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  • BIRTHDAZE (2 of 3) (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith

    This exhibition revisits Barbara T. Smith’s transgressive artwork from 1980, Birthdaze. In addition to the original artwork, this exhibition features archival material documenting the making of Birthdaze, illuminating Smith's political and aesthetic intentionality for the first time. The Radicalization of a '50s Housewife further positions Birthdaze as the result of Smith's lifework—both as a feminist and an artist—beginning in the conservative postwar period of the 1950s, through the cultural revolution of the 1960s and ‘70s, and culminating in the nascent moment of the Reagan era when the culture wars were looming on the horizon.


    Performance documentation
    © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE (3 of 3) (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara Smith sits on a bed torn between two types of men represented by motorcycle racer Dick Kilgroe and artist Allan Kaprow. (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photograph by Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph Courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE (1 of 3) (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photograph by Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara gripped in the arms of her lover, motorcycle racer Dick Kilgroe. (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photograph by Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara in communion with Allan Kaprow's philosophical and intellectual presence. (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photograph by Susan Mogul. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, LA © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Part Three: As Above, So Below. Barbara engaged in a Tantric ritual with her counterpart, Victor Henderson, beneath a video altar showing them in the same ritual. (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photograph by Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photo © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Part Three: As Above, So Below. Close up image of Barbara engaged in Tantric ritual with Victor Henderson (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photograph by Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara embracing Dick Kilgroe as Victor Henderson, her future Tantric partner, observes. (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photo: Courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photo © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Isolation. Barbara, trying to maintain a sense of traditional decorum, tries on various hats and gloves (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Susan Mogul. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara sitting on her bed, in a place of despair, turns to Allan Kaprow (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Isolation. Barbara is harassed by tricksters Kim Jones and Paul McCarthy, who disrupt her attempts to be conventional (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Part Three: As Above, So Below. Final moments of the Tantric ritual between Barbara and Victor Henderson. Under a video altar of a prior ritual between them, they are surrounded by chanters (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara stands and ceases her battle between Dick Kilgroe and Allan Kaprow (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

  • BIRTHDAZE. Penetration. Barbara in the arms of Dick Kilgroe as Allan Kaprow looks on (1981)

    Barbara T. Smith


    Performance documentation
    Photographer: Daniel Joseph Martinez. Photograph courtesy of the artist and The Box, Los Angeles © Barbara T. Smith. Photograph © Daniel Joseph Martinez

University Art Gallery, University of California, Irvine

The Radicalization of a '50s Housewife: A Solo Project by Barbara T. Smith

The Radicalization of a '50s Housewife revisits Barbara T. Smith's transgressive artwork Birthdaze, produced in 1980. In addition to the original artwork, this exhibition will feature archival material documenting Birthdaze's making, illuminating Smith's political and aesthetic intentionality for the first time. The Radicalization of a 50s Housewife further positions Birthdaze as the result of Smith's life's work –both as a feminist and an artist –beginning in the conservative post-war period of the 50s, through the cultural revolution of the 60s/70s and culminating in the nascent moment of the Reagan era, when the culture wars were looming on the horizon. Curated by Juli Carson, this exhibition is part of the UAG's Major Work of Art Series, which features first generation conceptual and performance artists whose work is in dialogue with contemporary art practice.
10/06/2011 – 12/03/2011
University Art Gallery, University of California, Irvine
712 Arts Plaza
UC Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697