schweizer, Christian Marclay, Bill Horvitz, David Weinstein, Denman Maroney, Samm Bennett, Jim Staley, Ikue Mori, John Zorn.
#16TangoCassette1986Gerald LindhalRussell Buckingham Carlos Gardel, David Garland, Chris DeBlasio, Keeler, Brenda Hutchinson and Gerald Lindhal, Alan Tomlinson, Elodie Lauten, Jo Basile and Orchestra, Robert Scheff, Molly Elder, Matthew Nash, Jo Basile and Orchestra, Christopher Berg, Fast Forward, Mader.
#17Video Art MusicCassette1987Peer BodePeer Bode Woody Vasulka, Peter Chamberlain, Richard Kostelanetz, Shelley Hirsch, Joe D’Agostino, Julie Harrison, Kjell Bjorgeengen, Sorrel Hays, Eric Ross, Megan Roberts, Jean-Paul Curtay.
#18Experimental TheaterCassette1988Claudia Gould, Carol Parkinson Mike Kelley Spalding Gray, Ann Magnuson with Vulcan Death Grip, Mike Kelley with Sonic Youth, Jerri Allyn, Ann Magnuson and Lydia Lunch.
#19New Music ChinaCassette1988R.I.P. Hayman Zhang Wei, Huang Pao Lian (calligraphy)Ji Gong, Wang Li, Zhang Xing, Tiao Ba Tiao Ba, Zui Jiu, Hao Yuchi, Electronic Dirge, Xian Percussion Ensemble, Miao Love Chant, Liu Dehal, Gong Yi, Fred Houn, Chen Yi, Ge Gan-ru, Zhou Long, Wu Wen Guang, Tan Dun, R.I.P. Hayman, Jing Jing Luo.
#20Media MythCassette1988 Joseph Nechvatal Steven Parrino Randy Greif, Pierre Perret, The Psychic Workshop, Social Interiors, If, Bwana, Crawling With Tarts, Violence and The Sacred, Art Interface, Minóy, Nicolas Collins, Silent But Deadly, JPM Studios, Joseph Nechvatal, A Place To Pray, Maurice Methot, Michael Chocholak, Dance.
#21Audio By Visual ArtistsCassette1988Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol Parkinson Cindy Sherman Joseph Beuys, Maurice Lemaître, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Raoul Hausmann, Antonio Russolo, Marcel Duchamp, Kurt Schwitters, Lawrence Weiner, George Brecht, Patrick Ireland, Richard Huelsenbeck, Arrigo Lora-Totino and Fogliati, Jean Dubuffet, Mimmo Rotella, Joan Jonas, Christian Boltanski, Ian Murray, Terry Fox, Jonathan Borofsky, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Richard Prince with Robert Gober, Martin Kippenberger, Jack Goldstein, John Armleder, Terry Allen, Gretchen Bender, Y Pants, Ed Tomney, Susan Hiller.
#22False PhonemesCassette1988Ellen Zweig Matt Mullican Remko Scha, Larry Wendt, Brian Reinbolt, Mark Rudolph, Alice Shields, Paul DeMarinis, Paul Lansky, Jon English/Jim Pomeroy, Ron Kuivila, John Cage.
#23The Voices of Paul BowlesCassette1989Stephen Frailey Antonin Kratochvil Audioportrait incl. Paul Bowles early compositions Music for a Farce, Interlude and Prelude # 2, and Moroccan field recordings
#24FluxTellusCassette1990Barbara MoorePeter Moore16-page accordion fold-out booklet with Barbara Moore's essay The Sound Of Music. Early sound work by George Brecht, Philip Corner, Dick Higgins, Joe Jones, Alison Knowles, Takehisa Kosugi, George Maciunas, Jackson Mac Low, Larry Miller, Tomas Schmit, Robert Watts and Emmett Williams. The cassette case includes a sound art work by Takako Saito.
#25Siteless SoundsCompact disc1991Claudia Gould, Joseph Nechvatal, Carol Parkinson David Wojnarowicz Political and personal views as expressed through new audiotext works by David Wojnarowicz and Ben Neill, Shelley Hirsch, David Moss, Constance DeJong, Brenda Hutchinson, Gregory Whitehead and a collaboration with Jacki Apple, Linda Albertano, Keith Antar Mason and Akailah Nayo Oliver.
#26Jewel BoxCassette, compact disc1992Brian Karl Kiki Smith Anne LeBaron, Laetitia Sonami, Sussan Deyhim, Bun-Ching Lam, Catherine Jauniaux and Ikue Mori, Sapphire, Mary Ellen Childs, Michelle Kinney.
#27Mini-mallCompact disc1993Brian Karl Vito Acconci Brenda Hutchinson, Jin Hi Kiim, and Pauline Oliveros with Fanny Green.
Tellus Tools
Double-LP (TE-LP01), 2001.
Curated by Taketo Shimada. Cover art by Christian Marclay.
Including selections from previous issues: Isaac Jackson, Alan Tomlinson, Joe Jones, Christian Marclay, Ken Montgomery, Catherine Jauniaux, Ikue Mori, David Linton, Gregory Whitehead, The League Of Automatic Music Composers, Maurice Lemaire, Jerry Lindahl, Tim Schellenbaum and Jack Goldstein.

Related Research Articles

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Harvestworks is a not-for-profit arts organization located in New York City. It was founded in 1977 by artists supporting the creation and presentation of art works achieved through the use of new technologies. The Harvestworks TEAM Lab supports the creation of art works achieved through the use of new and evolving technologies.

References

  1. ↑ Allen, Gwen (2011). Artists' Magazines: An Alternative Space for Art. MIT Press. p. 304. ISBN   978-0-262-01519-6.
  2. ↑ Marc Masters, High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape, University of North Carolina Press, p. 68
  3. 1 2 McCormick, Carlo (2006). The Downtown Book: The New York Art Scene, 1974–1984 (PDF). Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-12286-1.
  4. ↑ Tellus, the Audio Cassette Magazine, The Wire (magazine) October 2001 (Issue 212) p. 69
  5. ↑ A Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine Special Dublab Broadcast on Thursday, June 24, 2021
  6. ↑ Tellus Audio / Kontra Bass archived at Archive Org
  7. ↑ Devon Maloney, Master Cactus: The Art Zine Available Only on Cassette. Wired
  8. ↑ Jaro Sounder Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine Selections Vol. 1 (1983–1993), Bandcamp
  9. ↑ Imagining Tellus # 28: Heard in LA
  10. ↑ Ego Masher on Manic Antenna 34: Move On Up!
  11. ↑ Kenneth Goldsmith, Duchamp Is My Lawyer: The Polemics, Pragmatics, and Poetics of UbuWeb, Columbia University Press, New York, p. 243.
  12. ↑ Archived Dublab Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine Special radio program.
  13. ↑ Sounds Central, Tellus: New York City’s Art Scene on Tape (1983–1993)
  14. ↑ CYFEST 16: Archive of Feelings. A Journey
  15. ↑ Mutante Radio, Episode 93, Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine, Produção e Apresentação Neri Rosa
  16. ↑ Sarah Teraha Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine Radio Program
  17. ↑ Mutante Radio, Episode 94, Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine, Produção e Apresentação Neri Rosa

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