Artists Space

Greer Lankton: Sketchbook, September 1977

Screening & Reading
October 19, 2023, 7pm

Co-presented with Primary Information

Flyer featuring a drawing of a face in black ink with accents of pink and green on the mouth, cheeks, and eyelids. Handwritten text on the top reads "The worst is over / well it hasn
[Flyer featuring a drawing of a face in black ink with accents of pink and green on the mouth, cheeks, and eyelids. Handwritten text on the top reads "The worst is over / well it hasn't even / started by at least / I know." Text on the bottom provides the place and time of the event.]

Please join us for an evening celebrating Greer Lankton’s Sketchbook, September 1977 on Thursday, October 19 from 7–9pm at Artists Space. The night will feature readings by Lia Gangitano, Nan Goldin, and Joyce Randall Senechal, as well as a screening of rare films by Lankton.

Sketchbook, September 1977 is an early journal by Greer Lankton written during her time as an art student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It offers key insights into the artist’s mind before her move to New York in 1978, where she would go on to have a prolific career making lifelike dolls, theatrical sets, photographs, drawings, and paintings.

On the occasion of the book’s release, there will be readings from the journal by Lankton’s longtime friends Nan Goldin and Joyce Randall Senechal, as well as by Lia Gangitano, who curated a breakthrough retrospective of the artist’s work at Participant Inc in 2014. Accompanying these readings will be a film program assembled by Sophie Cavoulacos, Associate Curator of Film at The Museum of Modern Art, where Lankton’s films and journals are archived.

This program will include early Super8 experiments, rare home movies, and No Wave screen appearances from around the transformational personal and artistic period charted in the journal.

Greer Lankton, Greg and Cathi in Drag, 1975. 3 min.
Greer Lankton, Bean Bag, 1975. 3 min.
Greer Lankton, Lankton Family Christmas, 1975. 2:30 min. 
Greer Lankton, Blueman, 1978. 3 min.
Joyce Randall Senechal and Greer Lankton, The Contortionist, 1978. 1 min.
Greer Lankton, Untitled (Interview/The Operation), 1978. 15 min. 
Vivienne Dick, Liberty's Booty [Greer Lankton prelude], 1980. 4:30 min. 

Special thanks to MoMA’s Sophie Cavoulacos and Ron Magliozzi for their collaboration on the publication, as well as to the Mattress Factory (Pittsburgh), where the majority of Lankton’s papers and archives are housed.

For more information about the event, please contact info@primaryinformation.org or info@artistsspace.org.

Artists Space Venue is generously supported by Stephen Cheng, Lonti Ebers, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Allan Schwartzman, and David Zwirner.

Artists Space is fully accessible via a wheelchair lift and automated door in front of the entrance on 80 White Street. The cellar gallery can be accessed via the ground floor elevator. Artists Space welcomes assistance dogs, and has wheelchair accessible non-gender-segregated toilet facilities. For access inquiries please contact Artists Space at info@artistsspace.org or 212 226 3970.