collected by John Giorno in his lifetime, 1936–2019
John Giorno began collecting his archives as a young poet. Inspired by the collecting of Andy Warhol and Allen Ginsberg, he carefully traced every passing event of his career from 1965 into the present day, organizing the materials by himself in an idiosyncratic way for nearly fifty years.
The collections span published poems, publicity, press releases, photographic materials, posters and flyers, Giorno’s earliest prints and artworks, Giorno Poetry Systems records and recorded media, original artwork mechanicals, Dial-A-Poem materials, family and ancestry materials, “consumer product poems,” manuscripts, correspondences, dharma materials, and more.
From 2013–2015, a large section of the archives were processed and digitized as the John Giorno Collection. In 2015, digital images from the archives were placed in chronological order, printed, and pasted to the walls of the Palais de Tokyo on rainbow colored paper for Ugo Rondinone's I ♥ John Giorno, illuminating Giornos' life and work.
John Giorno with Dial-A-Poem at The Museum of Modern Art (contact sheet), 1970
Photograph: Gianfranco Mantegna
Page from John Giorno's Dial-A-Poem at the Museum of Modern Art Log Book, 1970
Matchbook Poems by Giorno Poetry Systems, 1970
Giorno Poetry Systems Records distribution catalog, 1978
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release, 1970, p. 1
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release, 1970, p. 2
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release, 1970, p. 3
Release 1: A Benefit for the John Giorno Defense Fund, 1970
Release 2: A Benefit for the Ron Gold Defense Fund, 1970
Release 3: John Sinclair Day, 1970
Ecology Day, 1970
Giorno Poetry Systems Institute, Inc. Benefit for H. H. Dudjom Rinpoche, 1975
Husker Du Challenges Giorno Poetry Systems Artists to Give Royalties to People Who Have AIDS, 1987
The Nova Convention Poster, 1978
AIDS Treatment Project 1990 Fiscal Report
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release, 1970, p. 1
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release, 1970, p. 2
Giorno Poetry Systems Press Release, 1970, p. 3
Release 1: A Benefit for the John Giorno Defense Fund, 1970
Release 2: A Benefit for the Ron Gold Defense Fund, 1970
Release 3: John Sinclair Day, 1970
Ecology Day, 1970
Giorno Poetry Systems Institute, Inc. Benefit for H. H. Dudjom Rinpoche, 1975
Husker Du Challenges Giorno Poetry Systems Artists to Give Royalties to People Who Have AIDS, 1987
The Nova Convention Poster, 1978
AIDS Treatment Project 1990 Fiscal Report
John Giorno performing at Centre Pompidou in Paris, June 10 1983
Photograph: Françoise Janicot
John Giorno performing at City Lights Italia Festival. Florence, Italy, May 4 1998
Photograph: Michele Corleone
John Giorno performing at St. Mark's Church. New York, April 28 1974
I'm Tired of Being Scared, 1969
Silkscreen and red DayGlo paint on paper
39" x 28"
99.1 x 71.2 cm
Text published in An Anthology of New York Poets ed. Ron Padgett and Dave Shapiro, June 1970
Seale, 1969
Silkscreen on paper
97" x 108"
38.1 x 42.5 cm
A Youth Winces, 1971
Silkscreen on paper
25 3/4" x 25 3/4"
65 x 65 cm
I'm Tired of Being Scared, 1969
Silkscreen and red DayGlo paint on paper
39" x 28"
99.1 x 71.2 cm
Seale, 1969
Silkscreen on paper
97" x 108"
38.1 x 42.5 cm
A Youth Winces, 1971
Silkscreen on paper
25 3/4" x 25 3/4"
65 x 65 cm
John Giorno performing "Just Say NO To Family Values" (excerpt) at Poesia en viu a Barcelona, 2000.