The Beat Generation
Photographs by Larry Keenan
“I asked…how would you like to shoot some friends of mine?”
— Michael McClure
Collectors Favorites
Some of the most iconic photographs from The Beat Generation
Dylan + Ginsberg
Last Gathering
Bad Company
Keenan Produced by Kurt Hemmer and Co-produced by Tom Knoff.
In 2011, shortly before Larry’s passing, an award wining documentary was released, produced by Kurt Hemmer and co-produced by Tom Knoff. The film was showcased at the Berkeley Film Festival — with Larry in attendance.
“Thanks to Larry Keenan's masterful photography, we are left with a visually potent view of the Beat Generation and beyond. Keenan's photo-documentation is necessary, for it captures many essential moments — of Ginsberg, Whalen, Cassady, Corso, McClure, Dylan, and many others.
Without Keenan's illustration of people and events that have already hooked us deeply, we would no doubt be struggling along empty-eyed, wondering where's the color, the depth, the light, and the angle of the Beats? We know their literature; we know something about their personal biographies. Yet equally (if not more) important is knowing what everything looked like. Keenan has provided us the images. He has provided us the most incredible ocular journey, one that goes wham and hits us with sentiment and longing.
Keenan wasn't just behind the camera; he was and is part of the rich fabric that wraps around several ripples of ‘eras,’ including the Beat Generation.
Keenan has transcended a few decades of American history and created a movie for us that is shot in still-frames, but which is alive and three-dimensional and momentous.”
— Mary Sands
Gift a Print
Give something unique. Each print includes a 5x7 card with Larrys behind the scene blurb, so they’ll know the story behind the print they are receiving.
Professionally Printed in the Bay Area on Canson Infinity Baryta II paper. Larry’s prints have been out of circulation since his passing in 2012 and were made available in late 2020.
Larry’s Story
In 1965, California College of Arts and Crafts student Larry Keenan was asked by his teacher, poet and playwright, Michael McClure if he would like to photograph a group of his friends. Asking McClure who his friends were, Keenan was amazed when he listed names that included Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Bruce Conner, Neal Cassady and Ken Kesey. Keenan had studied the works of these groundbreaking poets, writers and artists, and recognized the significance of this opportunity.
Twenty-one years old, Keenan spent over a year photographing the Beats in their homes and with their family and friends. He began documenting the last days of the Beat Generation with a borrowed 35mm camera using mostly Tri-X film push processed with available light and no tripod. He cleverly made an enlarger from an old slide projector to print his work.
During this time, Larry was living at home, and his parents (who didn't share his respect for the Beats) presented certain obstacles for him, but he continued to persevere. For instance, as he was leaving the house to photograph the McClure, Dylan and Ginsberg, North Beach image for Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album cover, his parents determined he could only borrow the family car to drive to San Francisco after he mowed the lawn of their stately Alameda home. Keenan says, "The entire time I was mowing the lawn, with the loud power mower and gas smell, I was trying to center myself knowing I was about to document some very important events.” On this day he shot ‘The Last Gathering of Beat Poets and Artists at City Lights’ and ‘McClure, Dylan, Ginsberg.’ Ironically, these photographs are some of Keenan's most noted Beat images.
Larry Keenan photographed by Lisa Keenan
Lawrence Ferlinghetti at City Lights Books - Photographed by Larry Keenan