Vostell’s T.O.T. [Inauguration Circular]

“Human behavior is triggered by the physical behavior of nature.” – Wolf Vostell

In the fall of 1970, art theorist/composer Dick Higgins contacted a fellow free-spirit, sculptor Wolf Vostell, to inquire about a nature-themed collaboration using a unique piece of media – a living maple tree on Higgins’ farm in Vermont. The duo had previously worked together on a volume titled Fantastic Architecture and eagerly undertook the new project, which was ready for unveiling in the summer of 1972 as the Technological Oak Tree (T.O.T.).

This circular, published by Higgins’ Something Else Press (event sponsor), was sent to a select group of invitees to witness the inauguration of the T.O.T. art installation on August 12th. This particular example was addressed to Dr. Stephen B. Hyman, director of the National Institute of Mental Health and eventual provost of Harvard University.

A series of three maps (the last, handwritten) of increasingly larger scale give turn-by-turn directions to the remote farm near Barton, VT. The inside presents a summary of the Technological Oak Tree itself, “on which various physical elements (natural events) 1. are measured, 2. are transported to the house, and 3. are indicated on an idea console.” Photos of the T.O.T. tree, monitoring instrument box, and control console are also included.