From January 15th through April 6th NYU’s Grey Gallery was home to a fascinating exhibition entitled ‘ Beat Memories, the Photographs of Allen Ginsberg’.
Although infamous for being the vibrant, restless Poet Laureate of the Beat Generation, it may come as a surprise to some that Allen Ginsberg was also an ardent photographer.
This unaffected compilation includes portraits of some of the most iconic figures of the Beat Generation with Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs and Neal Cassady featuring prominently.
In addition to the extensive collection of black and white photos of Ginsberg’s famous friends, a selection of paraphernalia relating to Ginsberg and the Beat’s were on display, from first editions of ‘On the Road’ , ‘Junk’ and ‘Howl’ to letters penned by the hands of Kerouac, Burroughs and Carl Solomon, to whom Ginsberg’s magnum opus, Howl is dedicated.
While any exhibition focusing on the Beat Generation is likely to be interesting, ‘Beat Memories’ has the personal edge that others lack. This carefully curated collection acts as a time capsule from Ginsberg’s personal life while also capturing the spontaneous, hedonistic energy synonymous with the Beat Generation. This energy leaves an impression that stays with you as you return outside to Greenwich Village, to find the streets are still haunted with the best minds of a (beat) generation.
It seems only logical that the Grey Gallery would be home to an exhibition that uses the personal to comment on society as a whole. This itself is a very ‘Beat’ philosophy, visible in so many writings from the era, from Burrough’s Queer to Kerouac’s Subterraneans. Ginsberg’s photographs were not shot with the intention of public display yet they provide invaluable insight into the Beat Generation’s historical, cultural and social contexts.
Sadly, this exhibition ended on April 6th. However, the Grey Gallery becomes home to the formidable sculptor Alice Aycock in an exhibition entitled ‘Some stories are worth repeating’ which runs from April 23rd through to July 13th. If the Grey Gallery’s past form is anything to go by this exhibition promises to be both thoughtful and inspiring. Located at the site of NYU’s original home in the legendary University Building on Washington Square and with a suggested donation of $3 in operation, this space is well worth a visit.
The beat goes on.
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.nyu.edu/greyart
