Various (Berman, Wallace; Duncan, Robert; Ginsberg, Allen; Kaufman, Bob; McClure, Michael; Natsoulas, John; Snyder, Gary; Whalen, Philip et al.)

The Beat Generation Galleries and Beyond

Davis, CA: Natsoulas Gallery, 1996. First Edition. Talk about an essential and underappreciated work for the Beat-&-Beyond Scholar! John Natsoulas' 1996 work, "The Beat Generation Galleries and Beyond," is a deep dive into the Visual Art culture in California during the heyday of the First San Francisco Renaissance, of the artist-run galleries (including the famous Six Gallery known to all Beat Scholars and Enthusiasts) which existed as counterculture hubs and nexuses as vibrant and integral to the Beat counterculture as a whole as the bookstores and primarily literary venues. Here's Natsoulas running down just what's in this unappreciated masterwork of scholarship in the Introduction: "'Beat Galleries and Beyond' is important in the history of Northern California Art, beginning with Metart, the first artist-run gallery in 1949. Following Metart was the King Ubu Gallery (1952-1953), the '6' Gallery (1954-1957), the East and West Gallery (1955-1958), the Spatsa (1958-1961), and the Batman Gallery. All of these galleries were important artist-run galleries; however, it is important to note that it was the Dilexi Gallery which really took over where the others left off, bringing the careers of its artists to the marketplace. The Dilexi was the first professionally-run art gallery, collaborating artists of our region, raising artist-run galleries to a higher level, and showing other nationally known artists. These galleries illustrate the improvisational and experimental culture during the 1950s and early 1960s." Just preceding that paragraph is the following: "The activities at the galleries were poorly documented, and not much has been written about them. The galleries existed largely in the memories of the people who showed art there or took part in the activities of the galleries during their relatively brief life spans. We have been called to make an exploration into the oral history of that period of art in San Francisco, and that defines the intention of the current exhibition and book. We have conducted nearly a hundred interviews, and tracked down many references in dozens of publications, and, at last, have managed to accumulate an unprecedented body of information about the art, artists, and lives of these unique establishments." If you are like Your Devoted Curators at Third Mind Books, and share that boundless, insatiable junk hunger for scholarly depth--for the countless truffle-like morsels lodged between the footnotes--this book is for you. [ISBN: 1-881572-88-9]. Softcover in illustrated wrappers: First Edition, as indicated on copyright page. In near fine condition with moderate-to-pronounced shelf-wear, select exhibits of bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine; similarly select exhibits of rubbing, closed chipping, spotting and toning to same; enunciated bump-crease to top left-hand corner of back cover. Near Fine. [Item #5203]

Price: $50.00