Beat Generation Photographer exhibit at SAMA

A photo exhibit of Allen Ginsberg, renowned "Beat Generation" writer (1950s-60s) and photographer comes to the San Antonio Museum of Art, (SAMA) Saturday, August 4th and will run through Sunday, October 14th. The exhibit will include 47 photographs from his early years (1953-1964) and later years. (1984-1997)

Ginsberg began taking pictures of his friends, many of whom—like Ginsberg himself—went on to become legendary figures. From 1953-1964, Ginsberg chronicled his activities with buddies such as Jack Kerouac, the author of "On the Road," and William Burroughs, whose writings include the books "Naked Lunch" and "The Soft Machine."

In the late 1960s, Ginsberg gave up photography until 1984. Ginsberg’s involvement with photography increased during this renewed period. As he began to recognize the historical importance of his earlier photos, he printed many of them for the first time in the 1980s. He also met the acclaimed photographer Berenice Abbott, who suggested that he purchase a large format Rolliflex camera, which he used exclusively until his death in 1997.

In addition to Kerouac and Burroughs, subjects in the photos include counterculture luminaries Neal Cassady, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Beat poet Gregory Corso, Robert Frank, Timothy Leary, and the painter Francesco Clemente, among others.