Raphael Montenez Ortiz, Ralph to Kurt, is a Brooklyn born artist of Puerto Rican decent whose lengthy career as an artist (he is now in his mid-eighties) includes what has been termed "destruction art." Kurt and Ralph became friends early in the 1960s, and Kurt covered Ralph's participation in the Destruction In Art Symposium held in London in 1966 in the pages of Artscanada magazine. Noted for his theatrical art pieces wherein Ralph destroyed pianos with an ax, beheaded live chickens, tore apart mattresses, and spilled buckets of blood, his work was and remains controversial and for many, uncomfortable.
In this recording made by Kurt circa 1966, Kurt, Ralph and an unidentified woman discuss Ralph's plans for a theatrical art performance to be held in a gallery in Los Angeles, and Ralph exuberantly describes what it will include--namely chickens, mice, snakes, a piano, a harp, paper bags and buckets of blood--in his words "...a whole crazy kind of thing." Kurt suggests the work is a "menstruation ritual" and Ralph explains that his intent is to provoke people to the point where one "can't stand behind all your defenses." Note: Ralph's plans are graphically described; the discussion lasts about fifteen minutes.
Interview with Composer Morton Feldman
The combination of art historian Kurt von Meier and composer Morton Feldman makes for a lively and fascinating discussion in New York in 1968. This transcript of a recording from tapes made by Kurt using his trusty Nagra tape-recorder reveals Feldman's love of art and the creative process. The subject of time and its relationship to art takes on a special dimension in the hands of these two intellectual heavyweights. Some recordings of Feldman's compositions have been inserted into the transcript; listening while reading is recommended.
An Interview with Dewain Valentine
Kurt interviewed sculptor Dewain Valentine in 1969 for Artforum magazine. They discussed the techniques and challenges of making large pieces of cast resin or fiberglass, aspects of shapes and transparency, and Valentine's enthusiasm for his early experience with lacquering hot-rods and cars.
An Interview with Arman
Armand Pierre Arman (1928-2005), "Arman", was an American artist born in France. In his work - sculptures, prints, assemblages and paintings - he used everyday objects, embedding some in clear plastic (above). In this respect, he explored ideas pioneered by Marcel Duchamp, which naturally attracted Kurt's attention. In 1969, Kurt went to New York to meet with Arman; he interviewed him, brought him a gift, and talked about working on a book together. The transcript of the recording of Kurt's interview, a description written by Kurt of the gift he brought, and a slip of yellow paper describing, briefly, the contemplated book project are available.
Correspondence with M.C. Escher
Kurt made contact with world-class minds - Alan Watts, Gregory Bateson, John Lilly, Timothy Leary - the list is long. Here's a copy of some correspondence between M.C. Escher and Kurt from 1962, which in classic Kurt fashion, he had translated and kept a copy of the translation in a file with the original letter.
