A Living Archive Found in Goat Island Archive Exhibit

goat island archive—we have discovered the performance by making it, an exhibit and accompanying performances which pay homage to the performance art group Goat Island, was reviewed in the Chicago Reader. During the group's existence from 1986–2009, its core members included Professor Lin Hixson (Performance), Adjunct Professor Matthew Goulish (Writing), and Associate Professor Mark Jeffery (Performance). Curated by Associate Professor Nick Lowe (Historic Preservation) and Greg Lunceford of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the exhibit "is about activating the vast archive, bringing it into the now and naming its meaning within the contemporary," says the Reader.

In addition to the exhibit's comprehensive archival material, performance artists impacted by Goat Island have created new works in response to the troupe's historic ones. "There are lots of people out there who've been influenced, who to this day say, ‘Goat Island changed my life.' Something was informed in their work that came out of the experience of either doing a workshop or seeing a performance. One of the important things for us has been reflecting those kind of ripples," says Lowe. The Goat Island Archive, part of SAIC's Flaxman Library Special Collections, is presenting the exhibition goat island archive—we have discovered the performance by making it through June 23 at the Chicago Cultural Center.