May 29 marks the birthday of Harry Smith (1923-1991).
We celebrate with this portfolio of photographs by, the remarkable photographer, Brian Graham
See more on Graham and his photography – here and here
“Harry Smith visited my apartment on East 3rd Street, New York City, April 1987. Harry told someone calling him he was at “a secret location on the Lower East Side“. So Harry! – Always like that!” He’s seen here recording, while storytelling and giving advice on use of the modern Walkman Pro to Cynthia Poirier (who would soon go on to making brilliant music recordings in West Africa). I like him holding his Walkman Pro up-close (calling it “the modern Walkman” is only referencing back to when it was the best thing available in those days for compact size and convenience).”
“Harry studiously perusing photos of puppets on a drive on the Bowery on the way to a flop house where he intended to record the moans and groans of other residents through the chicken-wire partitions”. The story on the puppet photos is that a friend, Stephanie Frank Sassoon, created the puppets and performed with them with the Beaux Rêves Puppet Troupe and asked me to print her pictures. I had them in the car that morning I picked up Harry. I asked him if he wanted to look – I’m glad I did . Back then, I remember, topics of our conversation were limited. I didn’t really know very much about art and art-making, so could not offer any real informed opinions. I just enjoyed watching and listening to Harry, being there in the moment. Robert Frank always asked me – “What did Harry say today?” – That day I could tell him – “He spoke of the puppets”.
“Harry Smith recording East 2nd Street ambient sound, un-phased that he was again homeless after returning to the East Village from a short stay up-state in Cooperstown, New York” (he had been staying briefly with Claude Pelieu and Mary Beach)). ” I present here two images simultaneously, a double-shot of the window that Harry recorded from – (it’s me out on the fire escape taking the picture) – I recently found the complimentary image and decided to put them together.”
The late Harry. Here’s Harry via Allen:
More Harry Smith Birthday postings from the Allen Ginsberg Project – here here here
here, here, here, here, here, here and here
and looking forward in the Fall, to this upcoming collection.