SHIMADA, Tashi. Angels of Light.

(London and Tokyo): Wild Life Press in association with Flying Books, 2015.  First edition.  Set of ten postcards.  17.2cm by 12cm.  The Angels of Light were a free theatre group formed in early 1971 in San Francisco by Hibiscus (aka George Harris Jr), the founding members were a breakout group from The Cockettes and they formed the Angels as a reaction against the perceived commercialisation of The Cockettes.  They gave spectacular free shows in local theatres and performance spaces in both San Francisco and New York gaining a cult following in the process. The free aspect of the performance referred to both the style and absent admission fee, which built on an ideology of communal living, sharing and the eradication of private property. Their shows were spontaneous, loosely scripted fantasy stories set within homemade sets with the group performing in lavish hand crafted costumes. The shows challenged the notions of both gender and sexuality, bending perception and the rules of conformity. Show titles were just as inventive with names like Myth Thing, Flaming Hot Exotica Erotica, Titillating Titresses of de Amazon, Ghoul Diggers of Transylvania and Peking on Acid to name a few.  The tenfull-color postcards featuring previously unpublished performance and behind-the-scenes photos by Tashi Shimada, grandson of Japanese typographic legend Masaomi Shimada and a member of the Angels of Light for a period in the early 1970’s. A very good set housed in a custom sleeve with obi.  Issued in an edition of 125 numbered copies.  Quickly sold out, and now difficult to find.