Henry darger art monographs and museum exhibition catalogs. Henry darger by klaus biesenbach 2009, hardcover for sale. The tragic life of an outsider artist, author jim elledge notes that, when darger lived with his father in chicagos poorest, seediest. This recounts dargers childhood sent to an asylum for feebleminded children at age 12, there when one of the inmates tried to castrate. Since his death in 1973, henry darger, janitor, orphan, writer and artist, has found increasing posthumous fame as an artist of. Henry darger american artist and writer britannica. Henry darger 18921973 spent much of his life in chicago rummaging through trash cans, going to mass, writing about the weather and fighting with tangled balls of twine. He taught himself how to write stories and he drew the images in his book. The book also includes for the first time the text of dargers history of my life,a the. Henry darger and the coloring book, american folk art museum, new york 2009, compass in hand, museum of modern art, new york 2008, glossolalia, museum of modern art, new york 2008, dargerism.
On leaving i purchased the henry darger room book, published by 2008 by imperial press. Henry darger, throwaway boy mixes speculative fiction with researched biography. For their advice and kind assistance in helping to realize this book. He was completely unknown until after his death, when his landlord and landlady discovered thousands of pages of writings and paintings in his little room. Not so recently, a a dear friend sent me a copy of a book of essays by john dagata, entitled halls of fame. Henry darger, born april 12, 1892, chicago, illinois, u. Henry dargers room, yukiko koide, imperial press, 2007.
Among darger s personal affects, lerner uncovered several astounding works of literature and hundreds of works of art, all created in secret by henry darger. American innocence klaus biesenbach the art of henry darger sources and drawings. Collage history of art by henry darger the green lantern press. Paul chan, happiness finally after 35,000 years of civilization after henry darger and charles fourier, 20002003. Henry darger 18921973 was a hospital janitor and an immensely productive artist and writer. The opening reception on saturday, september 11th, from 4 to 7 pm, features two special events. About the author austinbased alison is the founder and editor of photography blog, feature shoot. Henry darger and the coloring book, american folk art museum, new york solo solo 2009 in through the out door, andrew edlin gallery, new york. This article is dedicated, with admiration, respect and love, to chris alaswad in the realms of the unreal, a film by jessica yu. Digital video projection on screen color, sound, 17 minutes, 20 seconds. Henry darger in the realms of the unreal by john m. He was obviously smart, but then he had problems in his daily life. Since his death in 1973, henry darger, janitor, orphan, writer and artist, has found increasing posthumous fame as an artist of influence, particularly for a generation of north american artists born in the late. Klaus biesenbach, chief curator, department of media and performance art, the museum of modern art, new york date friday, dec 5, 2009.
An examination of darger s 10year weather diaries and their relation to his work and to christian painting. The tragic life of an outsider artist, author jim elledge notes that, when darger lived with his father in chicagos poorest, seediest neighborhoods. An authoritative, balanced, and insightful look at american master henry darger 18921972. Henry darger 18921973 was in many ways a classic selftaught, outsider artist though some critics dislike this classification. Dec 08, 2009 henry darger was an outsider artist because no one knew he was an artist until he died. The henry darger collection at the american folk art museum brooke davis. Village voice, april 23, 2002 a book that is part academic magnum opus and part. Set on a large planet on which earth orbits as a moon, dargers book tells the story of seven blonde young sisters known as the vivian girls. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian.
Since his death in 1973, henry darger, janitor, orphan, writer. Jun 24, 2017 in his 20 book henry darger, throwaway boy. The best book on darger, without question, in the realms of the unreal contains much of dargers original text from his project of the same name, and huge, exclusivelycolor reproductions of his artwork. Praise for henry darger with scant but dense information about dargers life and artistic contribution, the book allows viewers all the delight, awe, repulsion, sorrow, and wonder his oeuvre inevitably elicits. Some of the more colorful, curious and shocking images are not here in these brief 76 pages.
