IAN HAMILTON FINLAY

LETTERS + DOCUMENTS

STATEMENT WITH TEXT OF TELEGRAM SENT TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF STRATHCLYDE REGION. 6TH FEBRUARY 1983.

Littel Sparta: Finlay, 6th February 1983
30 x 21cm, original xerox copy of a statement quoting the text of a telegram sent by Ian Hamilton Finlay to the Chief Executive of Strathclyde Region. The text reads:
LITTLE SPARTA 6 2 83 1400 HOURS STOP LITTLE SPARTA ACKNOWLEDGES MESSAGES OF SUPPORT RECEIVED DURING FRIDAY'S SUCCESSFUL BATTLE INCLUDING TELEGRAMS FROM LONDON PARIS BERLIN STOP LS OFFERS IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL DEFENCES IN EXCHANGE DISCUSSIONS WITH STRATHCLYDE REGION STOP LS ALLOWS DISCUSSIONS TAKE PLACE UNDER TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT BETWEEN LS SR AND SAC STOP.

A proposal for the Scottish Arts Council to help mediate a solution to the dispute between the Region and FInlay. Later Finlay would feel the SAC had betrayed him (and art) by refusing to take a stance.
A the bottom of this leaflet is the text "FERME ORNEE ARMOURED TANK" and a rare (reproduced) drawing by Finlay of a haystack with a stick protruding from it (to look like a tank).

CARBON COPY OF LETTER FROM FINLAY TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FINANCE STRATHCLYDE REGION. 1983.

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.

CARBON COPY OF LETTER FROM FINLAY TO THE LONDON US CULTURAL ATTACHE. 1983.

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.

CARBON COPY OF LETTER FROM FINLAY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND. 1983.

30 x 21cm, 1pp original carbon copy on typing paper.
A copy of a letter sent by Finlay to the Secretary of State for Scotland.
The letter informs him about the "theft" of the works by the Sheriff Officer from Little Sparta. Finlay announces that the garden at Little Sparta is now closed because of the Region's actions. he also points out that some of the works taken were part owned by other institutions who were now considering legal action against Christie's and the Region to recover their property. Finlay says that that is wrong - that the US institutions should really be consulting the Pentagon. Finlay tells the SOS that he will now defend himself by any means necessary including should it be necessary "sleeping in our Wellies".
In conclusion Finlay accuses the SOS of licensing a "rabble: and calling it a "Region", "You have gone too far.".

CARBON COPY OF LETTER FROM FINLAY TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF STRATHCLYDE REGION. 1983.

30 x 21cm, 1pp original carbon copy on typing paper.
A copy of a letter sent by Finlay to the Chief Executive for Strathclyde Region.
The letter informs the Chief Executive that the works that were removed by the Sheriff Officer were not entirely Finlay's property, but part owned by an US institution.
Finlay raises the possibility that the US might invade Scotland from the Clyde bases to regain their property (an amusing canard) and then rants agains the Region but in a witty and amusing manner.
This is one of four such letters written on the same day by Finlay to various bodies. He was on a roll. Each (see other entries in this section) is a funny and often drole piece of trolling (before the word trolling was invented for this purpose).
Copies of the letter are noted as having been sent to Andrew Brown, Ian Gardner, Wadsworth Atheneum and Sol Lewitt (Finlay claims he had part ownership of the "stolen" works.

PAN INCORPORATING PICK. UNUSED LETTERHEAD. c. 1982

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. c. 1982.
21 x 18cm, 1pp printed letterhead - green on grey. Finlay created a number of different stationery for Little Sparta and used them (as far as we can tell) indiscriminately for his correspondence. This unused example has across the top "PAN incorporating PICK/Scociety of Scottish Garden Poets". And at the bottom "The PICK is mightier than the PEN". Fine.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ARTS AGAINST THE ARTS COUNCIL. UNUSED LETTERHEAD. c. 1982

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, n.d. c. 1982.
21 x 18cm, 1pp printed letterhead - red and green on white. Finlay created a number of different stationery for Little Sparta and used them (as far as we can tell) indiscriminately for his correspondence. This unused example has across the top "SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ARTS AGAINST THE ARTS COUNCIL". And at the bottom "When I hear the words 'Arts Council' I reach for my water pistol". Fine.

THE STRATHCLYDE TIMES. FRIDAY JUNE 17 1983.

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press (?), Friday 17 June 1983
21 x 30cm, 2pp black on off-white newsprint. A parody newspaper with humorous articles about the dispute between Strathclyde Region and Ian Hamilton Finlay over rates for the Garden temple at Little Sparta. Spurious claims of Little Sparta having a "secret weapon: the "Tucker Gun" based on a 19060s abstract sculpture by WIlliam Tucker. The act of postering the Scottish Arts Council building is also reported on with an image of one of the posters gummed onto the columns outside the building. US troops are also reported to have landed in the Pentland Hills and are "preparatory to advancing into Strathclyde Region" and "taking over key points such as.... Strathclyde Region's HQ." Unusual for Finlay the attacks here are reasonably soft and amusing. A extremelyhard to find document from the Little Sparta War.

ORIGINAL HEAT SENSITIVE PHOTOCOPY OF WILD HAWTHORN PRESS PRICE LIST. c. 1984

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1984
30 x 21cm, 3pp (recto only), stapled top left. A homemade photocopy price list for Finlay's press released early in 1984. The Press regularly sent out such lists to clients and with orders. VG if one takes account of the rather thrown together method of printing.

A NOTE ON THE PRESENT SITUATION IN THE LITTLE SPARTAN WAR. 1984.

Little Sparta: Finlay, 1984
30 x 21cm, 1pp,. Offset lithographic press release and newsletter for supporters. Finlay lets everyone know that a new summary warrant against the Garden Temple has been issued by Strathclyde Region and warns of a second "assault" on the Temple and possible imprisonment of those living there. He also points out that Strathclyde Region hold works "stolen" under the previous warrant that are worth more than twice the disputed amount over the Rates bill and that some of the works taken were returned after US embassy intervention for the items jointly owned by US museums. The circular/press release then ends with a long quotation from Schiller. VG.

THE GARDEN TEMPLE (APOLLO’S TEMPLE OF REASON) LITTLE SPARTA. 1984.

Little Sparta: s.p. (Finlay), n.p. (1984) 30 x 21cm, 4pp (printed recto only) previously stapled. The handout given to visitors to Little Sparta describing the various rooms in the Garden Temple and the works inside them. Unusual for Finlay this gives insight into his work (all related to the French Revolution). Rust from the former staple else VG+.

ATTACK DART. 19835. (BEAT THE REDS WITH THE WHITE WEDGE: CORRESPOND!).

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1985
23 x 23cm (unfolded size), 2pp sheet of printed paper designed to be folded into a paper airplane shape and thrown.
The text inside: "BEAT THE REDS WITH THE WHITE WEDGE: CORRESPOND!" adapts the Russian revolutionary slogan from the famous painting by Lazar Markovich Lissitzky, suggesting writing letters may be a radical response to the attacks on Little Sparta by the Strathclyde Region. It should be noted that the dart is supposedly published by the "Committee of Public Safety" which was the centralised mechanism by which Robespierre and Saint-Just controlled the Terror of the French revolution. This is a mailed example to Ronnie Duncan with stamp and frank. Murray lists this as a card - which is debatable we have decided to categorise it as a letter/document because of it's intent as a campaigning item. VG+.

Ronnie Duncan