RC professor's life work to be displayed

After 30 years of printing original art and poetry, Residential College Prof. Ken Mikolowski has collected many vivid memories of paintings, compositions and visits from notable artists such as Allen Ginsberg.

His life's work is now on exhibit in the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library. The show, entitled "Your Artwork Here: 30 Years of the Alternative Press," is part of the Alternative Press Symposium and includes an archival look into its history.

Mikolowski and his wife Ann established the Alternative Press in 1969 in the basement of their Detroit home.

"The two of us started the press because we lived in Detroit at a time when the kind of art and poetry being produced was as good as what was being produced anywhere else in the country - they just didn't have publishers," Mikolowski said.

Artists and poets themselves, the Mikolowskis decided to use the printing press to publish friends' art and poetry. "They printed broadsides, flyers, bumper stickers and just gave them out for free on the street with the objective of getting art and

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Residential College Prof. Ken Mikolowski, who founded the Alternative Press with his wife Ann, sits in his East Quad Residence Hall office yesterday.

poetry into the hands of the public," said James Fox, curator and assistant at the Special Collections Library.

Although the Alternative Press has been on exhibit before, this show is especially nostalgic for Mikolowski since it closely follows the death of his wife, Ann, last August. "Ann was a great painter. I really believe that her work as a painter is of the first rank in American art," Fox said. Her work has been displayed in New York City with such artists as Jasper Johns and in the Detroit Museum of Art.

Without his wife and partner, Mikolowski is unsure of the future of the Alternative Press. He said, "The future is the big question - Ann was my partner for 30 years. We have an issue currently in production which we will finish, but after that it remains to be seen."

As funding became scarce in the 1970s, the Mikolowskis began distribution through subscriptions only. Subscribers received an annual packet containing bumper stickers, bookmarks and original works contributed by friends and artists.

One of the most significant parts of the exhibit, which runs through Dec. 4, are artists' postcards, Fox said. Between 15 and 20 artists over the years have each created 500 original works of art and poetry on blank postcards. In addition to these artistic works, the exhibit also includes correspondence between the Mikolowskis and artists as well as original poetry by major poets such as Ted Barragan.

"We in Special Collections were aware of Ken and Ann's work and we decided this was a really important collection. They are an important part of the literary scene in Michigan as well as nationally," Fox said.

The Mikolowskis opened their doors to any artist passing through Detroit. "With the press in the basement and a big house, almost anyone coming through stayed with us. We publish the premiere poets of our time," Mikolowski said. Ginsberg stayed with the Mikolowskis in 1969 while raising funds in Detroit.

Other famous poets such as Robert Creeley and Edward Sanders will be reading poetry Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. as part of the celebration of the Alternative Press.

Other events also include a six hour symposium on Oct. 18 entitled, "Alternative Press/Art in Detroit" featuring art critics Marsha Miro and Glen Mannisto; artists Brenda Goodman and Robert Sestok; as well as Kathryn Brackett Luch's film, "Studio Artists: Scenes from Detroit's Cass Corridor: 1973-1982." There will also be a poetry reading Monday evening at 7:30 p.m. by Ron Padgett and Anne Waldman of the New York Poetry School and a final "Detroit Poetry Blowout" Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. which will feature readings by 10 poets.

10-15-99