An artist and writer whose works are both humble and ambitious in their charm and inventiveness, Joe Brainard was one of the most distinctive figures in the vibrant cultural scene of New York in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for his influential experimental autobiographical work, I Remember, Brainard created in various forms, from poetry consistent with the New York School to works adjacent to Pop Art, including bold variations of the comic character Nancy. His art draws from everyday life and popular culture, emanating a sense of friendliness, insightfulness, and generosity.
Love, Joe presents a selection of Brainard's letters spanning from 1959 to 1993, offering an intimate glimpse into his personal and artistic life. It allows readers to witness an extraordinarily fertile moment in New York's history when literary and visual arts intersected with happenings, early punk and psychedelic rock concerts, and experimental music and dance performances. Brainard's letters to his partner, Kenward Elmslie, and others also open a window into the transformations of queer life during this period. The correspondents include poet and artist friends like John Ashbery, Anne Waldman, Ted Berrigan, Alice Notley, Fairfield Porter, Ron Padgett, Bernadette Mayer, James Schuyler, Alex Katz, and Andy Warhol, as well as lovers, patrons, high school friends, and admirers.
At once an insider's look into the worlds of art and literature and a revelation of Brainard's creative process, these letters invite readers to share in his radical yet gentle honesty, openness, and a sophisticated naivety that helped blur the conventional boundaries between art and life.
Pages: 408, Year of Publication: 1204, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm
