Tulsa (book)

__NOTOC__ . Its publication in 1971 "caused a sensation within the photographic community", leading to a new interest in autobiographical work."Photographs: George Eastman House, Rochester, NY", p.664.]

Later better known for directing the movie "Kids," Clark was a Tulsa native and a drug addict during the period (1963–1971) when he took the photographs. The book is prefaced by the statement:

i was born in tulsa oklahoma in 1943. when i was sixteen i started shooting amphetamine. i shot with my friends everyday for three years and then left town but i've gone back through the years. once the needle goes in it never comes out. L.C. [Quoted in "Larry Clark: Tulsa", ICP.]

"Tulsa", Clark's first book, was published in 1971 by Lustrum Press, owned by Ralph Gibson. It has been claimed that thanks to Gene Pitney's 1960 song "24 Hours from Tulsa", Tulsa then represented "young love and family values"; ["The Photography Book," p.93.] Clark's book challenged this with scenes of young people having sex, shooting up drugs, and playing with guns.

Clark has said that he "didn't take these photographs as a voyeur, but as a participant in the phenomenon", [Quoted in "Larry Clark - Tulsa 1971", artfacts.net.] and commentary on the book has emphasized how Clark did not just live with the teenagers portrayed but "did drugs with them, slept with them, and included himself in the photographs"; this conferred an authenticity on the work, which brought it great praise.Parr and Badger, "The Photobook" vol. 1, p.260.]

Criticism of "Tulsa" has not been limited to a visceral rejection of images of drugtaking, casual sex, and gunplay; Martin Parr and Gerry Badger say that the "incessant focus [of "Tulsa" and Clark's 1983 book "Teenage Lust"] on the sleazy aspect of the lives portrayed, to the exclusion of almost anything else — whether photographed from the 'inside' or not — raises concerns about exploitation and drawing the viewer into a prurient, voyeuristic relationship with the work."

Exhibitions and collections

*George Eastman House (Rochester, New York) possesses the fifty prints used to make the original book.>
*The International Center of Photography (New York) has shown the prints, together with others not included in the book. [Larry Clark: Tulsa", ICP.]
*The Groninger Museum (Groningen) bought the series of prints in 1998 and exhibited them in January–April 2005. ["Larry Clark - Tulsa 1971", artfacts.net.]
*Maison Européene de la Photographie (Paris) showed the series from October 2007 to January 2008. [" [http://www.ivyparisnews.com/2007/10/larry-clark-and.html Larry Clark and Martine Barrat at MEP] ", accessed 24 June 2008.]

Editions

*"Tulsa." New York: Lustrum Press, 1971. Paperback.
*"Tulsa." New York: Larry Clark, [1979] ("1971"). Hardback.
*"Tulsa." 1983.
*"Tarusa" (nihongo2|タルサ) / "Tulsa." Tokyo: Taka Ishii Gallery. 1996. Hardback. Edition of 1000.
*"Tulsa." New York: Grove, 2000. Hardback in slipcase, with print. Edition of 250. ISBN 0802116787.
*"Tulsa." New York: Grove, 2000. Hardback. ISBN 0802116779.
*"Tulsa." New York: Grove, 2000. Paperback. ISBN 0802137482.

Notes

References

*" [http://museum.icp.org/museum/exhibitions/larry_clark/tulsa.html Larry Clark: Tulsa] ". International Center of Photography. Accessed 24 June 2008.
*" [http://www.artfacts.net/index.php/pageType/exhibitionInfo/exhibition/19264/lang/1 Larry Clark - Tulsa 1971] ". Artfacts.net. Accessed 24 June 2008.
*Parr, Martin, and Gerry Badger. "The Photobook: A History." Vol. 1. London: Phaidon, 2004. ISBN 0-7148-4285-1.
*"Photographs: George Eastman House, Rochester, NY." Cologne: Taschen, 1999. ISBN 3-8228-7073-0. (This is the title as given on the title page; the front cover and spine both read "Photography from 1839 to Today: George Eastman House, Rochester, NY.")
*"The Photography Book." London: Phaidon, 2000. ISBN 0-7148-3937-X. (This is the title as given on the title page; the front cover and spine both read "The Photo Book.")