Small Archive of Original Art

New York: n.p., 1970. Overall very good.. Collection of original art and collage from New York underground artist Kasoundra Kasoundra. Kasoundra moved to NYC in 1960 and quickly made herself a fixture among Village bohemians. Chelsea Hotel regular, illustrator to the Olympia Press, assistant to Edward Gorey and Joseph Cornell, co-dedicee of Germaine Greer's landmark THE FEMALE EUNUCH ("For Kasoundra, who makes magic out of skins and skeins and pens, who is never still, never unaware, riding her strange destiny in the wilderness of New York, loyal and bitter, as strong as a rope of steel and as soft as a sigh"), ALICE'S RESTAURANT actress, and Harry Smith collaborator, for decades Kasoundra wove her way Zelig-like through various downtown scenes. And the collection of works offered here in many ways captures her overlapping talents and associations. From a strikingly-altered copy of a Lou Reed LP and an exquisitely collaged Cornell-esque artist's book, to a pair of darkly subversive manuscript tales in the Gorey tradition, the collection reveals a vital and unjustly overlooked artist. While her works are reportedly in the collections of such luminaries as Brice Marden and Debby Harry, the fate of much of Kasoundra's archive remains uncertain after her the tragic and much-publicized loss of her rent-stabilized apartment in 2011. Worthy of rediscovery, preservation, and exhibition. Five items. 1. Small 8vo. sketchbook, ca. 1972. Yellow cloth. Containing original unique altered artist's book titled "The device was neatly packed, ready for another adventure" [cover]. Filled front to back with elaborate collages. Generally very good condition. 2. 4to. sketchbook, ca. 1977. Quarter leather over boards. Approximately 3/4 full of collages, pastels, sketches, texts and other works, both preliminary and (apparently) complete. Worn, but sound. About very good. 3. Hand-altered copy of Lou Reed's LP ROCK N' ROLL ANIMAL with extensive silver paint interventions by Kasoundra. Very good. 4. Small 12mo. handmade manuscript book entitled END OF A PROBLEM. 12pp. of text, art, and collage elements. Rectos only. Inscribed by Kasoundra in 1970. Good only with some splitting at the spine. 5. Small 12mo. handmade manuscript book entitled LORD OF THE FROGS. 16pp. of text and watercolors, both recto and verso. Largely disbound, with leaves housed in plastic sleeves (as assembled by the artist). About good. Overall, a well preserved collection.