**Steven Durland: A Multifaceted Contribution to the Arts**<\/p>\n
Steven Durland, an influential figure in the realms of art, writing, editing, and cultural organization, passed away on March 11 at the age of 75 in Saxapahaw, North Carolina. Known for his pioneering efforts and distinctive collaboration with his life partner, Linda Frye Burnham, he left an indelible mark on the artistic community.<\/p>\n
**Early Life and Education**<\/p>\n
Born in Long Beach, California, in 1951 and raised in the vast landscapes of South Dakota, Durland’s early experiences were shaped by a series of relocations to Massachusetts and New York. He pursued his passion for the arts by obtaining a BFA at the University of South Dakota and an MFA at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he developed an interest in ceramics and expanded into performance and mail art practices.<\/p>\n
**High Performance Magazine**<\/p>\n
Durland’s editorial career soared when he became editor of *High Performance* magazine, founded by Burnham in 1978. Under his leadership from 1986 to 1994, the publication served as a critical platform for experimental and performance art, documenting works by renowned artists like Nancy Buchanan and Carolee Schneemann. Durland’s editorial vision emphasized interdisciplinarity and community engagement, ensuring the magazine covered a wide range of artistic practices.<\/p>\n
**Artistic Collaborations and Projects**<\/p>\n
In addition to his editorial work, Durland engaged in numerous artistic projects. He co-founded Art in the Public Interest, a nonprofit promoting community-based art initiatives. His performances and mail art pieces reflected his wit, humor, and satirical perspective on the art world. His notable works included the 1978 performance “Win Defeat\/BID FOR POWER” and the 1982 piece “Death and Taxis.”<\/p>\n
**Community Involvement and Legacy**<\/p>\n
Durland and Burnham’s endeavors extended beyond the printed page. Together, they transformed feminist art spaces into the 18th Street Arts Center in Santa Monica and founded Highways Performance Space, a collaborative venue during the height of the HIV\/AIDS epidemic. Their collective efforts nurtured an environment where art could thrive amidst societal challenges.<\/p>\n
**Later Life and Personal Work**<\/p>\n
Settling at Frog Pond Farm in Saxapahaw, Durland’s creativity flourished in harmony with nature. He frequently employed materials like bark and beeswax in his artworks, merging organic elements with technological processes. His dedication to both art and community was unequivocal, whether through teaching, local projects, or maintaining his gallery, Bourbon, Dogs & Art.<\/p>\n
**Steven Durland’s Enduring Influence**<\/p>\n
Durland’s contributions have had lasting impacts, as evidenced by the ongoing events and exhibitions celebrating his work, such as the *Inflation Gauge* exhibit. He famously described himself as a “facilitator” within the arts infrastructure, recognizing the collective benefit of fostering artistic innovation.<\/p>\n
Steven Durland is survived by his partner Linda Frye Burnham, siblings, stepchildren, and his cherished dogs. His legacy lives on through his vast body of work and the thriving artistic communities he helped build.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
**Steven Durland: A Multifaceted Contribution to the Arts** Steven Durland, an influential figure in the realms of art, writing, editing, and cultural organization, passed away on March 11 at the age of 75 in Saxapahaw, North Carolina. Known for his pioneering efforts and distinctive collaboration with his life partner, Linda Frye Burnham, he left an indelible mark on the artistic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":556379,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-556378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=556378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556378\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/556379"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=556378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=556378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winklersart.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=556378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}