Type: George Maciunas' Fluxhouse II + George Maciunas

Artist: George Maciunas

Building: 80 Wooster Street

Description: In 1967 George Maciunas purchased 80 Wooster Street from the Miller Paper Company (Gray). Upon purchasing the building he made minimal renovations. The building had no heat and no plumbing. The only source of water was the basement bathroom. “We used the bathrooms downstairs, washed our dishes there, and carried water upstairs. It was like camping out”, 1967 resident Linda McGlasson said (Bernstein & Shapiro 109-110). Other than not having heat or proper plumbing, there were of course rodents. The McGlassons left after one year. Artist Robert Watts, a core member of Fluxus purchased the entire fifth floor of 80 Wooster Street. Eventually, the entire space was renovated, plumbing and heat was eventually installed. Sculptor Charles Ross, also a Fluxus artist purchased an entire floor of the 50' x 100' building for $8,000 in 1967 (Gray). 80 Wooster became the first successful Fluxhouse; it became known as Fluxhouse II. It helped Maciunas to establish himself and Fluxus in New York. 80 Wooster became the epicenter of the New York downtown art world.

Description Citation #1: Bernstein, Royslyn, and Shael Shapiro. Illegal Living. Vilnius: Jono Mekas Foundation, 2010. Print.

Description Citation #2: Gray, Christopher. "Streetscapes: 80 Wooster Street; The Irascible 'Father' of SoHo." New York Times [New York] 03 15 1992, n. pag. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/15/realestate/streetscapes-80-wooster-street-the-irascible-father-of-soho.html

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Start Year: 1967.0

End Year: None