Quote by Claes Oldenberg

'I am for an art that is political-erotical-mystical, that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum.

I am for an art that grows up not knowing it is art at all, an art given the chance to have a starting point of zero.

I am for an art that embroils itself with the everyday crap and still comes out on top.

I am for the art that imitates the human, that is comic, if necessary, or violent, or whatever is necessary.

I am for the art that takes its form from the lines of life itself, that twists and extends and accumulates and spits and drips and is heavy and coarse and blunt and sweet and stupid as life itself... I am for the blinking arts, lighting up the night.

I am for the falling, splashing, wiggling, jumping, going on and off. I am for the art of fat tires and black eyes.

I am for Kool- art, 7 Up art, Pepsi art Sunshine art, 39 cents art, 15 cents art, Vatronol art, Dro-bomb art, Vam art, Menthol art, L &M art Exlax art, Venida art, Heaven Hill art, Pamryl art, San-o-med art, RX art, 9.99 art, Now art, New art, How art, Fire sale art, Last Chance art, Only art, Diamond art, Tomorrow art, Franks art, Ducks art, Meat-orama-art.'

This is part of a dramatic text written by Oldenberg declaring the everyday as his total inspiration.

Store Days. New York, pp.39-42 Villefranchesur-mer, Frankfurt am Main: Something Else Press, Inc, 1967. Documents from The Store, 1961, and Ray Gun Theatre, 1962, selected by Claes Oldenburg and Emmett Williams, photographs by Robert R. McElroy.