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Identification and Creation

Object Number
2003.80.18
People
James Lee Byars, American (Detroit, MI 1932 - 1997 Cairo, Egypt)
Title
Single Sheet of White Paper with Text in Faint Black Ink and Stars on a Few Letters
Classification
Archival Material
Work Type
archival material
Date
1979-1980
Culture
American
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/76749

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Black ink on white paper
Dimensions
28 x 21.6 cm (11 x 8 1/2 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
James Lee Byars; to Busch-Reisinger Museum, transfer; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2003.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Transfer from the Busch-Reisinger Museum Archives
Copyright
© The Estate of James Lee Byars / Michael Werner Gallery
Accession Year
2003
Object Number
2003.80.18
Division
Modern and Contemporary Art
Contact
am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Description
Hand-drawn arrow in same black ink runs from the two question marks after "Perhaps Perhaps" down to the mechanical stamp at bottom. Bottom center: Rectangular mechanical stamp reads: ñ That blake's famous line about finding "eternity in a grain of sand" is literally true, for the tiniest grain of sand is almost indestructible ñ when wet, it keeps a film of water about itself by capillary action and even a heavy surf cannot cause one sand grain to rub against another. Letter text: M. Im [sic] very delighted with what / I hear of Konrad Q [might also be an O, difficult to tell due to placement of star] "He's the world's leading expert on a pencil / Line " Perhaps Perhaps ?? / P.S. I also hear he is / Great without trying / a very good complement J.L.B.

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Modern and Contemporary Art at am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu