Ecstatic Peace Library
Ecstatic Peace Library is a book publishing imprint founded by Thurston Moore and Eva Prinz to release an exhibition catalogue by photographer Justine Kurland. The name is derived from Ecstatic Peace!, (also a music label run by Thurston Moore & Andrew Kesin), and an expression found in a passage from Tom Wolfe’s book ‘The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test’. The company publishes a range of photography and art-related books about the early Norwegian black metal scene, experimental jazz from the 70s, and other niche subjects.[1]
Daydream Library Series was founded in 2018 by Moore and Prinz to release debut album SISTAHS by London feminist punk trio Big Joanie.
Thurston Moore started the band Sonic Youth in 1980. Since then Thurston Moore has been at the forefront of the alternative rock scene since that particular sobriquet was first used to signify any music that challenged and defied the mainstream standard.
Thurston records and performs in a cavalcade of disciplines ranging from free improvisation to acoustic composition to black/white metal/noise disruption. He has worked with Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Bobby Gillespie, David Toop, Cecil Taylor, Faust, Glenn Branca and many others. His residency at the Louvre in Paris included collaborations with Irmin Schmidt and Stephen O’Malley. Alongside his various activities in the musical world, he is involved with publishing and poetry, and teaches with his wife Eva Prinz writing at The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University, Boulder CO, a program founded by Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman in 1974. Thurston also teaches music at The Rhythmic Music Conservatory (Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium) in Copenhagen.
Presently he performs and records solo, with various ensembles and in his own band, The Thurston Moore Group.
Eva Prinz started her publishing career in New York City at Taschen America, she held positions as Editor of Fine Arts at Rizzoli International Publications and later Senior Editor at Abrams Books. Prinz guest edited artist Peter Halley’s Index Magazine (April/May 2005) and participated in curating exhibitions in New York City, including ‘Radical Living Papers’ which was a survey of the underground press from 1960-75 at Gavin Brown’s Passerby gallery space. Eva Prinz and Thurston Moore began working together on books at Rizzoli International Publications — their first book was on the subject of mixtapes entitled Mixtape: The Art of Cassette Culture and was published on the pop culture imprint Universe Books, a division of Rizzoli. Prinz and Moore collaborated on several books that focused on music for Rizzoli and Abrams and worked together for several years before founding their own imprint Ecstatic Peace Library in 2009.
Timeline
2009
Publication: This Train is Bound for Glory by Justine Kurland
Exhibition: October 15 – November 14, 2009, Mitchell-Innes & Nash, New York, USA
2010
Publication: Ecstatic Peace Poetry Journal: ISSUE 10 curated by Thurston Moore, Eva Prinz & Byron Coley
Exhibition: January 15—February 27, 2010, White Columns, New York, USA
For the tenth issue of the Ecstatic Peace Poetry Journal, editors presented the issue as an exhibition and community event
January 15th: Opening performance: Northampton Wools (Thurston Moore, Chris Corsano, Bill Nace)
January 23rd: Reading: John Giorno, Byron Coley. Performance: Thurston Moore
February 5th: Reading: Edmund Berrigan, Anselm Berrigan. Performance: Thurston Moore
February 19th: Reading: Richard Hell, Dorothea Lasky. Music: Thurston Moore
February 25th: Reading: Thurston Moore and Anne Waldman accompanied by musicians Ambrose Bye and Devin Waldman
Exhibition: No Soul For Sale – A Festival of Independents curated by Maurizio Cattelanat, Cecilia Alemani and Massimiliano Gioni at the Tate Modern on May 14-16, 2010 Ecstatic Peace Library representing White Columns
With a performance by Thurston Moore and reading by Eva Prinz in Turbine Hall, at Tate Modern with films by Eva Prinz
Publication: James Hamilton: You Should Have Heard Just What I Seen by James Hamilton
Exhibition: You Should Have Heard Just What I Seen curated by Elisabeth Biondi and Thurston Moore, December 31, 2010, KS ART
Events: In conversation with Peter Schjeldahl at the NYPL on December 14, 2010
Book signing at Boomarc (400 Bleecker St) in New York City on December 17, 2010
2011
Eva Prinz relocates to London UK
2012
Thurston Moore relocates to UK
Thurston Moore & Eva Prinz open London office
2014
Record: The Best Day by Thurston Moore (Matador Records) with My Bloody Valentine’s bassist Deb Googe, Sonic Youth’s drummer Steve Shelley, guitarist James Sedwards, and lyricist Radieux Radio
Publication: The Best Day Poems and Lyrics by Thurston Moore and Radieux Radio (Smokeproof Press and Ecstatic Peace Library), letterpressed, signed, and numbered limited edition
Exhibition: William Burroughs: Nova Convention co-curated by Thurston Moore and Eva Prinz at the Red Gallery July 1-13, 2014
2015
Publication: Stereo Sanctity: Lyrics & Poems by Thurston Moore
Event: Launch & signing at OMMU in Greece on April 26, 2015
Record: SUN GIFT EARTH (Songs: Rosetta / 67P Churyumov - Gerasimenko) by Thurston Moore released on cassette on Blank Editions in collaboration with Ecstatic Peace Library
2016
Publication: The Death Archives: Mayhem 1984-94 by Jorn "Necrobutcher" Stubberud (HARDCOVER)
Exhibition: The Death Archives: Mayhem 1984-94 exhibition opening at Tenderbooks in London UK from June 1-30, 2016
Events: Release party at Rough Trade East in London, UK on June 2, 2016
Book launch at Volumes in Chicago, IL, USA on January 23, 2017
Exhibition & reading at Family Books Inc in Los Angeles, CA, USA on February 5, 2017
Reading and book signing at Amoeba in San Francisco, CA, USA on February 6, 2017
Book signing at Armageddon in Boston, MA, USA on February 18, 2017
Book launch with Q&A with Thurston Moore & Jørn ‘Necrobutcher’ Stubberud at Rough Trade, Brooklyn, NY, USA on February 19th, 2017
Exhibition: Rebellion of Joy curated by Thurston Moore at Red Bull Space, Paris on September 23, 2016 until November
Publication: MUSICS (1975–79) by David Toop, Steve Beresford, et al.
2017
Book Fair: Ecstatic Peace Library at the Los Angeles, CA, USA Art Book Fair at MoCA, February 23-27, 2017
Exhibitions: L.A. Art Book Fair MUSICS Book Party, exhibition & concert at The Landing in Los Angeles, CA, USA on February 24, 2017 with concert by Thurston Moore and Carlos Giffoni
Exhibition: William Burroughs Nova Convention. Photographs by James Hamilton. Curated by Thurston Moore and Eva Prinz. Featuring performances by Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith, Philip Glass, Brion Gysin, Frank Zappa, John Cage, and Timothy Leary. Espai d’Art Contemporani de Castello in València, Spain from June 2 until August 27, 2017
MUSICS exhibition at the Red Gallery in London July 7-16, reception on July 6, and a special performance with David Toop and Steve Beresford on July 9 at Rough Trade, East London, UK
MUSICS art and ephemera exhibition curated by Ecstatic Peace Library at Tenderbooks from September 8-30, 2017
2018
Publication: Ecstatic Peace Library publish broadside and present a reading with Sophie Robinson in collaboration with The Stoke Newington Literary Festival on June 2, 2018
Publication: The Death Archives: Mayhem 1984-94 by Jorn "Necrobutcher" Stubberud (PAPERBACK)
Event: Signing at Crypt of the Wizard on October 29, 2018
Fundraiser: Out of the Shadows: Spirits Night 2018 benefitting Manna Society (London Homeless Shelter) hosted by Dr. Pam Hogg featuring CRX, cellist Adi Tal as the Bride of Frankenstein, and trio Thurston Moore, Stephen O’Malley of Sunn O))), and Necrobutcher of The True Mayhem at the Old Church in Stoke Newington UK
Publication: Ripped and Torn: 1976 - 79 The Loudest Punk Fanzine in the UK by Tony Drayton
Event: Ripped & Torn Fest at Rough Trade Nottingham on October 25, 2018 featuring Tony Drayton, Thurston Moore (in-conversation), Big Joanie (live), and CXR (live)
The Daydream Library Series founded to release debut album, SISTAHS by London feminist punk trio Big Joanie
SISTAHS launch party in November 2018
SISTAHS by Big Joanie released on Daydream Library Series
2019
Publication: Luc Ferrari: Complete Works by Brunhild Ferrari, Thurston Moore, Jim O’Rourke, & David Grubbs
Stereo Spasms Festival: Luc Ferrari film program February 7-14, 2019 at Close-Up Cinema
Stereo Spasms Festival: Luc Ferrari music program February 7-14, 2019 at Cafe OTO featuring Tania Chen, David Toop, Jon Leidecker, Thurston Moore, Erikm, Scanner, Xenia Pestova, Steve Beresford Ensemble, Apartment House, Aine O'Dwyer, Graham Lambkin, Ashley Paul, Matana Roberts, Yoni Silver, David Grubbs, Jim O'Rourke, and more
