Charles Simonds' memoir 'Dwelling' explores decades of miniature clay habitats and community engagement
In 2016, Walther König released 'Dwelling,' an 84-page memoir by Charles Simonds that reflects on his 50-year artistic journey. Designed by Leslie Miller and featuring an afterword by Christopher Lyon, the memoir critiques gentrification and includes 48 color images, priced at $29.95, with ISBN 978-386335-8204. Simonds, born in Manhattan in 1945, began creating miniature clay dwellings for an imaginary tribe known as the 'little people' in 1969 on New York's Lower East Side, engaging with local communities. His clay habitats, influenced by his performance 'Birth,' delve into themes of absence, birth, and death. He was also part of the 1970s SoHo art scene, connecting with artists like Gordon Matta-Clark and Robert Smithson.
Key facts
- Charles Simonds published memoir 'Dwelling' in 2016
- Book has 84 pages with 48 color images, priced at $29.95
- Simonds creates miniature clay dwellings for imaginary 'little people'
- He began this practice in 1969 on New York's Lower East Side
- Simonds was part of 1970s SoHo scene with Gordon Matta-Clark, Robert Smithson
- His work has been installed in Paris, East Berlin, Shanghai, Antwerp, Genoa
- Memoir includes afterword by Christopher Lyon, designed by Leslie Miller
- Simonds' early performance 'Birth' involved burial in New Jersey clay pit
Entities
Artists
- Charles Simonds
- Gordon Matta-Clark
- Robert Smithson
- Philip Glass
- Carl Andre
- Sol LeWitt
- Rudy Burckhardt
- Samuel Beckett
Institutions
- Grenfell Press
- Walther König
- Berkeley
- Rutgers
- artcritical.com
Locations
- Manhattan
- New York
- United States
- Cologne
- Germany
- SoHo
- Lower East Side
- Paris
- France
- East Berlin
- Berlin Wall
- Berlin
- Shanghai
- China
- Antwerp
- Belgium
- Genoa
- Italy
- New Jersey