Aug 13, 2020 - Sale 2544

Sale 2544 - Lot 169

Price Realized: $ 7,500
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 1,000 - $ 1,500

DAVID WOJNAROWICZ (1954-1992)


Small archive of song lyrics from his band 3 Teens Kill 4 and other projects.
16 items, each 11 x 8 1/2 inches or smaller; variously stained, worn or torn, but all complete and legible; housed in manila folder reading "David Wojnarowicz lyrics." No place, circa 1979-83.

Provenance: from the Estate of Brian Butterick.

Additional Details

Although best known as an artist, photographer, filmmaker, author, and activist during his short life, Wojnarowicz, along with his friend Brian Butterick, was also a member of the short-lived experimental band 3 Teens Kill 4 from 1980 to 1983, for whom he wrote many of the lyrics. Offered here is a small group of poems / lyrics / dialogue, some or all by Wojnarowicz, some of which may have been written for use in 3 Teens Kill 4 performances. Included are:
Short undated Autograph Letter from Wojnarowicz to Butterick, illustrated with a self-portrait(?) titled "Thug Saint";
8 lines of Autograph Manuscript which begin "There comes a time / When we feel in our minds / An urge to wander";
Typescript of 4 verses which begin "Got my blues in a bottle," one line edited in ink, with note in unknown hand reading "Fall 1979, Wojnarowicz";
Typescript in 16 lines which begins "I used to live in Marin county / Before I found freedom / Was more than I deserved" Page of typescript dialogue headed "Cinema (simultaneous text);
Typescript of 4 verses titled "Cinema" which begin "I've got these dreams kicking round in my head";
Photocopy of typescript lyrics to the 3 Teens Kill 4 song "Hunger" with Wojnarowicz's manuscript notes and inked stamp (both also photocopied);
Photocopy of typescript lyrics to 3 Teens Kill 4 song "Desire";
Photocopies of 7 other typescript lyrics or song fragments plus one duplicate.