One Wall, One Work: Eleanor Antin

Eleanor Antin (b. 1935, New York) conceived of the work “100 Boots” and executed it between 1971 and 1973, staging and photographing the imaginary travels of 50 pairs of military surplus boots, then printing postcards titling each episode and mailing them across the country and around the world at irregular intervals. The presentation of “100 Boots” on view at Krakow Witkin Gallery is notable for being a complete set of all 51 postcards, mailed to the same individual. 

The absurdity and humor of the project was Antin’s sly response to the realities of Vietnam War-era America, within and outside artistic circles.  The ranks of empty boots were an unmistakable reminder of the mass conscription of young men, but their meandering adventures also poked fun at the formal posture of conceptual art. The work is a document of performance outside of the studio setting, and its final form as a mailing engaged recipients beyond the boundaries traditionally associated with viewing art.