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SMS Portfolios 1-6

Creator: William Nelson Copley -Roy Lichtenstein
Offered by: Kulik Selzer

Description
A complete set of SMS portfolios volumes 1-6, published by The Letter Edged in Black Press, 1968.

Released in 1968, the SMS portfolios represented a collaboration between some of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Each portfolio included meticulously editioned works by a roster of artists both world famous and obscure each of whom received $100 for their contribution.
Among the many artists and composers represented are Marcel Duchamp, Roy Lichtenstein, Man Ray, Christo, Richard Hamilton, Claes Oldenberg, On Kahara, Bruce Nauman, and Yoko Ono.
In all six portfolios were produced before William Copley ran out of money and closed the project down.

A complete lists of artists for each portfolio.

Volume 1: Irving Petlin, Su Braden, James Lee Byars, Christo, Walter de Maria, Richard Hamilton, Kaspar Koening, Julien Levy, Sol Mednick, Nancy Reitkopf, La Monte Young& Marian Zazeela

Volume 2: Marcel Duchamp, Nicolas Calas, Bruce Conner, Marcia Herscovitz, Alain Jacquet, Ray Johnson, Lee Lozano, Meret Oppenheim, Bernard Pfreim, George Reavevy, Clovis Trouille

Volume 3: John Battan, Aftograf, Enrico Baj, Billy Copley, Dick Higgins, Joseph Kosuth, Ronnie Landfield, Roland Penrose, Man Ray, H.C Westermann, Hannah Weiner, Terry Riley

Volume 4: Robert Stanley, Arman, Paul Bergtold, John Cage, Hollis Frampton, On Kawara, Roy Lichtenstein, Lil Picard, Domenico Rotella, Robert Watts, Princess Winifred, La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela

Volume 5: Congo, William Anthony, Wall Batterton, William Copley, Edward Fitzgerald, Neil Jenny, Angus MacLise, Bruce Nauman, Yoko Ono, Mel Ramos, Robert Rohm, William Schwedler, Diane Wakoski, Lawrence Weiner

Volume 6: Richard Artschwager, Ed Bereal, Diter Rot, Betty Dodson, Ronoldo Ferri, John Giorno, Toby Mussman, Adrian Nutbeem, Claes Oldenburg, Mischa Petrov, Jean Reavey, Bernar Venen

While the project lasted it "centered around a loft on Manhattan's Upper West Side rented and maintained by the American Surrealist William Copley, SMS was an open-ended collective that epitomized the community ethos of the late 1960s. Frequented by artists, curators, performers and composers both accomplished and aspiring, Copley's loft became renowned for its utopian morale and hospitable working conditions, which included "a buffet perpetually replenished by nearby Zabar's Delicatessen, an open bar, and a pay phone with a cigar box filled with dimes."
Carter Ratcliff, "SMS: Art in Real Time," from SMS: A Collection of Multiples. Exhibition catalog. Published by Reinhold-Brown Gallery, NY. Oct. 1988.

More Information

Origin:	United States
Period:	1950-1979
Materials:	Printed matter, tape recordings, mixed media sculpture.
Condition:	Excellent. Wear consistent with age.
Creation Date:	1968
Number of Pieces:	6-7
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Mid Century
Incollect Reference #:	252454