Arcana:

(BYARS, JAMES LEE). Byars, James Lee, James Butler, Harald Szeeman, Dr. Reiner Speck & Morgan Thomas. Los Angeles: Foundation for Art Resources, Inc. (FAR), 1980. First Edition 1/500. Large Square 4to. Unprinted Wrappers. Artist's Book with Multiple. Fine.. np, 17 b&w illustrations. Text in English. This truly unusual James Lee Byars item was produced in an edition of five hundred copies in 1980 by the Los Angeles non-profit Arts organization Foundation for Art Resources, Inc. The publication's primary funding came from an NEA grant that was written in such a way that prevented the actual sale of the book itself! This untitled publication is referred to as "The White Book", and was conceived with the artist's collaboration as an expanded version of the 1978 Kunsthalle Bern exhibition catalogue that was a full documentation of Byars' public performance pieces from 1963 through 1975. Laid in to the book is the unique multiple artwork "The Exhibition of Perfect", which disperses in a rather surprising way when the book is opened. Approximately three hundred of these were sent hors commerce to Museums, Art Libraries, Non-Profit Arts organizations and friends and supporters of FAR. It was never made commercially available - one had to receive this as a gift at the time of publication. The remaining copies languished with the publisher, never having been assembled with the artwork or distributed, and have ultimately disappeared. A bright white, near pristine example of this exceedingly uncommon - only nine copies are currently cited in OCLC WorldCat - and desirable James Lee Byars gem. Inventory Number: 025973