Fluxus and after

Largely asa result of Fluxus publishing plans not being realised and subsequent friction between An Anthology of Concrete Poetry. Edited by A Book About Love& War& Death by Dick himself and George Maciunas, Dick Higgins established the Something Else Press in New York in Emmett Williams Higgins 1964, with the aim of publishing both his own work and other examples of alternative literature. As Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1967 Published by Something Else Press, Barton, Vermont, a Fluxist, Higgins was committed to one of the most radical art concepts of the time but, apart from Collection Robert MacPherson, Brisbane 1972 the incorporation of dramatic graphics and typefaces, he refused to experiment with the standard Collection Noreen Grahame, Brisbane This assemblage of 'concrete' poetry format of the book. Through their deceptive appearance, these avant- worldwide, including 77 poets from 20 Written over a ten-year period, the prose format garde publications reached a countries, remains a standard text on the derives in partfrom Gertrude Stein (Something 3Ew3M:M subject. Else Press reprinted several of her stories(. It traditionally conservative audience. Producing many books and pamphlets during ten years of is a compilation of phrases and ideas which activity, Higgins and his Something Else Press successfully infiltrated the publishing establishment Store Days by Claes Oldenburg work in simultaneous coordination and and laid much of the groundwork for the artists' book revolution which was to come. He went on Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1968 confrontation. to establish the Printed Editions co-operative where, in conjunction with several of the Press authors including Alison Knowles, John Cage and Jackson MacLow, the concerns of Something Collection Robert MacPherson, Brisbane A Valentine for Noel by Emmett Williams Else Press were continued. Peter Frank points out that the Press 'was the first publishing house in This compiles notations and documents Published by Something Else Press, Barton, Vermont and the United States to devote itself to what are now called "artists' books"... and the scope and realised by Oldenburg at 'The Store' in New Edition HansjOrg Mayer, Stuttgart and London, 1973 importance of its activities have not been equalled since'. York which became the site of his early Collection Noreen Grahame, Brisbane (Something Else Press, McPherson & Company, A Documenteot Publication, USA, 1983) happenings. The game-playing visual sequences in this Jefferson's Birthday by Dick Higgins . foew&ombwhnwby Dick Higgins book derive from words selected by chance Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1964 . Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1969 operations. Colection: Robert MacPherson, Brisbane ' - . , ' ' Collection: Robert MacPherson, Brisbane F According to the dust jacket blurb, this :7 ' i Wizards and Other Marvellous Bartenders Who publication 'consists of all the things Dick Have No Wings' in favour of the acronym above for the title of this book. Bound like a prayer Higgins wrote, composed, or invented between April 13th, 1962 and April 13th, 1963, inclusive, Higgins discarded 'Freaked Out Electronic on the assumption that the bad work that one book the publication is crammed with . miscellaneous writings from the mid 1950s does is just as valid as the interesting work. So , - onwards. some is lousy. So? Some is terrific. Hurrah for the Irish! And hurrah for Thomas Jefferson! .ZD And Daniel Webster too!'.UJ The Paper Snake by Ray Johnson The Four Suits by Alison Knowles, Tomas THE GREAT BEAR PAMPHLETS Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1965 Schmit, Benjamin Patterson and Philip An imprint of Something Else Press, the Great Bear Pamphlets were initiated in order to publish Collection: Noreen Grahame, Brisbane Corner material which was not appropriate to the Press's hardback format. Mundanely named after the Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1965 distilled-water company that supplied the Press office with its water cooler, the two series of A compendium of Ray Johnson's mail-art works Collection Robert MacPherson, Brisbane pamphlets produced between 1965 and 1967 resembled earlier political booklets of the Dadaists which included writings and images the artist and Futurists. sent to Higgins over a period of years. A grouping of four distinct 'booklets' comprising, for instance, Knowles's 'T A Book About Love & War & Death, Canto Diary: How to Improve the World (You Will Ample Food for Stupid Thought by Robert Dictionary', a visual-verbal expansion of One by Dick Higgins. Great Bear Pamphlet Only Make Matters Worse) Continued Part Fi(liou definitions for words beginning with the Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1965 Three (1967) by John Cage. Great Bear Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1965 letter 'T'. Pamphlet Colection Noreen Grahame, Brisbane Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1967 Collection: Noreen Grahame, Brisbane An Anecdoted Topography of Chance by Instructions originally issued with this Collection Noreen Grahame, Brisbane The first book in English by French artist/poet Daniel Spoerri. Translated and annotated by Pamphlet stated: 'Dick Higgins's A BOOK Robert Filliou. The minimal text comprises Emmett Williams ABOUT LOVE AND WAR AND DEATH is questions which require dumbfounded, Published by Something Else Press, New York, 1966 intended to be read aloud by at least two sarcastic or foolish answers. Collection' Noreen Grahame, Brisbane people. It is not important whether they read to each other or to an audience. One person Celebrating and magnifying the mundane, reads at a time. When he breaks up laughing, Anecdoted Topography documents the history which is usual, the next person picks up where of every piece of detritus situated on a table in the first cracked. Please do not try to read this Spoerri's Paris flat. text silently. The sense is oral'.