Collection of Original Artwork
Collection of twelve signed works of art from this Seattle punk poet, performer, musician, and artist, who counted among his fans Kurt Cobain.
Very good or better overall.
Price: $3,500.00
Collection of Original Artwork
"That's what Jesse Bernstein shared with the other acts on Sub Pop: they were all just a bit fucked-up, and it was that very fucked-up-ness that made them interesting. Kurt Cobain's genius was making fucked-up lyrics and music palpable and catchy." — Charles R. Cross
Equal parts Charles Bukowski, Spalding Gray, Henry Rollins, and William Burroughs (with whom he became close toward the end of the Beat writer's life), Stephen Jay "Jesse" Bernstein (1950-1991) was never much known outside of the Seattle area, where he got his start in the 1970s and '80s at the Poetry Theater at Pike's Place Market. By the end of that decade he was performing his music and intense spoken word pieces opening for the likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden, and other important bands in the burgeoning Seattle grunge scene. He was even included on the legendary 1988 compilation SUB POP 200 alongside numerous soon-to-be-famous figures including Beat Happening, Screaming Trees, Green River (a band that soon branched off into Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, and Temple of the Dog), as well as Nirvana and Soundgarden. An infamous performer — he often recited his work with his pet mouse in his mouth, threatened to injure himself onstage, and once urinated on a heckler — Bernstein was a particularly important influence (along with Daniel Johnston) on Kurt Cobain. This influence led many to dub him "the godfather of grunge."
Beyond his musical and literary performances, Bernstein self-published much of his written work. However, an under-appreciated portion of his creative output was his visual art (again, like Cobain and Johnston). This collection consists of 11 smaller works: nine Rorschach-like abstract watercolors by Bernstein, one figurative linocut, and one nude portrait. These pieces are anchored by a large, bold pastel-and-watercolor reminiscent of fellow West Coast artist Richard Diebenkorn. Together they offer a window into a relatively unknown portion of this underground artist's career. Berstein, who struggled with addiction and mental health issues, killed himself in 1991. The well-received 2010 Peter Sillin documentary I AM SECRETLY AN IMPORTANT MAN has helped revive interest in his work. We trace only a handful of individual pieces in commerce.
Read more: Davis, "Godfather of Grunge," in The Independent Magazine (February 20, 1993); Cross "Stephen 'Jesse' Bernstein," in Seattle: City of Literature.
The Object
[Seattle]: (1984-1990). Unless otherwise noted, pieces are signed and dated in 1984 on versos by Bernstein. (1) Watercolor (yellow, navy, blue and red) on watercolor paper mounted to box cover from Burroughs's film carbon for typewriters; artwork 7.75'' inches by 7.25'', 9.5'' x 10'' overall. (2) Black watercolor on white paper, 8.5'' x 3.5''. (3) Red and blue watercolor on watercolor paper, trimmed to have six sides, 11.25'' x 7.25''. (4) Red, blue, pink and yellow watercolor on watercolor paper, 7.25'' x 5.5''. (5) Red watercolor on white paper, 7.25'' x 5.5''. (6) Red and green watercolor on watercolor paper with a collaged element, 7'' x 7.5''. (7) Blue watercolor on watercolor paper, 7.25'' x 5.5''. (8) Red and blue watercolor on watercolor paper, 7.25'' x 5.5''. (9) Two-panel watercolor mounted to cardboard backing, featuring geometric shapes in red, yellow, green, blue and pink; unsigned but dated 5/84 in the lower right corner, 2'' x 9''. (10) Painting of a female nude, acrylic and watercolor, dated July 31 '90 and signed SJB in lower left corner, additionally captioned "made for Bill M. by Jesse B" along right edge, 12'' x 9''. (11) Linocut of a man walking on the street, signed and dated both in image and beneath, mounted to cardboard, print 11'' x 8.5'', mount 15'' x 13'' inches. (12) Pastel in green, blue, red and yellow, signed Steven J. Bernstein and dated 1989 in the lower left corner, 24'' by 18''.
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