Photograph of Peter Orlovsky and Allen Ginsberg

San Francisco 1979, 1979. Black and white photograph by Anita Corbin. Photograph measures 370x263mm in the mount which is 470x365mm. A small crease to the top right corner but otherwise in excellent condition. It shows Peter Orlovsky and Allen Ginsberg during a poetry recital. Orlovsky is centre stage, mid-declamation and with his arms stretched out. Ginsberg is sitting next to him quietly watching him perform. The photograph is pasted onto card and placed in a white card mount. On the back of the card is an inscription "To Peter, love and hugs Anita Corbin". Below this is written, in Orlovsky's own hand, "Taken in S.F. A Beatitude Benefit. Sept 18th 79". In September 1979, the Savoy Tivoli at 1434 Grant Avenue San Francisco hosted a benefit reunion for Beatitude, the magazine founded by Bob Kaufman, John Kelley and William Margolis in 1959. Ginsberg contributed to the first issue and wrote frequently for the journal. This benefit reunion has become a legendary event in the history of Beat performance poetry as it marked the return of Bob Kaufman after a fifteen year self-imposed writing exile. This photograph is a very early work by Anita Corbin who made her name with the 1981 Visible Girls series and who has continued to celebrate the achievements of women with her 100 First Women Portraits series. It is a rather moving work capturing Orlovsky's enthusiasm and energy and Ginsberg's admiration and devotion for his partner.

Anita Corbin has described how, as a 21 year old photography student from England, obsessed with Beat Poetry and staying in San Francisco she managed to get into the Beatitude Benefit gig where she took this picture. Here is her journal.

Tuesday 18th September 1979

"A Miracle: One minute 35cents the next I'm there, beer in hand and Warren ( someone at the bar) is $10 better off so kindly passes it on to me and I pass it back to where it came ...Magic Money Circles was just how I'd hoped my luck would run...chatting chatting to all the gays around me, jiving on my accent and excited to be in a thronging throng of poets and artists, packed into the Savoy Tivoli. He lead me straight indoors and took me right to the stage, mixing with other sound and light artists, front row middle seat, couldn't keep still or quiet ! Such and instant treat; bathing in the imminent anticipation and buzz, met a lady photographer shooting on Polaroid with added side efforts, very effective, friend of Ginsberg.( wonder who that was? )

Things began softly with this fair headed blue eyed boy introducing the first poet at this 20th Anniversary of Beattitude, his childhood spent with Kerouac's nephew. (wonder who that was! )

The bepop of music, Sax finding the bottomless notes, energy going out to every noun, syllable and heat in their sweaty faces dripping dripping dripping....leave it all to the wind, their every word pervading, me thinks".

Two months later Orlovsky and GInsberg were performing in London and Anita went to see them. She had printed the SF photograph and gave it to Peter with this inscription.

Thank you to Anita Corbin for these wonderful memories.