Matt Heckert

The “Bucking Spitting Cat” was designed and built by Matt Heckert in 1985 specifically for a performance/installation at the night night club “Area” then located in SOHO in Manhattan.

Area was a venue which had monthly alternating themes and the theme for May 1985 was “ART” and included the artists Jean Michelle Basquait, Andy Warhol, Michael Heizer, Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, David Hockney to name several.

Mark Pauline, Matt Heckert and Eric Werner all contributed machines for the performance/installation by Survival Research Laboratories. During the performance the Bucking Spitting Cat was grabbed by a radio controlled tank causing it to buck and spit perfume on the audience. It was then assaulted by Mark Pauline’s “spider” which set it on fire with a flame thrower. It dropped to the floor and continued to buck while small bits of high explosive hidden in it’s “fur” began to explode. After the performance evening the machines were displayed for a month.

I would have liked to have seen that.

You can also view 'Birds' on YouTube. Link…