The death of DADA - The birth of MAMA

Dan Yopack stood the Madison art scene on it's head by declaring "The death of dada and the birth of mama" at the launch of his Williamson Street gallery/artists co-operative, Gallery 853, in 1974. The gallery quickly became the center of focus for the lively Near Eastside arts community. Art shows, happenings, theatre, music, whatever. Notable Madison artists like photographers Kathy Agard (Cate Loughran),  Janica Yoder, and Phyllis Galembo; printmaker Bob Danner, poets Don Hilgenberg, Michael Bonesteel, Michael Martens, Patty Covina, David Bicknase, and Hannibal Plath; artist/musicians Peter Berryman and the Amazement Company (Dennis Coleman, Cele Wolff, and Ray Ray), theater director/playwright Joel Gershman; and multi-dimensional artist Sharon Kilfoy were earlier members of Gallery 853, along with a whole lot of other very talented artists and musicians. Oh, and Dan's good old dog Sam, who'd take his leash in his mouth and take himself for a walk. One art 'incident' I recall with great fondeness is the tossing of the tv into the Yahara river by Don Hilgenberg. It symbolized something, but I can't quite remember ...

It's many years and a lot of art later and Dan Yopack is back in Madison for a brief visit. Dan lives in Santa Fe now and works has a stone carver and shamman. Michael Bonesteel, Chicago art critic and former Gallery 853 poet/artist, drove up from Chicago to see Dan. I took the group picture at Bon Apetite, not too far up the street from the old Gallery 853 spot (now Survival Graphics). In it are Dan Yopack, Cate Loughran, John Martens, Sharon Kilfoy, Gary Tippler, Jeannie Cardenas and Michael Bonesteel.

                                                                                                             

Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot

http://www.talbotphoto.com/