Sparrow 35 (1975) Dali on Lorca + Gerard Malanga Poems – Black Sparrow Press

Description

SPARROW was a chapbook series published monthly by Black Sparrow Press beginning in the early 1970s, each issue spotlighting a single author or work in poetry, fiction, or criticism. With its compact size, minimalist design, and low price—often just 75 cents—SPARROW served as an accessible, democratic format for avant-garde voices, emerging talent, and literary outsiders. The series was the brainchild of John Martin, Black Sparrow’s founder, whose mission was to bring uncommercial, uncompromising literature to readers through bold typography, striking color choices, and high-quality production.

Each issue was saddle-stapled, typically running under 20 pages, and printed with a distinctive red ornamental border. Contributors included an eclectic range of writers: Charles Bukowski, Diane Wakoski, Robert Kelly, Clayton Eshleman, and Gerard Malanga. While not every issue is widely collected, many have become scarce, especially those featuring now-iconic writers in their early or experimental phases.

This issue features a rare and poetic intersection of two 20th-century icons: Explosion of the Swan, Salvador Dalí’s surreal, emotionally charged meditation on the death of Federico García Lorca. Originally written in 1944 and later published in English, the piece is an evocative and dreamlike tribute from one master to another—both artistically and personally. The issue also includes Three Poems by Gerard Malanga, poet, photographer, and longtime collaborator with Andy Warhol at The Factory.

Sparrow 35 — a surrealist gem from the heart of Black Sparrow’s radical poetry series—ideal for collectors of art, poetry, and the avant-garde underground.