Scope and Contents

This poem overlying an abstract landscape was written for Salman Rushdie (sr in drawing) & printed in Merely Connect. A large stenciled number "5" perforates a black square with the background of the sky shining thru symbolizing 4 years (Feb 1989) of death sentence by the Iranians and anticipating a 5th year in which it will be rescinded. Phillips' poem: "creeping fate in cold approach pockets, 5 a year, shadowing my diary writing long years on sand, a marriage a home and a child, and a story ago." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents

This poem written for Salman Rushdie and printed in Merely Connect is composed of eight blue-grey and purple horizintal bands of color. The purple may relate to the purple centerpiece of the Indian flag, blue-grey the emotional despair of Rushdie's death sentence. The calligraphy may be Salman?, Love?, etc. but are not readily decipherible. Phillips' poem: "live the poetry, merely understand verse necessity, merely connect, butterfly triumph, poetry - let me go on, poets define value." "sr" -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents

Phillips provides annotations for the paintings. One of them is held by the Sackner Archive. -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents

This book deals with Phillips' response to the political situation which developed after Rushdie wrote "The Satanic Verses" and the Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran offered one million dollars for his assassination because he believed that the book was offensive to Islam. Phillips uses Humument imagery to respond to this false accusation. An image of Rushdie captioned "Jack Hughes" with a painting of Dreyfus in the background signifies the French statement by Emile Zola, "J'Accuse." -- Source of annotation: Marvin or Ruth Sackner.

Scope and Contents Richard Minsky burnt a paperback copy of The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie and enclosed it within a reliquary he created using photoshop and an Epson inkjet printer to print on paper. Minsky used classical Islamic designs from "The Grammar of Ornament" by Owen Jones. The interlaced patterns relate to Islamic fundamentalism and the opened design spaces were incorporated by Minsky. Also included are two special stained glass windows on either side of the reliquary, through which the burnt book can be seen. Therefore the work becomes untouchable and is martyred like a saint. The first amendment relates to respecting the rights of religions, freedom of the press, the right of peaceful assembling and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. As Minsky noted on his WEB site, upon publication the author lost the freedoms of Press, Religion, Speech and Assembly in some countries. The Fatwah issued on Rushdie, and the...