Jack Smith and Jonas Mekas, once friends through the emerging worlds of experimental performance and film, had a falling out in the aftermath of the release and subsequent legal prosecution of Smith’s film Flaming Creatures, deemed to be in violation of New York’s obscenity laws. Smith later accused Mekas of stealing copies of Flaming Creatures for Anthology Film Archives.

These two performances reference this arc of Smith and Mekas’ relationship. Boiled Lobster Color Slideshow (with a tongue-and-cheek subtitle: A Benefit for Jonas Mekas, Julie Andrews, and Peter Grass) was organized by Edit DeAk and took place in her apartment. Smith nicknamed Mekas “Uncle Fishhook,” perhaps situating himself in the metaphorical position of the boiled lobster.

From the library of the late critic and curator Edit Deak.