Diane Clark Solano Ave

Exhibition Featuring Painters and Poets of the First San Francisco ...

Mythos Gallery in Berkeley recently presented a compelling and rare exhibition of artworks by artists and poets of the First Renaissance, expertly curated by Christopher Wagstaff, who had previously in 1992 curated a very successful and informative two-part exhibition of drawings and decorated books by Robert Duncan at the University Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and the Bancroft Library at the University of California at Berkeley. The catalogue for this exhibition, which Wagstaff edited, included an essay by Duncan written in 1963, “Concerning the Art: This December 1963,” a reminisce of Duncan by his long-time friend, Virginia Admiral (the mother of the famous actor Robert Deniro), an essay by Wagstaff, entitled “An Interior Light: A Note on Robert Duncan’s Crayon Drawings,” and a seminal analysis of Duncan’s art and poetry, “The ‘ELF’ of It,” by Robin Blaser. Several of the art works by Duncan and his friends included in the 1992 exhibition were also in the exhibition at Mythos Gallery. Besides Duncan and Jess, artists in the Mythos exhibit included Madeline Gleason, Virginia Admiral, the sisters Mary and Lillian Fabilli, Paul Alexander, Harry Jacobus, David Young Allen, Ariel Parkinson, Diane di Prima, Lawrence Jordan, Lilly Fenichel and Fran Herndon.

Mythos Gallery owner Sue Steel organized a very interesting series of events in support of the exhibition and its artists, including poetry readings, presentations and discussions by artists, contemporary films, and music. These events were hosted by David Reid, who provided brief introductions and biographies of the artists and poets. Featured speakers and events included the following: Peter Selz, former Director of the UC Art Museum, who provided a brief history of the period and the relationships between painters and poets of the Renaissance; Kevin Killian, Lewis Ellingham, and Tara McDowell, on the subject, “Poet Be Like God” (June 12); Richard (“Dick”) O. Moore and Ariel, with a showing of Moore’s film on Robert Duncan (June 17); the showing of two films “The Household of Robert Duncan and Jess” by David Fratto and Christopher Wagstaff and “Lawrence Jordan: Moments of Illumination” by Kathryn Golden and Ashley James, with a discussion and question period following by Lawrence Jordan who was present at the event (June 18). Poets giving readings also included David Meltzer, Joanne McClure, and Frank Cebulski (May 27).

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