These days, the basic idea behind happenings has not changed. The greatest difference between happenings of then and now is today we are a little less formal in our creation. It is, after all, a party. Participants in our happenings come prepared with objects or mediums, like paints or clay, to experiment with. Some mediums are provided by those giving the happening.
Art making at happenings is often spontaneous, being created with the medium at hand.
Sometimes the medium is words, and poetry and prose are shared with the group, while other times the medium could be mustard and the bag from the store you went to last week. The expression of art becomes the entertainment. The quality of what is created is itself truly unique. The art is a reflection of the artists who are usually young and still experimenting with modes of creativity. Because of the party atmosphere, the work is usually highly entertaining, created by people who aren't taking themselves too seriously, but instead are focusing on creating something tangible out of the energy of the party.