Galt, Lisa

In Sight

Detroit, MI, USA: Artists’ Workshop Press; Mother/Asphodel, 1966. Limited First Edition. Stapled Wrappers. “what is happening: / to the roses / to the blue flowers / the whole garden is getting choked by weeds // the tiny animals hide now when they hear us coming // the house is rotting” (“81 Degrees,” pg 8) Lisa Galt, now Lisa Galt Bond, is a well-known figure in the Lower East Side jazz and poetry scenes. Bond co-founded and performed with the Tin Palace All-Stars alongside poets Frank Murphy and Gregg Weatherby, jazz musicians Richie Cole and Eddie Jefferson, and Paul Pines, the manager of the Tin Palace. The Tin Palace was a jazz nightclub on the Bowery in New York's East Village just down the road from C.B.G.B., and the Tin Palace was the preferred hangout spot for artists of all types from 1973 to 1979. Offered here is Galt’s first published work from long before her life in New York City. She was discovered by Paul Blackburn (1926-1971) who sent a recording of her poetry reading to John Sinclair (1941-2024) of the Detroit Artists’ Workshop resulting in this volume of poetry. Featuring four poems, this early production features a cover photo of two young children “kim and pooh” taken by Lena (Magadalene) Arndt Sinclair, John’s wife, presumably in the Detroit neighborhood where they resided. Her writing evokes the pain and rejection of a neglectful childhood with a darkness and ambiguity that raise more questions than they answer. The words and structure would be more emphasized and impactful when performed alongside a musical accompaniment as she intended. From the collection of scholar, poet and our dear friend Robin Eichele (b. 1941), noted Mimeograph Revolutionary & co-founder of the Detroit Artists' Workshop with the late, great John Sinclair. Stapled Wrappers: limited first edition, published “in an edition of 500 copies,” first-&-only printing, “march,1966”, as stated at colophon. In good-to-near-fine condition with moderate age discoloration around the edges of front, back covers; moderate bumping to the fine edges of same; minor-to-moderate creasing to the corners of same, top and bottom corners of page block; bottom left corner of back cover is torn at an angle. Good-Near Fine. [Item #7106]

Price: $40.00