The Extra Large Fluxus Diagram is an attempt to chart "the most radical and experimental art movement of the sixties" as well as pay homage to the master maker of chronological diagrams, George Maciunas. Shelley's diagram traces the Fluxus movement from its beginnings in John Cage's 1956-58 composition classes at the New School and Karlheinz Stockhausen's seminars in Darmstadt through till the death of Maciunas in 1978.

Perhaps the last true avant garde, Fluxus grew up at the intersection of a diverse group of international artists with shared ideas about art, life, and fun. The best known figures associated with Fluxus include Nam June Paik, Joseph Beuys, Yoko Ono, Dick Higgins, and Maciunas. Shelley outlines their careers and those of the 40 most important Fluxus artists and dozens of friends and fellow travelers, artists of the Happenings, Neo-Dada, and the New York Avant Garde Festivals including Allan Kaprow, Claes OldenBurg, Anna Halprin, and Carolee Scheemann. Virtually every Fluxus event between 1960 and 1978 can be found on the Extra Large Fluxus Diagram.