The 7786 - Burroughs, Wm. print project presents a unique look at one of the most iconic, brilliant, controversial and subversive authors of the 20th Century. Discovered amongst a photo archive of more than 20,000 negatives, this previously unseen series of William Burroughs portraits gives us a rare and intimate glimpse at Burroughs and explores the concepts of iconography and identity performance.
Presented in
a small-format hardcover photo book, this project asks readers to think about
choices made by Burroughs while in the studio and his selection of a single
portrait for use in promoting an upcoming personal appearance. This book
dissects the image of a cultural icon and exposes a process in the creation and
perpetuation of celebrity image.
I recovered the last remaining archive of Lawrence-based photographer Robert “Bob” Blank in summer 2014. Blank owned and operated Hixon Studios in Lawrence for more than 40 years, having purchasing it from Orval Hixon in 1930. Blank operated the Hixon Photo and Camera Shop at 721 Massachusetts Street until its closure in the 1990’s.
The
archive includes portraits of some recognizable Lawrence personalities. Local
real estate developer and KU alumnus Bob Billings and former Miss America Deb Bryant were among them. Also discovered were seven previously unseen
portrait negatives of author, and longtime Lawrence resident William S.
Burroughs.
Regarded as one of the most subversive authors of the 20th Century, he was a member of the Beat Generation along with Ginsberg and Kerouac. His most notorious book Naked Lunch is a regular on “must read” and banned book lists.