Very pleased to hear that Native Funk & Flash by Alexandra Jacopetti and Jerry Wainwright, which was first published in 1974, is soon to be available again. The book has been out of print for some time and had become quite the underground collectors item amongst 1960s and 70s counterculture enthusiasts, it's reputation growing steadily, particularly over the past number of years as the occasional glimpse of the contents began to appear on the web and in various source books about these decades, which of course sent the price soaring upwards as it became increasingly difficult to find an original print copy. The book itself, is an amazing collection of contemporary folk art, mainly from the San Francisco Bay area, compiled by the author from her personal point of view and beautifully photographed by Jerry Wainwright. Not only is it inspirational as a visual source book, which would be beneficial to any fashion / textile designer or artist, but it is also an invaluable social document which defines the ethos of this incredibly creative period in American culture from within the epicentre of the scene. The newly revised edition with previously unseen photographs and updates on the artists is officially republished on the 5/7/2013.
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"Homage to Tomales Bay." Crocheted cape by Judith Weston.
Work in progress, skirt panel by Mary Ann Schildknecht, who was taught to embroider by nuns while she was serving a two-year jail sentence in Milan on a hashish smuggling charge.
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Jewelry designers Alejandro Maté and Lee Brooks who worked under the moniker of Alex & Lee. These were two of the designers featured who had begun to move beyond the emerging folk art scene into the mainstream fashion arena while still maintaining the integrity of their original design concepts. Their work was sold in Saks Fifth Avenue and also made the pages of "Harper's Bazaar."
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Dress by Laurel Burch.
Designer Billy Bowers in gold kid with monkey and zebra fur.
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Jewelry by Laurel Burch.
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Lizzie modelling another outfit designed by Billy Bowers.
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Hand painted silk dress by Penelope Fried. Shoes by Apple Cobbler (otherwise known as Mickey McGowan) who fashioned his boots, shoes and sandals from old fabrics, brocades, Chinese satins and canvas embellished with glass beads or embroidery and air brushed or photo-screened cottons. The soles were coloured rubber similar to foam.
IMAGE CREDITS
All images scanned by Sweet Jane from my original copy of Native Funk and Flash - An Emerging Folk Art by Alexandra Jacopetti, photographs by Jerry Wainwright. Scrimshaw Press 1974. Second printing (revised), September, 1974.
LINKS
The official FB page for Alexandra Jacopetti's Native Funk & Flash can be found here.
Native Funk and Flash can be ordered directly from the publisher here.
Native Funk and Flash can be ordered directly from the publisher here.