Courtyard

Mediums: old rubber tires.
Location: photos and materials are available at the Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (California, the USA).

One of the most remarkable performances of Kaprow was held more than 20 times in various cities and countries. For the first time, the artist held the “Courtyard” in the backyard of the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York. He filled up the site with old rubber tires and suggested that the participants in the happening interact with them in some way. No specific task was set; so, the audience could act at their discretion. Depending on the composition of the participants and the events taking place in a country or city, interactions occur each time differently. Many even see political overtones in this happening, as tires are often used during mass protests, burning or building barricades of them.