Charles Bukowski: Poet on the Edge

Oct. 9, 2010–Feb. 14, 2011
Library, West Hall

Los Angeles writer Charles Bukowski (1920–1994) was one of the most original voices in 20th-century American literature. In his poetry and prose, Bukowski used experience, emotion, and imagination, along with violent and sexual imagery, to capture life at its most raw and elemental. With unflinching honesty, he spoke for the social outcasts—the drunks, prostitutes, addicts, lay-abouts, and petty criminals—as well as those who are simply worn down by life. The exhibition will include corrected typescripts of Bukowski’s poems and such novels as his autobiographical work, Ham on Rye (1982), and his screenplay Barfly, made into a film in 1987, starring Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke. There also will be early periodicals containing his poetry and rare special editions of his writings published by John Martin, proprietor of the Black Sparrow Press, as well as memorabilia and photographs of Bukowski. The exhibition will include items on loan from Linda Lee Bukowski as well as material from the Huntington’s Bukowski papers, donated by Mrs. Bukowski.

 

PRESS RELEASE   •   REQUEST IMAGES

Bluebird Broadside, “The Bluebird,” by Charles Bukowski. Printed by the Black Sparrow Press, Santa Barbara, Calif., Nov. 1991, for the San Francisco Bay Area Book Festival. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.		Longshot Charles Bukowski, Longshot Pomes for Broke Players, 7 Poets Press, New York, 1962. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Women Charles Bukowski, Women (Finnish edition), 1999.  Front cover, showing Joan Levine Gannij’s photograph of Bukowski and Georgia Peckham-Krellner in Bukowski’s kitchen at Carlton Way, Los Angeles. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.		Heat Wave Charles Bukowski, Heat Wave, Black Sparrow Press, Santa Barbara, Calif.,1995, with serigraphs by Ken Price. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Horserace Drawing of a horserace by Charles Bukowski, published in Death Was Our Escort, edited by Hugo Ekback and Ed Tomchin, Moorpark College Press, 1974. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.		John Letter Letter from Charles Bukowski to John Martin, Sept. 1990. John Martin was the founder and proprietor of the Black Sparrow Press in Santa Barbara, Calif., a fine-printing establishment that was Bukowski’s exclusive publisher for most of his career. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Family Car Photo of Charles Bukowski and his father in the family car, ca. 1930. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.		At the Races Photo of Charles Bukowski and Linda Lee Bukowski at the racetrack, ca. 1985. Photo by Michael Montfort. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Television Appearance Photo of Charles Bukowski appearing on “Apostrophes” television show, France, Sept. 1978.  Photo by Ulf Andersen. All rights retained. Reproduced by permission.		Bukowski with Drink Photo of Charles Bukowski drinking, ca. 1980. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Barbell Postcard showing Charles Bukowski lifting barbell, 1989. Photo by Joan Levine Gannij, published by Island International Bookstore, Amsterdam. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.		Piano Silk screen print of piano player illustration from the original art by Charles Bukowski, Play the Piano Drunk Like a Percussion Instrument Until the Fingers Begin to Bleed a Bit. The Black Sparrow Press, Santa Barbara, Calif., 1979. Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.