Henry darger 18921973 watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing and collage on pieced paper, 24x108 14 in. In many ways an extraordinary book dargers writing and art combined make for a great. Spanning eight volumes, the book only spends 206 pages detailing dargers early life before veering off into. The henry darger collection at the american folk art. An authoritative, balanced, and insightful look at american master henry. April 12, 1892 april, 1973 was a reclusive american writer and artist who worked as a hospital custodian in chicago, illinois. Introduction to the autobiography of henry darger carl watson.
Why he kept it a secret is a mystery but were going to try and find out. Mar 30, 2009 henry darger 18921973 watercolor, pencil, carbon tracing and collage on pieced paper, 24x108 14 in. Elledge, a writing instructor and the author of several books on queer culture and history, was moved. Its well worth the read, and id highly recommend it.
In the realms of the unreal by macgregor, john isbn. Henry darger 19041973 was an chicagobased artist, who was completely unknown in his lifetime. At 5 pm, the acclaimed author rivka galchen atmospheric disturbances, 2009 and special guests will lead a. Henry darger, recluse, artist, obsessive, crazed manchild, is one of the more intriguing figures ive encountered in my limited exposure to outsider art. The first book was michael bonesteels henry darger. Dec 10, 2012 klaus biesenbach, chief curator, department of media and performance art, the museum of modern art, new york date friday, dec 5, 2009. Presents his art and an exploration of his complex role in the art of our time. For folks associated with universities in the nw, this book can be ordered through many university libraries, via summit. Contemporary artists and henry darger, american folk art museum, new york.
Henry darger, in the realms of the possibly real book. Henry darger spent his life working as a janitor in catholic hospitals, living alone in a rented room on chicagos north side, attending mass up to five times a day, and writing a picaresque tale in 15 massive volumes, composed of 145 handwritten pages and 5,084 singlespaced typed pages, and titled the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandeco. In some of the art children were innocently enjoying life and in others they were being horrifically tortured. Some of the information i found about henry darger sound like a real novel to me such a sad upbringing and such a rich legacy. After the death of his mother he was placed in a catholic home for boys and then into the lincoln asylum for feebleminded children in rural illinois, from which he ran away at the age of seventeen. Buy henry darger 01 by klaus biesenbach, brooke davis anderson, michael bonesteel isbn. Collage history of art by henry darger the green lantern. Michael bonesteel puts darger s life in the context of his work and selects key texts to accompany the illustrations. This third edition is a decent basic overview of the darger phenomenon, an updated 2009 reprint of the earlier 2006 same title. In the realms of the unreal is an affordable, accessible, and comprehensive selection of illustrations, images, and texts drawn from the elusive artist s darkly imaginative private world. His book is henry darger, art and selected writings. Since his death in 1973, henry darger, janitor, orphan, writer and artist, has found increasing posthumous fame as an artist of influence, particularly for a generation of north american. Henry darger and the coloring book, american folk art museum, new york 2009, compass in hand, museum of modern art, new york.
Henry darger is one of the most famous outsider artists in the world. Henry darger spent his life working as a janitor in catholic hospitals, living alone in a rented room on chicagos north side, attending mass up to five times a day, and writing a picaresque tale in 15. Henry darger by klaus biesenbach 2009, hardcover for. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Klaus biesenbach with brooke davis anderson, michael bonesteel and carl watkins, henry darger, prestel press, 2009. The book is available through prestel and dargers work can also be seen at the american folk art museum in new york through september, 2010. With henry darger, dakota fanning, larry pine, frier mccollister.
Mar 25, 2020 videos include selections from his 2017 tubemen show pillowsophia after pope offred, 3rd light 2006, sade for sades sake 2009, as well asand most notablyhis early breakthrough work, happiness finally after 35,000 years of civilization after henry darger and charles fourier, 20002003. Dargers influence upon todays young artists has been thoroughly documented in klaus biesenbachs recent book, henry darger prestel, 2009. Since his death in 1973, henry darger, janitor, orphan, writer and artist, has found increasing posthumous fame as an artist of influence, particularly for a generation of north american artists born in the late 60s and early 70s, such as marcel dzama, justine kurland, justin lieberman and amy cutler, who have drawn on his colossal oeuvre of drawings and writings, and his bizarre world of. The artists i would mention at the museum that were of interest.
