Merce Cunningham Subject (2 results)

Hardcover. Condition: As New. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. Signed. 150 pages. Published in 2008. Retrospective collection of color photographs on subject. One of the most beautiful photography books on modern dance of our time. The First Hardcover Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. Published in a small and limited first print run as a hardcover original only. The First Edition is now scarce. An austerely elegant production by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Sandra Smith, and Alex Castro: Oversize-volume format. Blue cloth boards with metallic-silver titles embossed on the cover and spine, and photographic reproduction pasted on the recessed center, as issued. Photographs and text by Mikhail Baryshnikov. Separations by Martin Senn. Printed on pristine-white, thick coated stock paper in the United States by Meriden Printing Rhode Island to the highest standards. The reproduction quality is exemplary in every respect. Without DJ, as issued. Presents "Merce My Way: Photographs by Mikhail Baryshnikov". The greatest dancer of all time showcasing his very own photographs of modern dance. They are deeply felt, inspired by, and a tribute to two giants of modern dance: The Merce Cunningham Dance Company (with whom he had performed), one of the greatest modern dance companies ever, and Alexey Brodovitch's "Ballet", the greatest photography book on dance ever published. Like Baryshnikov The Dancer, Baryshnikov The Photographer is driven, fascinated, and moved by movement, in particular the perennial challenge of capturing it in a still medium. He gratefully acknowledges the influence of Brodovitch, who showed the way, as well as the personal significance of Merce Cunningham and his legendary company. "He seizes the essence of Cunningham's choreography by anticipating the dancers' motions and capturing the streaming fluidity of their dance. His images are radiant and electric: Blurring motion, past, present, and future into a single frame. Featuring images of six Cunningham dances, the book is a revelation for all those who revere dance and the work of these two Masters" (Publisher's blurb). Cunningham's artistic credo is simple: Dance is not about life, it is life, that is, being alive, itself: "You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive" (Merce Cunningham). Shortly after this collection was published, Merce Cunningham died, on July 27, 2009 at the age of 90, the greatest modern choreographer of our time. After a stirring farewell tour, his company disbanded for good in 2011. Here is the permanent record of his enduring legacy, magical, ephemeral moments to treasure for posterity. An absolute "must-have" title for Mikhail Baryshnikov and Merce Cunningham collectors. This copy is very prominently, neatly, and beautifully signed in black ink-pen on the half-title page by Mikhail Baryshnikov. It is signed directly on the page itself, not on a tipped-in page. He signed his name in full and in "English" Roman alphabet (instead of the more common "Russian" Cyrillic characters). His specimen-signature on this copy is the single most beautiful we have ever seen: Clean, flowing, and elegant. This title is a contemporary art photography classic. This is one of few such "Roman alphabet" signed copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing still available online and is in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. A rare signed copy thus. 85 color plates. One of the greatest dance companies captured on film by the greatest dancer of all time. A fine collectible copy. ISBN 0982172605. Signed by Author.

Vintage borderless satin-finish photograph of legendary dancer and choreographer Merce Cunningham performing during the 1976 Festival d'Avignon. Stamp of photographer Marc Enguerand on the verso. The 1976 festival was held at the Palais de Papes, and marked the first time Cunningham and his company were invited to perform at the prestigious event. 8.25 x 11.75 inches. Very Good plus, with faint toning on the margin at the top and right edges.