Artist Jack Smith

Rarely do I come across anyone that inspires me to the extent that Jack Smith has. I stumbled across his work the other day and was completely mesmerized. Smith began his work as a photographer when he moved to New York City and opened a small portrait studio. He would take photographs of his customers then attempt to lure them to his back studio to coax them into costumes with erotic undertones among elaborate sets. Jack Smith and the Destruction of Atlantis is a documentary about the artist that reveals his eccentric qualities, his hatred of our capitalistic society, and his unbelievable talent that has gone largely unrecognized to this day. I highly recommend renting it if you can. If you are in Austin there is a copy available at Vulcan Video. Normally I don't go on like this about a film but the imagery throughout was breathtaking and will undoubtably influence my own work in the future.

This is a still from Jack Smith's Flaming Creatures. It was his only film ever truly considered to be "finished" it was also banned in several cities and countries because of its controversial content. The public's reception of Smith's first film greatly impacted his drive to create more films. He was upset that his work was banned and because of this directed Normal Love, a film he felt could not and would not be banned.







This is a photograph from the ballet Beauty and the Beast that Tony Duquette designed the costumes and set for. Duquette and Smith were active during roughly the same time period but they existed in completely different socioeconomic circles. Both the work of Duquette and Smith shows the same type of fascination with "exotic" color palettes and over the top scenery. I imagine the two would have made some amazing work together.

Tony Duquette, being primarily an interior designer, is best known for his elaborate and decadent rooms like the one above.