Harry Smith – The Avant–Garde in the American Vernacular

This title presents a superbly illustrated and insightful examination of the life and works of Harry Smith, one of America's most significant post-war creative talents. Filmmaker, musicologist, painter, ethnographer, graphic designer, mystic, and collector of string figures and other patterns, Harry Smith (1923-1991) was among the most original creative forces to emerge in post-war American art and culture, yet his life, work, and legacy remain poorly understood. Today he is remembered primarily for his "Anthology of American Folk Music" (1952) - an idiosyncratic collection of early recordings that educated and inspired a generation of musicians and roots music fans - and for a body of innovative abstract and non-narrative films. Featuring contributions from noted scholars, critics, and historians - including Paul Arthur, Robert Cantwell, Thomas Crow, Stephen Freidman, Greil Marcus, and P. Adams Sitney - as well as a selection of Smith's works, letters, and other primary sources, this volume offers an insightful exploration of Smith's entire oeuvre within the history of avant-garde art production in twentieth century America.