Trans/Media Arts Cooperative, 1973-78

Delaware Valley Festival of the Avant-Garde 1978 Poster Clip

Historical Site -- Under Construction -- The Original Trans/Media!

Trans/Media was founded in Trenton, New Jersey, in May 1973, and created its final events in September 1978. In those five-plus years, Trans/Media created three Delaware Valley Festivals of the Avant-Garde, more than 75 concerts and events and exhibits, and collaborated in other major projects of the post-Fluxus avant-garde. Though Trenton was a small, rusting industrial city, its position between New York and Philadelphia acted as a magnet for artists who could not find a place in the rigid "scenes" of the major cities. Artists left Trans/Media's incubation to pursue individual careers of worldwide importance in sculpture, music, fabric art, photography, writing, design, poetry and other fields.

Trans/Media preceded college Departments of Transmedia, preceded transmedia storytelling, preceded all exploitations of trans- and multi-media (before it meant computer 'stuff') and ran in parallel with the avant-garde movement in New York, but from a local perspective.

Some sites containing Trans/Media events and activities:

Recent additions:

Here are images of various Trans/Media events from the past, as yet without text. (New photographs have been uncovered of Dashuki Music Theatre performances!)

Chronology of Trans/Media (some dates are unknown, from unmarked photos and recordings)

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

Among Trans/Media artists from 1973-78 are these, with more to be added as their names are re-discovered. Current locations [in brackets].

Fernanda D'Agostino (Nanda Schatz), sculptor [Washington]
Shirley Strock Albright, musician [New Jersey]
Dennis Báthory-Kitsz (Dennis Kitsz), composer (Project Director of Trans/Media) [Vermont]
Jane Branneky, musician [Florida]
Trevor Bryant, sculptor, visual artist [California]
John Burkhalter, musician [New Jersey]
Bob Cantius, filmmaker [Massachusetts]
Judi Cherubini (Charrhoda Jones), artist [Florida]
Claire Chomentowski (Claire Manfredonia), musician, poet [Vermont]
Suzette Dewey, dancer, writer (Suki Dewey) [New Jersey]
Janet Engeman (Janet Passow Gillock), musician [Pennsylvania]
*Pam Everitt, musician [last known: New Jersey, 1970s]
*Bev Fisher, artist [last known: Pennsylvania, 1990s]
Richard Fredette, sculptor, visual artist (Administrator of Trans/Media) [New York]
Maureen E. Gibbons, poet [Florida]
JoAnn Giordano, sculptor [Ohio]
Rev. Glenn of Trees, author [Pennsylvania]
*Phyllis Goldberg, musician [last known: New Jersey, 1970s]
David Gunn, composer [Vermont]
Ken Kaplowitz, photographer [New Jersey]
Linda Kay (Linda Karan), musician, photographer [New Jersey]
Melissa Kiser, musician [New Jersey]
E. Jan Kounitz, photographer [New York]
*Cricket Kuser, poet [last known: New Jersey, 1970s]
Laurel Lovrek, architect [North Carolina] [?]
Mary Jane Mazuchowski, graphics artist [deceased]
*Debbi Narcini, musician [Antanaitis?] [last known: New Jersey, 2000s]
Jim Nevius, musician [New Jersey]
*Jerry Pitt, poet [last known: New Jersey, 1970s]
Gail Pizarro (Gail Sherman), photographer [Wisconsin]
Pam Revesz (Pam Ritterbusch), actress, poet [New Jersey]
Zoogz Rift (Bob Pawlikowski), musician [California]
Francis Riesz, musician [New Jersey]
*Steve Schatz, visual artist [last known: Massachusetts, 1970s]
*Sam Senoff, musician [last known: Oregon/New Jersey, 2000s]
Mark Sherman, videographer [Washington]
*Amy Stephens, musician [last known: New Jersey, 1970s]
John Van Zelm Trubee, musician [California]

*=whereabouts unknown. If you know the current location of any of the above artists, or recall a Trans/Media artist not listed, please contact me.