Skank Bloc Bologna w/ Rudy Shepherd published by Tart Gallery / San Francisco

In February 2008 TART will launch an art and poetry journal entitled Skank Bloc Bologna. Skank is inspired by Semina a free-form journal published sporadically by artist Wallace Berman and his circle in California in the 1950's and 60's. These short bursts of contemporary avant-garde poetry, prose, photography, collage and drawing were augmented by fragments lifted from various visionary precursors, then mailed out to a couple of hundred kindred spirits. With a somewhat irreverent attitude and a DIY, ad hoc approach Berman was able to create his own culture and community.

Skank Bloc Bologna will offer a loose leaf collection of works with each piece able to stand on its own or be re-configured within the collection. Rather than offer a thematic framework the collection will be open to interpretation. This is the first in a series of issues with a view to Skank becoming an extension of the TART program.