Various (Sinclair, John; Burroughs, William S.; Cohen, Sam; Coltrane, John; Reich, Wilhelm et al.)

Detroit Artists' Workshop Cover/Flyer No.s 2, 4, 5 with: Misc. Programs (Total Three Pieces)

Detroit, MI: The Detroit Artists' Workshop, 1964. First Printings. "One of the most baffling things about America is that despite its essentially vile profile, so much beauty continues to exist here....In this tiny America where the most delirious happiness can only be caused by the dollar, a man continues to make daring reference to some kind of thought....There is a daringly human quality to John Coltrane's music that makes itself felt, wherever he records. If you can hear, this music will make you think of a lot of weird and wonderful things. You might even become one of them." (LeRoi Jones, Homage to John Coltrane, Program # 4). Offered today is a bundle of Detroit Artists’ Workshop rarities, Artists’ Workshop: Program #2: Spero Benefit, November 8, (1964); Artists' Workshop: Program #4: Homage to John Coltrane, November 22, (1964); & Artists Workshop: Program #5: Artists' Workshop premiers[sic] Sam Cohen's 1-act The Spy." These broadside programs outline all those in attendance and the nature of their performance, as well as outlining future programs and events that the Workshop is holding. Those listed on Program #2: Spero Benefit, November 8, (1964) to perform in benefit of Spero magazine (Spero was Artists' Workshop's Douglas Casement’s literary journal, featuring contributions from major Beat writers across the country, he formed part of an increasingly politicized and drug-addled Midwestern Beat poetry and art scene) include: LeRoi Jones (aka Amiri Baraka, 1934-2014), Diane di Prima (1934-2020), Philip Whalen (1923-2002), Ray & Bonnie Bremser, and Artists' Workshop co-founder John Sinclair (1941-2024), among others. With prose by Beat Generation Founding Father William S. Burroughs (1914-1997), Carl Larsen & Carl Linder and a performance by the Detroit Contemporary 5. Program #4: Homage to John Coltrane, November 22, 1964 was "a program of music, poetry, prose, & grafics[sic] dedicated to the man many of us feel to be the master of modern music." This performance included poetry & prose for American saxophonist John Coltrane (1926-1967) read by: John Sinclair, Jim Semark (1940-2010), Leroi Jones and A.B. Spellman, amongst several others. The Pierre Rochon Quintet performed Coltrane compositions and Larry Weiner shared his drawings of Coltrane performing. Artists Workshop: Program #5: Artists' Workshop premiers[sic] Sam Cohen's 1-act The Spy was the worldwide release of a one-act play by Sam Cohen as well as the preview of the second act of Cohen's play The Wilhelm Reich Story. Not much is known about Cohen, but William Reich (1897-1957) was the Austrian psychoanalyst that William S. Burroughs had a fondness for. Performers involved in the plays include: William Sullivan, Stephen Sokoloff, Rosalind Holley, Cohen himself and a volunteer from the audience! All together, a fantastical bundle from the very beginning of the Detroit Artists' Workshop's counter-culture, generation-changing escapades. See also Item No.s 8075, 8077, 8087 et al. for more programs. From the collection of scholar, poet and our dear friend Robin Eichele (b. 1941), noted Mimeograph Revolutionary & co-founder (with the aforementioned late, great John Sinclair) of the Detroit Artists’ Workshop. (3) Single folded sheet broadsides (appx: 11" x 4 1/4" folded, 11" x 8 1/2" open). First & presumably only printings. A most collectible bundle of Artists' Worrkshop programs in their rarest contemporary form, with utmost relevance & very distinguished provenance. Program #2 in relatively fine-to-very fine condition with only minor discoloration due to age-toning, mostly to top and bottom fine edges, minor bumping of corners. Program #4 fine-to-very fine with only minor discoloration due to age-toning, mostly to top and bottom fine edges, minor bumping of corners. Program # 5 fine-to-very fine with only minor discoloration due to age-toning, mostly top top and bottom fine edges, minor bumping of corners. Fine-Very Fine. [Item #8390]

Price: $60.00