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The Quentin Crisp Archives invites you to





a gathering of photographs and paintings continuing the celebration
of mr. crisp's life and legend on the one-year anniversary of his death

The mission of the Quentin Crisp Archives is to preserve and maintain the manuscripts, artwork, and various artifacts related to the life of Quentin Crisp for the purpose of research and exhibition.

Author, performer, wit, and philosopher, Quentin Crisp lived "in the profession of being"--in London and New York. Notorious for his individualism and unique style from the 1920s through the 1960s, Quentin Crisp gained further celebrity in 1968 with the autobiographical publication of The Naked Civil Servant (made into a movie in 1975 starring John Hurt). At the age of 72, he moved to New York City, achieving a lifelong goal. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Crisp toured his one-man show, An Evening with Quentin Crisp. He appeared in various stage productions, movies, and commercials. Mr. Crisp wrote movie reviews and an array of articles for several newspapers, magazines, and Web sites. He authored several books, including Resident Alien, How to Become a Virgin, Manners from Heaven, and The Wit and Wisdom of Quentin Crisp (edited by Guy Kettelhack). Quentin Crisp died on November 21, 1999, while in England touring his one-man show.

Quentin Crisp: London & New York is the first presentation of photographs and ephemera from the Archives, continuing the celebration of his life and legend on the one-year anniversary of Mr. Crisp's death. The exhibit will open at The Emerging Collector on Tuesday, November 21, 2000, and close on Thursday, November 30. The gallery is located at 62 Second Avenue, between Third and Fourth Streets, in New York City.

Quentin Crisp: London & New York presents black-and-white photographs by London artist Jean Harvey, and New York photographers Martin Fishman and Phillip Ward. These images show Quentin Crisp practicing the "profession of being" during two different periods in his life. Ms. Harvey provides the Quentin Crisp of London during his upswing at "being famous" following the publication of The Naked Civil Servant. Her photographs appear in The Wit and Wisdom of Quentin Crisp. Martin Fishman and Phillip Ward show a personal view of the Quentin Crisp of New York City during his quest at "becoming American" through the 1980s and 1990s. Mr. Fishman's photographs appear in books, magazines, and newspapers. Mr. Ward was Quentin Crisp's personal assistant and is the editor of Mr. Crisp's forthcoming final book, Dusty Answers.

Quentin Crisp: London & New York also includes artworks (paintings, drawings, and mixed-media) by New York artists Spider Webb and Sal Monetti. Their works were shown at the reception following An Evening for Quentin Crisp, the memorial for Mr. Crisp held at Cooper Union's Great Hall this past March.

Quentin Crisp: London & New York offers the public a special opportunity to view personal items from the room of Mr. Crisp. The Quentin Crisp Archives is honored to present the first of many exhibits to follow celebrating the life and legend of Quentin Crisp. More information about Quentin Crisp can be found at Crisperanto.org. For more information, contact Phillip Ward, Archivist/Curator, at 212-254-0508.