"Object in/ and space – the first impulse may be to give the object – a position – to place the object. (The object had a position to begin with.) Next – to change the position of the object. – Rauschenbergs early sculptures – A board with some rocks on it. The rocks can be anywhere on the board. - Cages Japanese rock garden – The rocks can be anywhere [within the garden].."
John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer, artist, and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. He was also instrumental in the development of modern dance, mostly t
"I imagine that as contemporary music goes on changing in the way that Im changing it what will be done is to more and more completely liberate sounds from abstract ideas about them and more and more exactly to let them be physically uniquely themselves. This means for me: knowing more and more not what I think a sound is but what it actually is in all of its acoustical details and then letting this sound exist, itself, changing in a changing sonorous environment."
John Cage"I met Cummingham around 1953 after a performance I saw. He was teaching and making dances for his company and was already working with John Cage. What interested me initially wasnt just the movement but also the music he worked with, which was unfamiliar to me.. .Later Bob Rauschenberg had been doing sets and costumes for the Cunningham Company.. .I cant say exactly how, but for a period of time, Cage, Cunningham, Rauschenberg, and I saw each other frequently and exchanged ideas. John [Cage] was very interested in presenting his ideas to other people, so it was impossible to be around and not to learn.. .He could apply his ideas on space and time to painting, or music or architecture.. ..I dont have a clear sense of cause and effect in my painting, but it is probably there."
John Cage"Until I die there will be sounds. And they will continue following my death. One need not fear about the future of music."
John Cage"David Tudor and I went to Hilversum in Holland to make a recording for the Dutch radio. We arrived at the studio early and there was some delay. To pass the time, we chatted with the engineer who was to work with us. He asked me what kind of music he was about to record. Since he was a Dutchman I said, It may remind you of the work of Mondrian. When the session was finished and the three of us were leaving the studio, I asked the engineer what he thought of the music we had played. He said, It reminded me of the work of Mondrian."
John Cage"There is one term of the problem which you are not taking into account: precisely, the world. The real. You say: the real, the world as it is. But it is not, it becomes! It moves, it changes! It doesn’t wait for us to change.. .It is more mobile than you can imagine. You are getting closer to this reality when you say as it presents itself; that means that it is not there, existing as an object. The world, the real is not an object. It is a process."
John Cage"Arts purpose is to sober and quiet the mind so that it is in accord with what happens."
John Cage