Artspace Is / Artspace Was

An irreverent document of Artspace's 15-year commitment to exhibitions, publications, performances, videos and film, this book challenges the notion of what an organization for and about artists can be at the dawn of the 21st century. Supported by Artspace grants, the guerilla artists of Survival Research Laboratories terrorized San Fransisco with robots and air cannons, Karen Finley astonished audiences at Theater Artaud, and Jenny Holzer sucker-punched unsuspecting Giants fans with big-board LED messages at Candlestick Park. Here are projects by such provocateurs as General Idea, Jessica Diamond, David Mach, and Patrick Ireland, stills from videos by Tony Oursler and Sophie Calle, and the legendary "Lunch Movies" of emeritus museum director Jim Elliot, featuring Candy Darling. From "Shift" magazine come articles by Ingird Sischy and Kathy Acker; images from the newly released Chris Munch film "Sleepy Time Gal"; and excerpts from Artspace Books, an artist-writer series featuring works by John DeFazio, Dave Hickey, David Wojnarowicz, Jack Pierson, Jim Lewis, Nan Goldin, Klaus Kertess, Gregory Crewdson, Rick Moody and A.M. Homes. "Artspace Is/Artspace Was" is an engaging presentation of artists who know to combine subversion and fun in their work.