The filmmaker Jud Yalkut not only made some of the most important documentary films in the East Coast USA avant grade art scene but he was close friends with Nam June Paik, Charlotte Moorman and Jonas Mekas amongst others and was active in the avant grade of the 60s and 70s.
A significant figure in avant grade cinema, Yalkut initially gained a lot of attention from his involvement in the USCO group: an American media art collective founded by Gerd Stern, Michael Callahan, and Steve Durkee but to which Yalkut soon became a significant figure creating many of the group’s installations, films and often designing the group’s publicity material. The films TURN, TURN, TURN , GHOST REV, DIFFRACTION FILM, and DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE might be regarded as works that were primarily created as USCO artworks although the first of these films was created in co-operation with Nam June Paik – the giant of experimental video with whom, thereafter, he regularly collaborated.
The emerging counter culture scene and the rise of rock music as the dominant musical genre in the United States led Yalkut to make a number of films involving musicians and, in particular, the film AQUARIAN RUSHES where Yalkut documented the events and bands of Woodstock. He continued to involve himself with new music performances including being part at times of the Fluxorchestra (which had a fluid and ever changing membership) but he also continued to create major installations using projections and music. Even in his later years he would often film musicians including jazz innovators such as Warren James and Pee Wee Russell.
In 1967 Yalkut made SELF-OBLITERATION the most important film about Yayoi Kusuma which introduced her to a wider art audience. The film was shown regularly on the art circuit and drew more attention to the filmmaker who by now was a common figure at screenings in New York and, later, in Ohio.
Yalkut continued to work well into his 60s and in the 70s started a film and video program at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. His later life was as primarily as a teacher with occasional forays into the world of art. He died in 2013 only months after a major retrospective of this life and works was shown at Dayton University, OH.
Here we offer an archive of the ephemeral and other material from Yalkut’s activities – mostly from the period 1965 to 1975 when he was most active. There are very scarce items here including a number of unique horoscopes that Yalkut made for his friends and colleagues and, in particular, there is the original collage/paste up that Yalkut made for the premiere of SELF-OBLITERATION in 1967 which incorporates an original photograph by the artist of Kusama.
In total there are 72 items in this archive – all came directly or indirectly from Yalkut’s own holdings. The collection is for sale (or even available for exhibition under certain circumstances) – do enquire as to price. Please note we may consider selling individual items from this group – again please enquire.
Boston: Film-Makers’ Cinematheque, 1967 28 x 21.5cm, 1pp b/w on white programme for Flyer for Breer and Emshwiller’s portion of the March 1967 screenings at FMC. Only briefly mentions Yalkut’s screening, as coming next week.” at the bottom of the leaflet along with Ron Rice’s “The Flower Thief”. The Boston Film-Makers’ Cinematheque had opened the year before as an offshoot of Mekas’ NYC venture. VG.
NYC: Film-Makers’ Cinematheque, 1967 28 x 21.5cm, 1pp b/cream offset leaflet for a Bardo Matrix “”lite show”” (Angus Maclise) at the Film-Makers Cinematheque which featured a film by Yalkut, other instllations by USCO, and a “Supermodel Fashion Show” by Hope, Sachiki, Jeneview and Marcelle. The design of the leaflet is ornate and instructs those attending to “wear colors flowers”. VG.
NYC: Film-Makers’ Distribution Center, 1967 Two stapled sheets both 28 x 21.5cm, 1pp b/light green offset leaflet for a screening of three films from the Belgium International Festival in December 1967, including Yalkut’s portrait of artist Yayoi Kusama, which won the Special Jury Prize. Also screened were Robert Nelson’s film of the Grateful Dead and Michael Snow’s “Wavelength.” There are extensive biographical and filmic details for each of the films on the second sheet.
Hollywood, FL: Hollywood Sportatorium, 1967 28 x 21.5cm, 1pp b/light green offset leaflet for a performance by the Florida-based group Mushroom. There is no co clear relation to Yalkut, but given it came from his own archive it is likely they screened his John Cage mushroom short. VG.
30.5 x 22cm, original b/w paste up for this filmic event which showed Yalkut’s famous film of Yayoi Kusama’s orgy works and also mentions “3 NEW FILMS WITH NAM JUNE PAIK”. This is Yalkut’s own design made up of hand-applied white letraset lettering on black paper, typed text and a large original photograph of the Kusama orgy taken by Yalkut. A unique and important item. Fine condition with only a very slight corner bottom right torn off the backing card.
Buffalo State University College of New York at Buffalo”, 1968 22 x 21.5cm, 4pp b/w offset folded program for an event in March ’68 held as part of that year’s Intermedia festival. Featured dance by Trisha Brown Schilchter and Michele Friedman to music by Simone Whitman with an accompanying film by Yalkut. VG.
Madison, NJ: International Artists Seminar Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1968 31.5 x 21.5cm, 1pp b/w offset news bulletin for two upcoming events at this university, the first featuring Snow and Joyce Wieland, and the second a screening of Yalkut’s films followed by a panel of all three artists. VG.
