Giorno Poetry Systems

26Sep09

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American label/conceptual writing project set up in 1972 by the poet John Giorno, the earliest releases were exclusively poetry collections of the “Dial-A-Poets” (John Giorno, William S Burroughs, Brion Gysin, Allen Ginsberg, John Cage, Susan Howe, Patti Smith Anne Waldman.)

“In 1961 I was a young poet who hung out with young artists like Andy Warhol, Bob Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, as well as with members of the Judson Dance Theatre. The use of modern mass media and technologies by these artists made me realize that poetry was 75 years behind painting and sculpture, dance and music. And I thought, if they can do it, why can’t I do it for poetry. Why not try to connect with an audience using all the entertainments of ordinary life: television, the telephone, record albums, etc? It was the poet’s job to invent new venues and make fresh contact with the audience.

“This inspiration gave rise to Giorno Poetry Systems, a non-profit foundation under which many projects were born. The record label called Giorno Poetry Systems eventually built up a catalog of 40 titles, ushering poetry onto the radio alongside rock, jazz, etc. for the first time.”

“Wisdom is his voice” by John Giorno.