22 Mar

Posted at 19:40h in Letters + Documents

30 x 21cm, 1pp original carbon copy on typing paper. A copy of a letter sent by Finlay to the Cultural Attache at the American Embassy in London.
The letter informs them that several works on loan to Little Sparta from the Sol Lewitt Collection in the Wadsworth Atheneum had been "stolen by officers of Strathclyde Region". The works Finlay believes were then "handed to the art dealer's Christie's. This is not the branch of Christie's which rumour has linked with the Mafia." Finlay states he asked for the works back but Christie's refused.
Finlay being Finlay reported the "theft" to the police who "made it clear to me that they were unlikely to take action." Other institutions also refused help, Finlay states that the Sheriff Officer Alexander Walker "though he prefers to be known as Sandy" was the main "robber" and that Walker is known to be leaving the country "today".
Finlay does not actually ask the Embassy to take any action - but it is inferred as a theft against an US establishment. The letter is really a bit of fun which Finlay can use later for press attention. Well worth reading.

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20 Mar

Posted at 17:57h in Artist's Postcards

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1983
13.3 x 15.6cm, 1pp black and red on white artist's card with a photograph by John Stathatos. The image is of the table in the Garden Temple on the day Strathclyde Region removed candlesticks TERROT and VIRTUE from Finlay Garden Temple as a poinding ac tion to regain the money they claimed they were owed for unpaid rates. the posed photograph also has a copy of a sheet entitled "La liberte ou la mort 1989" - a study of the rhetoric of the French poet Roche. The title in MUrray's catalogue Raisonne is "LIBERTY, TERROR & VIRTUE" but that is perhaps not correct. VG+.

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20 Mar

Posted at 11:54h in James Lee Byars

Eindhoven: Stedelijk van Abbemuseum, 1983 16.5 x 16.5 x 16.5cm, cubic artists’ book content of 924pp. Self cover. Texts by James Lee Byars and Piet de Jonghe. Some b/w illustrations of works., The famous artist’s book issued in 500 copies on the occasion of the exhibition held at the Stedelijk van Abbemuseum. VG+. ...

19 Mar

Posted at 21:53h in James Lee Byars

JAMES LEE BYARS. PARIS 1983 Paris: ARC, Musee d'art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1983 15 x 10.5cm, 2pp gold on black typographic announcement card for a major museum solo show. VG....

19 Mar

Posted at 21:07h in James Lee Byars

Paris: ARC, Musee d'art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1983 22 x 22 cm, 332 pages, exhibition catalogue/artist’s bookwith many blank pages between which are sprinkled Byars’ epigrams with some illustrations in black and white of works. Slight grubbiness to wrappers....

18 Mar

Posted at 18:30h in Jud Yalkut

N.p. (Dayton, OH): Canal Street Tavern, 1983 28 x 21.5cm, 1pp black on white small poster with a design by the artist for a show of videos of rock bands which include the Woodstock Festival, The Grateful Dead, The Who, Loving Spoonful, Mitch Ryder and Young Rascals. VG....

15 Mar

Posted at 18:45h in James Lee Byars

12.5 x 24cm, silver gelatine print showing Byars and Beuys cavorting on a dark oval shape at Dokumenta 7 at the opening of the exhibition Sammlung Speck in March, 1983. Byars is wearing a top hat and has his face covered by a black scarf. Taken by Benjamin Katz. Possibly unique. VG+. ...

11 Mar

Posted at 20:00h in Prints + Posters

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. (1996)
A portfolio of three 25 x 20cm, 4pp offset lithographs - the paper colour of each being important to the meaning of the work.

The first sheet opens to read "Watteau's clown" and is on beige paper.

The second sheet opens to read "Picasso's acrobats" and is on light blue paper.

The third sheet opens to read "The wind shadow cast by this blue sail" and is on dark blue paper.

The three reference paintings and the dominant colour of the pallet....

06 Mar

Posted at 15:46h in Artist's Postcards

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1983
18.4 × 20.3cm, 1pp, black and red on white card. The quotation from Saint-Just is presented as if they had been carved in separate stones and there is an instruction "Cut around outlines. Arrange words in order." - reflecting the way that the quotation suggests change is inevitable and that causality requires some degree of chaos. The drawing is by Nicholas Sloan.
This work is also found at Little Sparta as one of the largest of the installations to be found there - with the text actually carved into large stones on moorland. VG+.

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02 Mar

Posted at 20:02h in Letters + Documents

30 x 21cm, 1pp original carbon copy on typing paper.
A copy of a letter sent by Finlay to the J. N. Young, Assistant Director of Finance for Strathclyde Region.
The letter informs Mr Young that much like the way Strathclyde Region had demanded proof of ownership of any works taken from Little Sparta if they were to be returned on the basis that they were not entirely Finlay's property, that he, Finlay, will now apply the same logic to "any of your property" should he "happen to find himself in possession of it.".
Finlay then wrote "Some might think that the Region has not only engaged in theft but is proposing a kind of Instant Abolition of all Property - no doubt an enlightened policy but is it one which is to be expected from Stalinist Populists?"
A hilarious letter with copies sent to most members of the Saint-Just Vigilantes.

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01 Mar

Posted at 13:36h in Joseph Beuys Cards 1980 - 23rd January 1986, Joseph Beuys Cards 1980s, Joseph Beuys Postcards

Gelsenkirchen, Free International University - FIU, 1982 14.8 x 10.4cm, 2pp - artist's postcard designed by Johannes Stuettgen for the Green Party in Germany. The Greens took part in elections in the Federal Republic of Germany on March 6, 1983 and for the first time the Greens managed to elect their own supporters to parliament. Beuys was one of the founders of the German Green Party and used his popularity to garner support for the group as here. The signature on the card is printed. VG+. ...

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