Publication: Flutter Echo: Living Within Sound by David Toop
Event: Flutter Echo Festival at Cafe OTO May 4-6, 2019 featuring Steve Beresford, David Cunningham, Keiko Yamamoto, Thurston Moore, Mandhira de Saram, Mark Sanders, Tony Herrington, Rozemin Keshvani, Akio Suzuki, Aki Onda, Elaine Mitchener, John Butcher, Terry Day, Tania Caroline Chen, Lucie Stepankova, Daniela Cascella, and LCC Student Improvisation Group: Unknown Devices
Publication: Adrian Henri: I Want Everything To Happen! by Catherine Marcangeli, Jarvis Cocker & Byron Coley
Exhibition: Adrian Henri: I Want Everything To Happen! by Catherine Marcangeli
City Poems & City Music exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery April 11-June 9, 2019
Part One, April 11, 2019: Jarvis Cocker, Thurston Moore, Big Joanie, Sophie Robinson, and CA Conrad
Part Two, May 2, 2019: Thurston Moore, Pete Brown, Libby Houston, ODES featuring Ted Milton and Sam Britton, and ESCAPE-ISM,
Part Three, May 23, 2019: Anne Waldman, Fast Speaking Music featuring Ambrose Bye and saxophonist Devin Waldman, and The Thurston Moore Group (with Deb Googe, James Sedwards & Jem Doulton)
Exhibition: The Divergent Gaze – Pico do Refúgio, a Prospective Heritage curated by Miguel von Hafe Pérez at Arquipélago – Centro de Artes Contemporâneas featuring Thurston Moore, Ana Catarina Fragoso, Ana Catarina Pinho, Andrea Santolaya, António Júlio Duarte, Atelier de Lisboa, Carla Cabanas, Cláudia Varejão, Daniel Blaufuks, Duarte Amaral Netto, Graham Gussin, Gustavo Ciríaco, Hun Chung Lee, José Pedro Cortes, João Paulo Serafim, João Valente, Maria Pita Guerreiro e Dion Soethoudt, Luis Bernardo Leite de Ataíde, Luisa Constantina, Miguel Palma, Márcio Vilela, Pedro Vaz, Tito Mouraz, and Valter Ventura. May 1 until June 30, 2019 in the Azores Islands
Music released on Daydream Library Series:
Angeltalk by Katherina Bornefeld is released 21 September 2019
Spirit Counsel by Thurston Moore is released 21 September 2019
Three Graces: Alice Moki Jayne by Thurston Moore
Spring Swells by Thurston Moore
Pollination by Thurston Moore
2020
Exhibition: Boris Vian Centennial, exhibition and concert at 96 Church Street on March 10, 2020. Trumpeter: Jonah Falco
Release Party: Big Joanie "Cranes in Sky" (Third Man Records) single release party and concert on August 15, 2020 at Ecstatic Peace Library record store 1a Bouverie Road, London
Record: Hashish by Thurston Moore is released July 2020 on cannabis leaf shaped picture 7-inch single on Daydream Library Series
Record: By the Fire by Thurston Moore is released September 2020 on Daydream Library Series
Ecstatic Peace Library present a Record Fair on October 18, 2020 at 1a Bouverie Road
2021
Record: XVI by Seafoam Walls released on Daydream Library Series
Record: Lux Perpetua by Xopher Davidson
2022
Publication and exhibition: Minor Disturbance - Exhibition catalogue by Ian MacKaye & Henry Rollins is published by Ecstatic Peace Library on the occasion of the exhibition at Librairie 1909 in Paris, FRANCE.
Summer Record Fair on July 16 and 17, 2022 on Bouverie Road
Exhibition: Linger On: Unseen Portraits of The Velvet Underground by James Hamilton exhibition in The Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel in New York City opens on Sterling Morrison’s birthday August 29–October 3, 2022
Opening Reception August 29 at The Algonquin
Rock n Roll Round Tables at The Algonquin
• September 12 featuring Kyoo Lee and Jamie Nares
• September 19 featuring David Grubbs, John Coletti, Thurston Moore, and Steve Shelley
• September 26 featuring Sampson Starkweather, Katherine Faw, and Richard Hell
• October 3 featuring Ashley D. Escobar and Colson Whitehead
Publication: Linger On: The Velvet Underground by Ignacio Julià
Event: Ignacio Julià, Thurston Moore, James Hamilton & Michael Imperioli: A Conversation on November 19, 2022 at the Miami Book Fair
Record: Back Home by Big Joanie
2023
Linger On NYC launch party at The Algonquin on January 26, 2023 with Ignacio Julià, Thurston Moore, and Lenny Kaye
Linger On London launch at Third Man Recordstore on March 8, 2023 with Ignacio Julià, Thurston Moore, Bobby Gillespie and Deb Googe
Sources
- "Ecstatic Peace Library / Thurston Moore & Eva Prinz - 1 Artworks, Bio & Shows on Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved 29 July 2018.