Bern Porter contributed to some of the most important scientific innovations of the past century, including the cathode ray tube, the Manhattan Project, and NASA’s Saturn V Rocket. He was also an artist, poet, and publisher. He published work by Henry Miller, Kenneth Patchen, and Dick Higgins, among others, and authored numerous books, including compilations of collage he dubbed “Founds.” His personal work is heavily influenced by the guilt he felt regarding his role in the development of the atomic bomb. As the self-proclaimed inventor of mail art, Porter was also very involved in the Correspondence Art Network. This installation presents a selection of MoMA’s unparalleled collection of Porter’s materials, from artists’ books and original collages to mail art and other ephemera.
Organized by Rachael Morrison, Library Assistant.