Late Daniel Johnston is still among the cult favorites with the quirky, lo-fi, prolific pop he created while he was still around, and now, he will be subject of a of a new book and art exhibit. The book, Daniel Johnston: I’m Afraid of What I Might Draw, was put together by Electric Lady Studios general manager and co-owner Lee Foster, and it’s out now via Rizzoli. It features contributions from Lana Del Rey, Phoebe Bridgers, Karen O., Jack Antonoff, Jim Jarmusch, beabadoobee, Dev Hynes, and Raymond Petibon, and sales of it will benefit the Hi, How Are You Project.
At the same time, the art exhibit, Daniel Johnston: I Think, I Draw, I Am, opens on June 7 at Pioneer Works and will be on display through August 12. It’s being billed as the “largest solo presentation” of his work to date, featuring over 300 of his drawings.
Talking about the book, publisher Foster says, “What I came to love about Daniel’s art and music is the impulsiveness and imperfection of it all. He considered his audience, surely, but the work was never overcooked to accommodate anyone. These were his heartfelt feelings, and what is left on the page are Daniel’s simple truths—mistakes and all. He could be precise in his message, but he was never precious in his expression. ‘Better done than perfect,’ as the saying goes.”
Talking about the art exhibition, Dick Johnston, Daniel’s older brother, who also contributed to the book, told New York Times, “He was drawing to entertain himself. He was real and earnest, and these are his moments in time. You get what an experience was for him.”
