First International Tactile Sculpture Symposium

Exploring new dimensions of touch art in kinetic and environmental sculpture. California State College Long Beach, 7-12 July 1969. Stapled catalogue, 13.9 x 14.3 cm, 8 pp. printed in b/w. With introduction, exhibition floor plan sketch and participants' biographies. Staples sl. rusted, light toning along edges; generally a good copy. Extremely rare.

Organised by August F. Coppola, a professor of comparative literature at Cal State, the symposium aimed to explore the collective facets of touch and its relationship with art. The symposium was held by 15 artists, psychologists and teachers, and was accompanied by an exhibition. Participants included Lygia Clark, Hélio Oiticica, Mathias Goeritz, Conrado Bonifazi, Richard Foy, Lukman Glasgow, Bernard Gunther, C. Prior Hall, Juana de Laban, Mark Moody, Richard Register, Tom Soule, Jerry Romotsky and Marisa Wolinsky. Lygia Clark presented two blue 'space suits' with zippered pockets at the erogenous zones, intended to faciliate tactile interaction.