Openings & Closings – The Richard Kostelanetz Bookstore
2 July–1 October 2011
Gerard Doustraat 132
1073 VX, Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 3313203
office [at] kunstverein.nl
www.kunstverein.nl
Richard Kostelanetz (born 1940, New York) is an American writer, artist, critic, and editor of the avant-garde. He is infamous for his prolific and often biting prose. In his short fictions (some only 2 words long) and visual poetry, RK employs a radically formalist approach consisting of arrangements of words on a page using such devices as linking language and sequence, punning, alliteration, parallelism, constructivism, and minimalism. His literary work challenges the reader in unconventional ways and is often printed in limited editions at small presses. Kostelanetz’s nonfiction work The End of Intelligent Writing: Literary Politics in America (1974) charged the New York literary and publishing establishment with inhibiting the publishing and promotion of works by innovative younger authors. Among his other works are Recyclings: A Literary Autobiography (1974, 1984), Politics in the African-American Novel (1991), Published Encomia, 1967–91 (1991), On Innovative Art(ist)s (1992) and A Dictionary of the Avant-Gardes (1999, 2001). In 1970 Kostelanetz co-founded and directed the innovative annual aptly called Assembling; thirteen editions of “otherwise unpublishable” art and literature, including The Complete Assembling were produced between 1970 and 1982.
—The Encyclopedia Britannica
“This is pretty accurate, literate, and fair, in my judgment, not only placing me as ‘avant-garde’ but identifying me as a ‘radical formalist’ (…) acknowledging as well my ambitions to produce work both innovative and classic”
—Richard Kostelanetz
For reasons closely connected to Kostelanetz’s practice we feel it is consistent that Kunstverein becomes a Bookstore dedicated to the artist—as a more viable alternative to a straight forward retrospective. Openings & Closings – The Richard Kostelanetz Bookstore will host and sell all of RK’s publications (over 80 titles). As well, rare artifacts, editions and smaller artworks will be on view in a secret backroom. This includes a now very rare, complete set of Assembling 1 through 13. A series of commissioned essays by special-guest authors taking the practice of Richard Kostelanetz as a starting point, will appear at irregular intervals and will be available for sale during the Bookstore’s short lifespan.
Richard Kostelanetz will conduct a reading at Kunstverein on July 15th.
Please check our website for further updates on Hush Hush events and special evenings dedicated to books and other such things.
Openings & Closings – The Richard Kostelanetz Bookstore is conceived in dialogue with Hyo Kwon and Goda Budvytyte.
For further information:
Kunstverein
Gerard Doustraat 132
1073 VX, Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 3313203
office@kunstverein.nl
www.kunstverein.nl
Openings & Closings – The Richard Kostelanetz Bookstore is generously supported by the city counsil of Amsterdam (district south), Mondriaan Foundation, SNS Reaal Fonds and Kunstverein’s (gold) members.
