Book Launch & Conversation

Book Launch: The Letters of Rosemary & Bernadette Mayer, 1976–1980

Thu, Oct 27, 2022

7:00 PM–8:30 PM

Swiss Institute at 117 2nd Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10003. To Register, please RSVP to [email protected].

Please join us to celebrate the book launch of The Letters of Rosemary & Bernadette Mayer, 1976–1980, a Lost & Found Elsewhere publication co-published by Lenbachhaus, Ludwig Forum, Spike Island and Swiss Institute. This collection of the correspondence between artist Rosemary Mayer (1943–2014) and poet Bernadette Mayer (born 1945) occurs between the years of 1976 and 1980, a period of rich creativity in New York’s artistic avant-garde, and one which includes the development of major bodies of work by the two women. Rosemary Mayer was creating sculptures, watercolors, books and “temporary monuments” from weather balloons and snow, while Bernadette Mayer was working on some of her best-known publications, including the book-length poem Midwinter Day and the poetry collection The Golden Book of Words. Spanning the worlds of Conceptual art, Postminimalism, feminism, the New York School, Language poetry and more, these letters elucidate the bonds of sisterhood through intimate exchanges about art, relationships and everyday life.


On the occasion of the launch, the book’s editors, Gillian Sneed and Marie Warsh, will provide an introduction, followed by a group reading of selected letters.

Free and open to the public, to register and attend, please RSVP to [email protected].

Click here for more information about the Swiss Institute, including building access, accessibility guide, directions, and more info.

The Letters of Rosemary & Bernadette Mayer, 1976–1980is part of Lost & Found Elsewhere, a unique series of book-length projects emerging from the research of Lost & Found editors. Working in partnership with select publishers, these books bring to light unpublished or long unavailable materials that have emerged alongside or as part of Lost & Found initiatives in archives across the country.

Published by Lenbachhaus, Ludwig Forum, Spike Island and Swiss Institute.

5.5 x 8.25 in. / 373 pgs / 35 color / 21 bw. | 8/30/2022

View some of the archival photos and images below collected in The Letters of Rosemary & Bernadette Mayer, 1976–1980:


Rosemary Mayer, c. 1976



Benadette Mayer, Lenox, 1978


Participants

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Archives Poetry