Fans of punk and post-punk should check out Linder Sterling and Jon Savage's The Secret Public at the Boo-Hooray gallery pop-up which has temporarily set up camp at Steven Kasher at 521 West 23rd Street. Savage, the author of the punk tome England's Dreaming and Sterling, artist and singer for the post-punk band Ludus, named the show The Secret Public after the art fanzine the pair first published in 1978. Many of the images on display "originally appeared as flyers and as posters for the Buzzcocks, Joy Division, Magazine, and Factory Records circa 1977-1980" (from boo-hooray.com) and include original collages, posters, flyers, and handbills as well as pages from issues of the zine. Also included in the show are somber, black-and-white photographs shot by Savage documenting the "urban decay in London and Manchester circa 1977/1978, some of which provided the basis for his collages and montages." Sterling's 1969 collage of a nude woman's torso with lips replacing her nipples and an iron replacing her head is probably most recognizable as the cover art for the Buzzcocks' Ogasm Addict single released in 1977.
The Secret Public acts as an homage to the merging of visual art and music and to the good, old-fashioned, printed zine. It also serves as a time capsule for a bleak period in England that strongly influenced music, art, and culture. The Secret Public exhibit is dedicated to Malcolm McLaren who played a pivotal role in introducing punk to England and the masses. Learn more about The Secret Public at boo-hooray.com. Read an interview with Jon Savage at dazeddigital.com and read an interview with Linder Sterling by her longtime friend and former Smiths front-man, Morrissey at interviewmagazine.com. Ends soon - through May 23rd.
Secret Public p. 12 (back cover), Another Music in A Different Kitchen/The Secret Public, Linder Sterling, January 1978
Secret Public pgs. 6-7, T.V. Sex, Linder Sterling, January 1978, offset printed fanzine
She-She, words by Linder Sterling, 1981
Untitled, Linder Sterling, color photocopy, ca. 1969; Orgasm Addict, The Buzzcocks, sleeve art, 1977
Go-Go, Jon Savage, photo montage, early 1977
Music by Muzak, Jon Savage, photo montage, 1978
Untitled, Linder Sterling, photo montage, 1978
London's Outrage, no. 2, p. 9, Jon Savage, photo montage, early 1977
London's Outrage Sex Pistols cover, 1976/77
London's Outrage, Jon Savage, photocopied fanzine, 16 pgs, Dec 1976
Shimmy, Jon Savage, photo montage, July 1979 and Shimmy (Joy Division poster), 1977
The Factory flier, Tony Wilson, original photocopy, 1978
Buzzcocks/Magazine handbill, Linder Sterling, 1978
After read a couple of the posts on your site these few days, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorites internet site list and will be checking back soon.
Posted by: scm | 04/21/2011 at 02:12 AM
I hope you continue doing what you do because it's so good!
Posted by: F Horn | 04/20/2011 at 11:33 PM