Featuring Vali Myers
Books
Literature
Notable Mentions
Last Girl Standing Trina Robbins (2017)
Just Kids Patti Smith (2010)
A Big Life Jenny Kee (2006)
Movies
VALI, 1965 (1 min. clip)
By Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon (formerly Diane Rochlin)
Winner, Documentary Film Category, 1965 Mannheim Film Festival. Available to purchase by contacting Flame Schon: flame.schon@gmail.com
VALI: DEATH IN PORT JACKSON HOTEL, 1971
By Ed van der Elsken
In 1971, Ed van der Elsken travelled to Italy to film Vali in her “savage paradise” Il Porto, the spectacular canyon near Positano, where, amidst the abundant wildlife and animals she finds the inspiration to create her unique works of art.
THE TIGHTROPE DANCER, 1990
By Ruth Cullen
Shot on location at Il Porto, the wild valley on Italy’s Amalfi Coast where Vali has lived with her tribe of animals for over 30 years, in Naples where she dances with Vesuvian Gypsies, and in New York’s landmark Hotel Chelsea. (3 clips)
PAINTED LADY, 2002
By Ruth Cullen
In her follow up to ‘The Tightrope Dancer’, director Ruth Cullen captures Vali at her studio in the heart of Melbourne.
Press / Media
Articles – links
Vali Myers: Australian Artist State Library Victoria
Vali Myers: Teenage Ikon in Street Photograph Sydney Living Museums
Bohemian Rhapsody: Inside New York’s Chelsea Hotel The Guardian
Punks Beatniks Vagabonds: Ed van der Elsken’s World in Pictures The Guardian
Vali Myers, a Muse Ahead of her Time Grazia
Summer Solstice Beauty Looks Worth Stealing Vogue
Bohemian like you: Vali Myers the Witch of Positano Dangerous Minds
Photographing as a Need The New Yorker
An Animal Kingdom CTRL Magazine
Blondie’s Chris Stein Shares His Favorite Artists Vice Magazine
Vali Myers: Having a Moment W Magazine
Photographs of the ‘supreme Beatnik chick’ who inspired Patti Smith Dangerous Minds
The Life and Art of Vali Myers The Age
Revisiting Love on the Left Bank Vanity Fair
In the Mood for Love: Ed van der Elsken’s Love on the Left Bank The Guardian
A Portfolio The Paris Review
Seven Drawings The Paris Review
Articles – PDFs
Ballet for Business Girls The Sun Women’s Magazine, 1947
Lunchtime Ballet The Australasian Post, 1948
Interpretive Dancing The Australasian Post, 1949
Young Dancer’s Poetic Grace The Australasian Post, 1949
Australian in Paris People, 1951
A shipboard Val People, 1951
Why did Roberto leave Paris? Picture Post, 1954
Meet Weekend’s Glamour Ghoul Weekend, 1955
Our Beat Girl The Herald, 1966
Vali Beauty and the Beasts Ms. Magazine, 1976
On the Couch with Chris Beck The Age, 1994
Still Dancing Madison Magazine, 2000
Bohemian priestess dreams of finding the right house for her parting gifts The Age, 2003
Keeping house for Vali The Age, 2003
Vali Myers Garden of Eden Vogue Italia Casa, 2010
Vali Girl Harper’s Bazaar, 2011
Bohemian rhapsody The Age, 2012
Videos
SBS Dateline 1993 interview with Vali
Today Show 1997 interview with Vali
Ooh La La late 1990s interview with Vali
Today Tonight 1995 interview with Vali
SBS Imagine 1993 interview with Vali
SBS 2003 interview with Vali
Vali’s World documentary, directed by Caterine Milinaire, 1984
Vali’s Diary documentary, directed by Caterine Milinaire, 1984
Inside the Digitisation Lab State Library Victoria’s preservation process of some of Vali’s personal items, diaries, and objects, April 2020
Inside the Preservation Studio State Library Victoria’s preservation process of some of Vali’s artwork, diaries, and jewellery, May 2020
Radio
Also of Interest
The State Library of Victoria has two photos of Vali in their archive, taken by Norman Ikin in the 1950s: One, two.
Portrait of Vali National Portrait Gallery
A Friend in a Lift Video interview with Vali’s friend, Dimi
Everything Shines in the Darkness: A video essay about Sheldon & Diane Rochlin’s ‘Vali, the Witch of Positano’.
Letter from Vali to Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon (Diane Rochlin) published in Aspen Magazine #9, The Psychedelic Issue, 1971. Featuring excerpts from an extensive correspondence, all work is by Flame Schon including the photographs, shot at the same time as the ‘Vali’ (1965) film.
Mito Positano Blog ‘The Last Existentialists in the Eden of Positano’ by Luca Vespoli
Witch of Positano a blog and community
Walkers in the City Blog ‘Some Little Notes About Vali’ by Romy Ashby
Walkers in the City Blog ‘Memories of Vali’ by Carole Ramer
Reve a collection inspired by Vali by jeweller, ManiaMania
DOPE, 1968 by Sheldon Rochlin and Flame Schon (formerly Diane Rochlin). A film featuring Vali Myers in a supporting role. Available to purchase by contacting Flame Schon: flame.schon@gmail.com
The Vipers Documentary 1955, by Shinkichi Tajiri. Vali can be seen dancing at the 2.28 mark and again at 5.22
Textile artist, Diane Goldie’s kimono depicting Vali.