Since his death in 1973, henry darger, janitor, orphan, writer and artist, has found increasing posthumous fame as an artist of influence, particularly for a generation of north american artists born in the late 60s and early 70s, such as marcel dzama, justine kurland, justin lieberman and amy cutler, who have drawn on his colossal oeuvre of drawings and writings, and his. In many ways it is much more satisfying than macgregors because he presents and interprets darger s work on its and henry s own terms rather than resorting to shopworn psychiatric hypotheses. There are suggestions below for improving the article. Henry darger was an outsider artist because no one knew he was an artist until he died. Jan 17, 2017 the centerpiece of what may very well be one of the most remarkable and terrifying stories emerging from the art world of the last century, henry darger was an american selftaught artist who led a solitary and reclusive life as a janitor in a chicago hospital. Socially, he was a recluse, choosing to spend most of his nonworking hours working as a dishwasher and janitor in different hospitals through his adult life working on a history, of sorts, of a. This beautiful book presents the extraordinary work of the iconic american outsider artist in a new critical light, locating him as a major figure in the history of contemporary art. The best book on darger, without question, in the realms of the unreal contains much of darger s original text from his project of the same name, and huge, exclusivelycolor reproductions of his artwork. Oct 23, 2010 darger s influence upon todays young artists has been thoroughly documented in klaus biesenbachs recent book, henry darger prestel, 2009. Macgregor delano greenidge editions, new york, numerous blackandwhite and color reproductions, 720 pages, 2002. Founded in 2009, hyperallergic is headquartered in. Henry darger book chicago public library bibliocommons. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. But you know, our fashions are in fashion only briefly, then they go out and stay that way for a long time.
Author, artist, sorry saint, protector of children. Art and selected writings from 2000, which includes bonesteels great essay henry darger. A documentary on henry darger, visionary artist, janitor, and novelist. The real virtues of this slender book are the 114 fullcolor illustrations of the paintings, which range. The only book of its kind, henry darger offers an authoritative, balanced, and insightful look at an american master. The book also includes for the first time the text of darger s history of my life,a the artists autobiography.
The centerpiece of what may very well be one of the most remarkable and terrifying stories emerging from the art world of the last century, henry darger was an american selftaught. April 12, 1892 april, 1973 was an american writer, novelist and artist who worked as a hospital custodian in chicago, illinois. As you may or may not know, we are huge fans of one mr. Among dargers personal affects, lerner uncovered several astounding works of literature and hundreds of works of art, all created in secret by henry darger. May 08, 2009 among dargers personal affects, lerner uncovered several astounding works of literature and hundreds of works of art, all created in secret by henry darger. In the first decades of adulthood, he wrote a 15,145page fictional epic, in the realms of the. Henry darger and the coloring book is supported in part by the leir charitable foundations in memory of henry j. Henry joseph darger jr was an american writer, novelist and artist who worked as a hospital. Kevin miller showing us a page in one of the oz books that was found in henry dargers apartment after he died photo by the author for. Collection of the american folk art museum, new york. He has become famous for his posthumously discovered 15,145page, singlespaced fantasy manuscript called the story of the vivian girls, in what is known as the realms of the unreal, of the glandecoangelinian war. Henry darger was a language and literature good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. Michael bonesteel puts dargers life in the context of his work and selects key texts to accompany the illustrations.
Excerpt from girls on the run john ashbery introduction. The book also includes darger s autobiography, a history of my life, introduced by carl watson. Henry darger is an improbable, wristwrecking page turner, and john macgregor is, in a profound sense, a mystery writer. His illustrations the curator pointed out that they arent paintings but illustrations because darger created them with his novel in mind, are so absorbing and you can get lost.