ArtCrimes
Encyclopedia
ArtCrimes was a Cleveland cult underground publication
published by Steven B. Smith
. The zine was influenced by the beats
, and was consistent with the style of publications from the days of Kerouac, Corso
, and Ginsberg
.
Contributors included everyone from Bukowski
and Micheline
to people's pets. Ohio poets and artists included the likes of Daniel Thompson
, Maj Ragain, Amy Bracken Sparks, Ben Gulyas, Chris Franke, Harvey Pekar
, Gary Dumm
, Masumi Hayashi
and Ken Nevadomi. One reviewer postulated that ArtCrimes was the most significant publication of the Cleveland underground art scene in recent history.
crafted unique journals into which he'd juxtapose images and poetry and journal entries. He used his art and poetry to make political statements.
In the mid-1980s, Smith decided to create ArtCrimes, a publication full of images and poems which also shared his disrespect for authority. ArtCrimes took on the spirit of Smith's journals, like a sketchbook that's been passed around to dozens of different artists.
The first issue, "If Indication Abnormal" was published in 1986. Guest editors S. Judson Wilcox, Jim Lang, Ben Gulyas, Kathy Shumay, Kathy Ireland Smith, Chris Franke, Beth Wolfe, Melissa Jay Craig, and Daniel Thompson
had total latitude on subsequent issues. Formats included a coloring book, a popcorn box, a video, a deck of cards, legal tablets, and a catalog for the 1989 Performance Art Festival.
Poet Daniel Thompson
(d. 2004) and Smith co-edited "Crimes in the Dark: Reel-Life Art," also known as the "popcorn box" edition of ArtCrimes. It contained coupons for events, in addition to the usual melange of poetry and images. A civil rights activist and advocate for the homeless, Thompson became the first honored "Poet Laureate" for Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Thompson is also known for Junkstock, a poetry, art and music festival from the 1980s. The highly acclaimed festival was held in a junk yard on Pearl Road in Cleveland.
The 2002 issue — co-edited with Beth Wolfe — was dedicated to Wayne Draznin, a professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art
who died the previous year. Draznin was fond of rebellious socially-minded art.
Smith published the final issue of ArtCrimes in 2006.
Smith's work as a computer programmer financed ArtCrimes and his art. Production runs were small — a few hundred or so — and usually given away to artists and friends.
Underground art
Underground art, as with underground music and underground film, is a term that seeks to describe art forms that are aloof to the mainstream art world, are illegal, taboo, unconventional, rebellious or revolutionary...
published by Steven B. Smith
Steven B. Smith (poet)
Steven B. Smith , is an underground artist and poet from Cleveland, Ohio. He published the cult underground classic ArtCrimes, a zine influenced by the beats...
. The zine was influenced by the beats
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
, and was consistent with the style of publications from the days of Kerouac, Corso
Gregory Corso
Gregory Nunzio Corso was an American poet, youngest of the inner circle of Beat Generation writers...
, and Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
.
Contributors included everyone from Bukowski
Charles Bukowski
Henry Charles Bukowski was an American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles...
and Micheline
Jack Micheline
Jack Micheline , born Harold Martin Silver, was an American painter and poet from the San Francisco Bay Area. His name is synonymous with street artists, underground writers, and "outlaw" poets...
to people's pets. Ohio poets and artists included the likes of Daniel Thompson
Daniel Thompson (poet)
Daniel Thompson was a Cleveland poet, civil rights activist and advocate for the homeless. Thompson became the first Poet Laureate for Cuyahoga County, Ohio.-Work:...
, Maj Ragain, Amy Bracken Sparks, Ben Gulyas, Chris Franke, Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
, Gary Dumm
Gary Dumm
Gary Dumm is an Ohio-based comic book artist known particularly for his work illustrating the comics of Harvey Pekar. From 1977 until Pekar's 2010 death, he worked on Pekar's autobiographical comic series, American Splendor, where he appeared alongside such notable comics artists as Robert Crumb,...
, Masumi Hayashi
Masumi Hayashi (photographer)
Dr. Masumi Hayashi was an American photographer and artist who taught art at Cleveland State University, in Cleveland, Ohio, for 24 years...
and Ken Nevadomi. One reviewer postulated that ArtCrimes was the most significant publication of the Cleveland underground art scene in recent history.
History
Before making visual art, SmithSteven B. Smith (poet)
Steven B. Smith , is an underground artist and poet from Cleveland, Ohio. He published the cult underground classic ArtCrimes, a zine influenced by the beats...
crafted unique journals into which he'd juxtapose images and poetry and journal entries. He used his art and poetry to make political statements.
In the mid-1980s, Smith decided to create ArtCrimes, a publication full of images and poems which also shared his disrespect for authority. ArtCrimes took on the spirit of Smith's journals, like a sketchbook that's been passed around to dozens of different artists.
The first issue, "If Indication Abnormal" was published in 1986. Guest editors S. Judson Wilcox, Jim Lang, Ben Gulyas, Kathy Shumay, Kathy Ireland Smith, Chris Franke, Beth Wolfe, Melissa Jay Craig, and Daniel Thompson
Daniel Thompson (poet)
Daniel Thompson was a Cleveland poet, civil rights activist and advocate for the homeless. Thompson became the first Poet Laureate for Cuyahoga County, Ohio.-Work:...
had total latitude on subsequent issues. Formats included a coloring book, a popcorn box, a video, a deck of cards, legal tablets, and a catalog for the 1989 Performance Art Festival.
Poet Daniel Thompson
Daniel Thompson
Daniel, Dan, or Danny Thompson may refer to:* Daniel Thompson , American poet and activist in Cleveland, Ohio* Danny Thompson , American racing driver...
(d. 2004) and Smith co-edited "Crimes in the Dark: Reel-Life Art," also known as the "popcorn box" edition of ArtCrimes. It contained coupons for events, in addition to the usual melange of poetry and images. A civil rights activist and advocate for the homeless, Thompson became the first honored "Poet Laureate" for Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Thompson is also known for Junkstock, a poetry, art and music festival from the 1980s. The highly acclaimed festival was held in a junk yard on Pearl Road in Cleveland.
The 2002 issue — co-edited with Beth Wolfe — was dedicated to Wayne Draznin, a professor at the Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private college of art and design located in University Circle, Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. From 1891 until 1948 it was named Cleveland School of Art. During the Great Depression the school...
who died the previous year. Draznin was fond of rebellious socially-minded art.
Smith published the final issue of ArtCrimes in 2006.
Smith's work as a computer programmer financed ArtCrimes and his art. Production runs were small — a few hundred or so — and usually given away to artists and friends.