Duncan, Michael; McKenna, Kristine (Berman, Wallace)

Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle

ISBN: 9781938922725
New York, NY: D.A.P./ Distributed Art Publishers, Inc.; Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2015. Second Edition. Hardcover. "A key under-recognized artist of his generation, Wallace Berman was an enigmatic, underground figure whose collages and assemblages articulate an important strand of dark spirituality in postwar American culture. Berman's hand-printed, personally distributed literary journal, Semina, stands as an iconic document of its time, presaging a variety of cultural and esthetic developments and providing an outlet for some of the most innovative voices of the 1950s and 1960s. An eccentric and lyrical primer of the early counterculture, assembled against the grain of conformist Eisenhower-era America, it circumscribes a world of self-exploration, cultural alienation, esthetic indulgence, communal comforts, and spiritual transcendence." (from Introduction by Michael Duncan, pg. 9) A comprehensive, door-stopper survey of the life & work of Wallace Berman (1926-1976); as well as his deep influence on & collaboration with most of the key writers, artists & creative figures of the Beat Generation/ Sixties Counterculture including Bonnie & Ray Bremser, Bruce Connor, Jay DeFao, Diane di Prima, Robert Duncan, Allen Ginsberg, Dennis Hopper, Bob Kaufman, David Meltzer, Philip Lamantia, Michael McClure, Taylor Mead, Dean Stockwell, Alexander Trocchi, Lew Welch, John Wieners & many more. Hardcover in illustrated boards without dust jacket as issued. Originally published in 2005 in conjunction with a major exhibition centered on the nine issues of Berman's hand-crafted legendary Semina journal, featuring many original collage artworks reproduced therein, which commenced at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. This copy is from the second edition published in 2015, with a special note by editors Michael Duncan & Kristine McKenna (pg. 7). An extremely important & most collectible document of the elusive Berman, his profound impact on the Beat Generation & Beyond, & with distinguished provenance: From the collection of Allen Tobias, former assistant to Allen Ginsberg, archivist, essayist, venerable man-of-letters & our esteemed colleague at the European Beat Studies Network (ebsn.eu). In fine condition with light rubbing, scratching to front, back covers & spine; a touch of wear & some tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; several medium & short, faint vertical crease-folds at upper right area of back cover (apparently a slight flaw as issued). Interior very fine; substantially mint. An extra handling fee will be added for shipping due to the size and weight of this item. Fine. [Item #5179]

Price: $60.00