AnOther documents the beginning of Doug Aitken's and Levi's unique Station to Station project
Last week, saw the beginning of a unique journey, entitled Station to Station: A Nomadic Happening, headed up by Californian-born artist Doug Aitken and Levi's. The project has taken years to pull together. It took Aitken three to persuade Amtrak to lend him a train, and with the support of Levi's, persuading nine stations across America to hold unique "happenings". Not to count the tricky logistical task of enlisting artists, musicians, filmmakers, foodies, writers, performers to come on board, literally. They succeeded, securing the likes of Patti Smith, Cat Power, Beck, Ariel Pink, Kenneth Anger, Stephen Shore and many more, to be involved in the epic landmark journey.
“This is a fast moving cultural journey, a constant search over the new horizons of our changing culture" — Doug Aitken
The first public art project of its kind, the aim is to raise funds through ticket sales and donations to support non-traditional programming at seven partner museums around the country. “This is a fast moving cultural journey, a constant search over the new horizons of our changing culture. Grounded in some basic questions – Who are we? Where are we going? And, at this moment, how can we express ourselves? – our intention is to create a modern cultural manifesto,” says Aitken. “For a short time, the most interesting place in the country will be a moving target.” Following the cross-country experience, the project will continue to evolve through the museum program, the release of a Station to Station documentary, and a published book.
The first "happening" took place in New York last Friday, before the train pulled out of the first station and onto Pittsburgh. Filmmaker Matt Black captured the evening's events, held at Brooklyn’s Riverfront Studios, in an exclusive film for AnOther, featuring musicians No Age, Suicide and Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti.
Stay tuned for live updates on the Station to Station journey courtesy of AnOther and photographers and filmmakers Matt Black and Doug Aitken.
Text by Laura Bradley
