Les Kerr, innovative California artist,
began exhibiting in the mid-50s at avant-garde
spaces like Syndell Studio and the early
Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles. He moved up the coast
to San Francisco in 1960 to exhibit his work at
at the Dilexi. This gallery was a first rate space
for vanguard artists to show their work. Before it
opened their only alternative was to show in small
underground galleries or North Beach hangouts.
The last time I saw “Raspberry” was in 1969.
This is one of three other paintings that have
re-surfaced in 2019 after so many years.
More work may be out there.--Mary Kerr
"Raspberry" (1964)
(California Private Collection)
began exhibiting in the mid-50s at avant-garde
spaces like Syndell Studio and the early
Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles. He moved up the coast
to San Francisco in 1960 to exhibit his work at
at the Dilexi. This gallery was a first rate space
for vanguard artists to show their work. Before it
opened their only alternative was to show in small
underground galleries or North Beach hangouts.
The last time I saw “Raspberry” was in 1969.
This is one of three other paintings that have
re-surfaced in 2019 after so many years.
More work may be out there.--Mary Kerr
"Raspberry" (1964)
(California Private Collection)
"Dracula" (1965)
(Beth Rudin DeWoody)
Artist Bill Dubin and I re-connected after more than 40 years in late 2012. It all came about when The Estate of Jay DeFeo began researching the names of all the artists and poets who had lived in the infamous Fillmore Bldg. Wally Hedrick and Jay DeFeo were the longest residents. Other flats were passed between various artists. Les rented the upper left at 2330 from 1961-64. (When we were married in ’62, I moved in with my two children.) In 1964 we left for NYC and turned over our flat to Dubin. The Estate located Bill (now in Arizona) and gave me his email address. Since connecting, our memories have been re-surfacing. It’s not only been a kick but also illuminating. Following are Bill’ insights and thoughts expressed in his own imitable way—starting with comments made after his visit to San Francisco in 2013.--Mary Kerr
The airplane gives you lot's of time to think (nothing else to do...), and I came to some interesting stuff. I realized over the years I've told people about those SF days... and some of them got to know the names and places and stories of what happened... but those conversations where always strangely removed... like the people I was talking to had English as a second language, and so they never quite understood my words... they got the superficial story, but none of the meaning... the essence of all of it.
This week... talking to you about those days and the people from back then, I realized was unique... in that you knew exactly what I was saying, plus you had your own stories that embellished mine... which I understood because I knew all of that back then equally well. It was like "coming home"....... I can't put it any other way.... it was like being understood after this long, long time period of not connecting...........
So, that's how wonderful seeing you again has been...... I mean way beyond the going around town, etc.... for which I certainly thank you.... but for the contact with the world I knew/know and understand......the stuff that simply can't be explained, much less felt, by someone who didn't experience it. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like "me"......
The people we knew all made-up an even smaller enclave.... I mean one area of a street, of a building, and a couple of galleries most of which were closed ---and yet they formed the whole way I shaped my "world" at the time, and gave me the world-view I have had ever since.
SF is nowhere near what it was back then either. All that exists in my head now, not in a physical place. There are no poet's left, no wild men challenging life as art... just people who think art is another way to make a living--So I realize I'm just an old man living in his memories... which, fortunately, were of a heroic time.--Bill Dubin
More comments from Bill Dubin on Art and Dilexi Gallery
(Beth Rudin DeWoody)
Artist Bill Dubin and I re-connected after more than 40 years in late 2012. It all came about when The Estate of Jay DeFeo began researching the names of all the artists and poets who had lived in the infamous Fillmore Bldg. Wally Hedrick and Jay DeFeo were the longest residents. Other flats were passed between various artists. Les rented the upper left at 2330 from 1961-64. (When we were married in ’62, I moved in with my two children.) In 1964 we left for NYC and turned over our flat to Dubin. The Estate located Bill (now in Arizona) and gave me his email address. Since connecting, our memories have been re-surfacing. It’s not only been a kick but also illuminating. Following are Bill’ insights and thoughts expressed in his own imitable way—starting with comments made after his visit to San Francisco in 2013.--Mary Kerr
The airplane gives you lot's of time to think (nothing else to do...), and I came to some interesting stuff. I realized over the years I've told people about those SF days... and some of them got to know the names and places and stories of what happened... but those conversations where always strangely removed... like the people I was talking to had English as a second language, and so they never quite understood my words... they got the superficial story, but none of the meaning... the essence of all of it.
This week... talking to you about those days and the people from back then, I realized was unique... in that you knew exactly what I was saying, plus you had your own stories that embellished mine... which I understood because I knew all of that back then equally well. It was like "coming home"....... I can't put it any other way.... it was like being understood after this long, long time period of not connecting...........
So, that's how wonderful seeing you again has been...... I mean way beyond the going around town, etc.... for which I certainly thank you.... but for the contact with the world I knew/know and understand......the stuff that simply can't be explained, much less felt, by someone who didn't experience it. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like "me"......
The people we knew all made-up an even smaller enclave.... I mean one area of a street, of a building, and a couple of galleries most of which were closed ---and yet they formed the whole way I shaped my "world" at the time, and gave me the world-view I have had ever since.
SF is nowhere near what it was back then either. All that exists in my head now, not in a physical place. There are no poet's left, no wild men challenging life as art... just people who think art is another way to make a living--So I realize I'm just an old man living in his memories... which, fortunately, were of a heroic time.--Bill Dubin
More comments from Bill Dubin on Art and Dilexi Gallery
