Basement Workshop.
Yellow Pearl.
New York: Basement Workshop, 1972.
Unbound.
56 sheets (54 sheets + preface/staff credits sheet and table of contents sheet).
Table of contents sheet lists 57 numbered works. These numbers are "artwork numbers" and not page numbers. 9 sheets are actually single-fold pages (= 4 pages) with multiple prints. Numbers 14/15, 21/22, and 29/30 are on three different single-fold sheets thus the 57 pieces listed on the index sheet are spread across 54 sheets.
This copy has been collated and compared against the copy held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Watson Library. After collating the Watson Library's copy, it was discovered that their copy also has 56 sheets even though their cataloging, as well as OCLC's cataloging incorrectly states that Yellow Pearl is composed of 57 leaves. The only institution shown holding a copy of Yellow Pearl in OCLC that disagrees with the prevailing viewpoint is Japan's National Diet Library which states that their copy has"55 leaves (some folded)" as well as "Library's copy lacks no. 53." which would equal 56 sheets.
Good.
Printed original box is functional and presentable with tears, soiling, wear, tape residue and tape.
The sheets themselves are very good to near fine with some sheets having light unobtrusive wear.
A complete set with intact box of this rare document featuring poetry, sheet music, and artwork printed on varying shades of yellow paper published by Basement Workshop, "the first pan-Asian political and artistic organization on the East Coast".
In existence from 1970 - 1986, the organization began as a social services project focused on New York City's Chinatown, but expanded to include an arts focus as well.
Its projects were varied, such as Asian American Resource Center (an archive of Asian-American history and resources), Bridge Magazine (A topical mix of political news and commentary with some literary and art features, which lasted from 1971 to 1985, having severed its relationship to Basement Workshop in 1979 in favor of Asian CineVision), and myriad other socio-political as well as art endeavors.
Contributors include J. Miyamoto, C. Iljima, Dennis Hirota, Pamela Eguchi, Fay Chiang, Serafin Malay Syquia, Koon Jo, Ying I. Eng, Bun Yoshikami, Curtis Choy, Yasunori Gene Kita, Takashi Yanagida, Frances C. Chung, Dorothy Suzuki, John H. Saka, George T. Chew, Henry Chang, Larry Hama, Richard Young, Charlie Chin, Bob Fong, Sharon, John Chu, Aileen Yip, Tomi Tanaka Ohta, Isomi Handrych, Lois Chin, Lova Eng, Alice Look, Toyo Obayashi, Merle Motooka, Lili E. Liu, Betty Chin, Shin'ya Ono, and Wally Lim.
Preface:
"YELLOW PEARL is a collection of the creative talents of young Asian Americans. It is also an expression of an emerging consciousness of being Asian in America. We need to write about the War, Attica and our people's history. We need to express our loves, our loneliness, and our dreams. Through YELLOW PEARL we share what we feel, what we think and what we are with our brothers and sisters.
Coming together on the project we have shared ten months of relating - emotionally, politically, and artistically. In the process we made efforts to re-examine our own perspectives; and we grew. In trying to project a view of ourselves as Asians in America, we found this best expressed through a clear statement against basic philosophies of exploitation and oppression of individuals as well as nations. For many of us, the hope has been that YELLOW PEARL, subjective as it is, has become a part of that movement which is attempting to build a more responsive and responsible society."
