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Artist
Lorna Blaine Halper (Recipient), Ray Johnson (Primary), Ruth Asawa (Mentioned), (Mentioned)
Title

Letter from Ray Johnson to Lorna Halper, postmark March 14, 1947

Date
1947
Century
20th century
Medium & Support
Ink on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 6 1/2 x 4 1/4 in.
Object Type
Manuscripts
Credit Line
Black Mountain College Collection, Gift of the Black Mountain College Project and Lorna Blaine Halper
Accession Number
2012.26.147.02
ON VIEW
Description

Ray Johnson, "Letter from Ray Johnson to Lorna Halper, postmark March 14, 1947". 1947. Ink on paper. Recto: written in ink, "THURSDAY EVENING / DEAR LITTLE PLUMBER'S HELPER, / IT IS RAINING. I CAN HEAR THE CREEK RUNNING / ALONG FLOODED WITH RAIN. ALICE JACKSON'S / DOG SLINKS ALONG IN THE MUD, THE RAIN / BATHING ITS GRAY FUR. THE RAIN ON IT / SHOWS IT BONES AND CONSTRUCTION. PICASSO / AND GEORGIA O'KEEFE DID DIFFERENT THINGS WITH BONES. TRUDY JALOWITZ SHOWED US / A CARTOON IN A DUTCH NEWSPAPER OF A / CAVE MAN IN A CAVE WITH DRIPPING / SATELLITES, PAINTING A PRIMITIVE NUDE / WOMAN. THE COMPARISSION WAS A / MODERN ARTIST PAINTING THE SAME / WOMAN. PROGRESS. THIS LABEL CAME OFF / A CAN VERA GAVE ME FROM THE MILK / ROOM. SHE MADE WONDERFUL SHELVES IN / THERE OUT OF PIPE AND STRIPS OF WOOD / FOR THE ELECTRIC MILK APPARATUS. / INSECT AND MAMMEL PORMS. I AM / WRITING FROM ASAWA'S STUDY. MINE / IS TOO HOT. CACTUS PLANT, TEA STRAINER, / TENNIS BALL, SCISSORS, ALARM CLOCK, / CAN, INK, ROCK, BOTTLE, COOKIE, PAINT, / LIGHT BULB, BOOK, SALT SHAKER - THAT / IS ASAWA'S DESK! EXCITEMENT TONIGHT / A SMALL BIRD FLEW INTO DINING HALL AT DINNER. SEVERAL FEMALES RAN TO / KITCHEN THINKING IT WAS A BAT. / FREIGHTENED BIRD FINALLY FLEW OUT OF / FRONT DOOR AND IS PROBABLY HIDING IN / A SAFE NEST SOMEWHERE TREMBLING / AFTER SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE. READ / REVIEW IN N. YORKER ABOUT LEPRECHAUN / PLAY. WE HEARD BEETHOVEN NINTH TONIGHT. / WONDERFUL CHORALE AT END. WISH I / WERE A SINGER, OR COMPOSER. I MUST / NOW GO READ PHILOSOPHY OF DESCARTES. / I COME TO N.Y. MARCH 29. WE MUST SEE / ELLY SMITH WHO IS HAVING A BABY ALSO / MIRO SHOW. RAY. ENVELOPE IS A / BLAINE FALL COLOR". Verso: Advertisement for "Plumite" with red and yellow stripes.

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