Explore the Era

Delve into the postwar Los Angeles art world in this online archive, which provides additional material related to the exhibitions on view at the Getty Center. Learn about hipsters and happenings, and the venues across the city where all the action took place through images from the archives and first-hand accounts with the artists.

L.A. Odyssey

LA Odyssey

L.A. Odyssey, 1969, Diane di Prima (poet), cover design by George Herms. Poets Press, San Francisco, 1969. Offset lithograph. 8 5/8 x 5 9/16 x 1/16 in. Book © Diane di Prima. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.27. Cover image © George Herms

After beginning as a poet based in New York, di Prima was drawn to the West Coast by her friendships with artists and poets based in California, and she eventually settled in the Bay Area. Self-published on her own Poets Press, L.A. Odyssey is but one example of di Prima’s frequent collaborations with Herms, Berman, and others of their circle.

Works of Art

  • The Librarian

    The Librarian, 1960, George Herms. Wooden box, papers, books, loving cup, and painted stool. 57 x 63 x 21 in. Norton Simon Museum, Gift of Molly Barnes. © George Herms

Explore the Archive

  • Video: George Herms

    Video: George Herms speaks about his work, March 2011

  • Announcement, George Herms "Nativity '63"

    Announcement for George Herms exhibition Nativity '63 at Rolf Nelson gallery in Los Angeles, 1963. © George Herms. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Michael Asher, 2009.M.30.9

  • Announcement, George Herms at Aura Gallery

    Announcement for George Herms exhibition at Aura Gallery in Pasadena, California, 1963. Designed by Wallace Berman. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.3. Courtesy of the Estate of Wallace Berman and Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles

  • Announcement, "Roofle" at Tap City Circus

    Announcement for "Roofle," a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, October 30, 1966. Designed by George Herms. Letterpress, woodblock, and rubber stamping. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Hal Glicksman, 2009.M.5.6

  • Announcement, “Raffle” at Tap City Circus

    Announcement for “Raffle,” a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, June 6, 1965. Designed by George Herms. Letterpress, woodblock, rubber stamping, and tinted gelatin silver print. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of Rolf G. Nelson, 2010.M.38.4

  • George Herms at “Earful” raffle

    George Herms at “Earful,” a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, 1972. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.24. Photo by and © Jerry Maybrook

  • Announcement, "Earful" at Tap City Circus

    Announcement for “Earful,” a Tap City Circus raffle in Los Angeles, February 20, 1972. Designed by George Herms. Letterpress, woodblock, and rubber stamping. The Getty Research Institute, Gift of George Herms, 2009.M.20.25. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • George Herms, 1960

    George Herms in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, 1960. Photo by Edmund Teske. Courtesy of and © 1960 Edmund Teske Archives, Laurence Bump and Nils Vidstrand

  • George Herms, 1960

    George Herms in 1960. Photo by Edmund Teske. Courtesy of and © 1960 Edmund Teske Archives, Laurence Bump and Nils Vidstrand

  • George Herms in his studio

    George Herms in his studio on Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles, ca. 1977. Photo by Frank J. Thomas. Courtesy of the Frank J. Thomas Archives