Various (Dalachinsky, Steve; Malanga, Gerard; Mead, Taylor; Mirabito, Shiv; Midgette, Allen; Moore, Thurston; Name, Billy et al.)

Wildflowers: A Woodstock Mountain Poetry Anthology, Vol. VIII (2007)

Woodstock, NY: Shivastan Press, 2007. Limited First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. Signed by Noted Artist, Actor & "Warhol Superstar," Allen Midgette. The thing that’s most notable about this Shivastan Press-edited literary journal (or, as its Editor, Shiv Mirabito, calls it, the [ongoing] “Woodstock Mountain Poetry Anthology”) is that it’s reflective of what those who were once a part of a famed Beat literary avant-garde (and their friends) think is cool “now.” Thus, it’s created in almost the same small press / Mimeograph Revolution spirit that many of these artists, poets, and writers “came up with.” It's fitting that—despite the phrase “THIS IS NOT A WARHOL” being scrawled across what looks like an Andy Warhol portrait of Mao—perhaps one left on the cutting room floor—three of the six contributors we listed [out of 17 total contributors] boast legacies irreparably entwined with Warhol and the “Factory” scene of the 1960s. Many know of Gerard Malanga’s storied involvement with Warhol, for Malanga was the man who not only taught Warhol how to silkscreen, but helped Warhol execute his “Gold Marilyn” (1962) that’s now at the Museum of Modern Art. Advancing the Warhol connection are photographer and filmmaker, Billy Name (who, most endearingly to Your Devoted Managing Curator, took the innovative photograph on the cover of The Velvet Underground’s self-titled 1969 release); legendary “Warhol Superstar,” Taylor Mead; and fellow Warholite, Allen Midgette, whose Warhol affiliation is perhaps strangest of all. An actor and painter (as well as “Warhol Superstar”), in 1968 Midgette endeavored (with Warhol’s blessing) on a strange stunt: he “played" Andy Warhol on a 1968 lecture tour after the artist was shot by Valerie Solanas — and was, of course, “eventually eventfully found out.” To this we add the (seemingly) universally beloved Steve Dalachinsky (1946-2019) and legendary American guitarist, Thurston Moore (b. 1958). Yet another great instantiation of this true-to-form, “Old NY” underground literary periodical. From the collection of the late Erin Black Matson, the artist-poet who, along with her then-husband the acclaimed poet & educator Clive Matson, was a member of the Beat Generation- morphing into the hippie counterculture during the 1960s. The Matsons were protégés & colleagues (in lifestyle as much as literature) of Herbert Huncke, Bonnie Bremser et al. One of a limited edition of 333 copies “craftprinted (sic) on handmade paper in Kathmandu, Nepal by SHIVASTAN Publishing” (per colophon) & hand-numbered at limitation-title page (this copy being No. 45/333). Notably, Alan Midgette has boldly signed the front cover of this production near the lower right-hand corner of front cover. Midgette signature, in thin, blue pen ink, reads: “A. Midgette.” In strong fine condition with only faintest shelf-wear, select exhibits of bumping & (similarly faint) rubbing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers; some rusting, but remarkably little bleeding to staples at interior. Fine. [Item #5139]

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