Trisha Brown, the legendary choreographer, dancer and artist who died Saturday at 80 in a care facility in San Antonio, Tex., performed regularly under the aegis of Walker Art Center over the past few decades. Her company was booked by such curators as Nigel Redden, John Killacky and Philip Bither.
Killacky, who served as the Walker's performing arts curator at from 1988-'96, worked for three seasons as managing director at Brown's then-barebones company.
"She was known in some circles but not terribly well-known, so she had only one employee who ran the company, administratively — me," Killacky said of his 1983-'85 tenure with Brown. "It was just the two of us on her kitchen table in her loft."
This was the period in which Brown was making "Set And Reset," her breakout work that has music by Laurie Anderson and a set designed by artist Robert Rauschenberg.
"Before that, she'd been performing in alternative galleries and small spaces," said Killacky. "After it premiered at [the Brooklyn Academy of Music], she started performing in opera houses," especially in Europe.
Killacky recalled that he had a little something to do with that. As part of his job, he flew to Europe, bought a train pass and went to venues with press kits in a backpack, seeking bookings.
"It was wild in those days, and so much fun," he said.
As an artist, Brown grew up with the Judson School, which made high art of pedestrian movements. Brown's advance was to add flair and lyricism to ordinary dance, Killacky said.
