Tribute to the 20th Century Avant-Garde Musician Shows His Influence Across Disciplines

In 1987, artist Allan Kaprow invited contributions to the catalog for an exhibition honoring the 75th birthday of composer, artist, and innovator John Cage. The BBC says of the late John Cage: "Today he is widely regarded as the most influential American composer of the last century, and pop art, concrete poetry, performance art, conceptual art and minimalism all owe something to his oeuvre."

Forty-five artists, composers, curators, and writers responded to Kaprow's call with the poems, drawings, essays, photographs, games, and scores that make up Prepared Box for John Cage. This eclectic assortment of material explores the influence of Cage's teaching, writings, and music on 20th-century visual art, music, poetry, dance, and film. The Davis Museum is home to this exhibition until June 9, 2013.

Curated by Elaine Mehalakes, Kemper Curator of Academic Programs, this exhibition displays the portfolio in its entirety, including contributions by Robert Rauschenberg, Allen Ginsberg, and Nam June Paik; it will also offer opportunities to see Cage's scores and listen to performances of his work.

The Boston Globe reviewed the exhibition on February 12, saying, "The exhibit, in a way, resembles a Cage piece: So many sounds gathered from disparate sources to make a surprising whole."

Prepared Box for John Cage is supported by the Sandra Cohen Bakalar '55 Fund, and with additional support from the Marjorie Copland Baum Memorial Fund.

Museum Hours and Location

Tuesday - Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wednesday until 8 p.m.

Sunday 12 noon-4 p.m.

Closed Monday and holidays

The Davis Museum is in the heart of Wellesley College campus, located at 106 Central Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts. 

Tel: 781.283.2051