To a Violent Grave: An Oral Biography of Jackson Pollock [Paperback]

Jeffrey Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1987

In a thousand dazzling images conjured by his immediate family and closest friends, Jackson Pollock, the spectacularly self-destructive and gifted American painter, comes to life in this fascinating oral biography assembled and written by his friend and East Hampton neighbor, Jeffrey Potter. The dramatic narrative of Pollock's violent death, told by those who were on the scene, from farmers and policemen to coroners and lovers, is gripping in its immediacy. To a Violent Grave reveals a man living a life that mirrored his art. Jackson Pollock--powerful, colorful, contradictory, brilliant--was an explosion that rocked and changed forever all he touched.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

That Pollock was a mean-spirited drunk, a fast, reckless driver, parasitical toward his brother, and abusive to women is abundantly clear from this "oral biography." Potter, who knew the artist for seven years in East Hampton, has interviewed some 150 peoplefamily members, fellow painters, art dealers, critics, neighbors, roommates, lovers. This chorus of voices, quoted in round-robin fashion, sound off at each juncture in Pollock's obsessively driven, alcoholic existence. It's good gossip, but Potter (author of Men, Money and Magic) never really ties the recollections together so that we can understand how Pollock transcended a messy life to create lyrical paintings of the unconscious. Even the thoughtful reminiscences often seem like pop psychoanalyzing (Clement Greenberg says, "He was so helpless, he expected you to feel sorry for him"). De Kooning, Motherwell and Rivers lead the cast of characters. Photos. December 16
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Pollock's colorful career has been the stuff of artistic legend ever since his death in an auto accident in 1956. His frenzied exploits, the brawling, drinking, and reckless driving, were viewed as an inevitable part of his painterly creativity. Potter was Pollock's neighbor in East Hampton, Long Island, where the two men shared an interest in the land. He has pieced together a racy narrative of the artist's life and hard times by using short interview excerpts from over 150 individualsfamily members (but not Pollock's widow, painter Lee Krasner), dealers, critics, fellow artists, and other East Hampton intimates. Unfortunately, this patchwork of psychologically charged anecdotes does not provide any real insights into the man as an artist. Scholars and others who want a more substantive biography should turn to B. H. Friedman's Jackson Pollock: energy made visible (1972). Paula A. Baxter, Museum of Modern Art Lib., New York Please note: McPherson & Company has informed us that Gianfranco Baruchello and Henry Martin's Why Duchamp ( LJ 11/15/85) is a Documentext (not Treacle Press) title.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 303 pages
• Publisher: Pushcart Pr (November 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916366472
• ISBN-13: 978-0916366476
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,955,355 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The true Pollock, April 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: To a Violent Grave: An Oral Biography of Jackson Pollock (Paperback)

I bought this book for researching a college term paper and ended up being enthralled with it. I never realized all these things about this great painter. From the mouths of his family and friends, one feels as if he/she is peering into the true life of Jackson Pollock If you want to understand his art, this is the place to start.

3.0 out of 5 stars Three & a half stars... a bit too brief, January 16, 2001

By 

Renee Thorpe (Karangasem, Bali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To a Violent Grave: An Oral Biography of Jackson Pollock (Paperback)

It could be argued that this format (what people who knew Pollack say about him later) is the laziest form of biography. But it is quite interesting to read exactly what tales his friends and colleagues can tell us. It was light reading, lacking the kind of sequential factual details a meticulous biographer strings together.

Title implies sensationalism rather than a sober study of the man's life; indeed, the book leans a bit too much on gossipy bits of scandal, drinking, violence, and angst. Does nothing to dispel all the galmourization and star attraction of Pollack, which is unfortunate. The book's lack of art criticism does a disservice to the artist, and places Pollack under an unfortunate spotlight of personality. Reader can leave this book erroneously imagining Pollack was a fake, or at least pathetic.

Worth reading to augment exhaustive research, but not the full story...

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MOVE OVER TOLSTOY!, December 15, 2001

By 

roseanne barry (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: To a Violent Grave: An Oral Biography of Jackson Pollock (Paperback)

Amazing book! Wonderful writer! The only book ever written with a honest and intimate account of Jackson Pollock's life. Jeffrey Potter displays yet again his mastery of talents to create a unique work of literature.I look forward to reading more of his writings.