Ray Johnson Designer (3 results)

Softcover. unpaginated; classic and important artist book at start of Fluxus; poor condition, many scuffs and fading to covers; 2-inch and 3-inch tears to top of spine with hanging flap; 2-inch tear to bottom of spine with hanging flap and partial loss; many pages have a waterstain at the right edge; contents complete with all inserts and contents; last envelope by La Monte Young is unglued but present. The first edition of this book is very different from the 2nd edition of 1970; the size of the earlier edition is smaller; almost every page is printed on a different colored paperstock; the layout of several pages has been completely re-arranged; the flow of the page sequencing is slightly different; and the spine is blank. This copy is from the library of artist Michael Snow and has a torn illustration of his Walking Woman affixed to the inside front cover; perhaps he was trying to insert himself into Fluxus; or perhaps it's simply like a bookplate.

Vintage publicity photograph of Rita Johnson in a Vera West designed evening gown, by photographer Ray Jones, 1941, with a mimeo snipe and a studio stamp, crediting photographer Jones, on the verso. From the archive of noted Hollywood still photographer Ray Jones. Born in Wisconsin on January 1, 1901, Jones worked for Paramount Pictures in the early 1930s, and went on to be the head of the still photography department at Universal Pictures in 1935, where he worked well into the 1950s. Rita Johnson was a radio, stage, and screen actress who appeared in 38 films from 1937 to 1957, and is perhaps best remembered for playing the lead role in the 1938 to 1955 radio show "Joyce Jordan, M.D.," as well as her performances in "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941) and the film noir "They Won't Believe Me" (1947). 8 x 10 inches. Near Fine, with light edgewear.

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. Original Ray Johnson-designed flyer for a 1959 production of short plays by Samuel Beckett directed by Geraldine Lust for The Living Theatre. 8.5" x 11", single-sided, offset-printed. Ray Johnson produced several flyers and set decorations for Living Theatre from the late 1950's-1960's. Founded in 1947 by Judith Malina and Julian Beck, The Living Theatre nurtured a robust underground art scene in New York City, first by staging original experimental works and adaptations of plays by writers such as Bertold Brecht and Gertrude Stein, then by incorporating literary benefits, film screenings, and musical happenings. Light bumping and rubbing to extremities with a small tear at the lower left. No fold lines. Protected (and photographed) in a heavy clear plastic protector.