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Impossibilists publications collection

 Collection
Identifier: OLPb030IMP

Scope and Contents

This collection is composed solely of Impossibilists publications.

Dates

  • Creation: 1977-1985

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Watzek Library Special Collections and Archives does not hold copyright to the materials in this collection.  It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright and other restrictions.

Historical Note

Co-founded in 1977 by Mark Sargent (aka Animal Trust, Max Deadtoe Delaney) and Tom Cassidy (aka Spaceangel and Musicmaster), The Impossibilists were a group of artists and writers active as performers and impresarios in Portland, Oregon in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. The other original or core Imps were mail-artist Kay Hockett aka Rhoda Mappo, Robert Lurie aka Rider, Marti Barrett aka Reynarda Wally, Alaina Lara aka Lipps, and honorary Imp Ijme Van Sloten. Their aesthetics were primarily absurdist, and expressed in graphics, poetry, prose, several “Dada Spectaculars” (which drew hundreds of people and included performances by Ken Butler, Lowell Darling, Dana Atchley, Billy Oskay, Norman Gould, Bob Gardiner, Cees Francke, Al Ackerman, Ken Friedman etc.), comic strips, manifestos, and events, many staged at Cassidy’s junkshop arcade, Keep ‘Em Flying. Among the contributors to their publications were Katherine Dunn, John Shirley, John Bennett, Walt Curtis, Ken Butler, Dan Raphael, Keith Rahmmings, Scott Helmes, Bob Phillips, Doug Spangle, and SubWaxin Haddock. They continued to release ephemeral publications through the 1980s.

This collection includes a variety of Impossibilits publications.

Extent

1 box

Abstract

Collection of publications by the Impossibilists, a group of artists and writers active as performers and impresarios in Portland, Oregon in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Physical Location

Special Collections Repository 2

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Collection assembled by Charles Seluzicki and sold to Lewis & Clark College in 2008. Additional material was purchased in 2024 from Burnside Rare Books.

Processing Information

Originally processed in 2008. Publications housed in acid-free folders. Finding aid revised and re-published with additional material in 2024.

Subject

Title
Guide to the Impossibilists publications collection
Author
Jeremy Skinner
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Lewis & Clark College, Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
615 S. Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland Oregon 97219 USA