Charles Bukowski in his De Longpre Bathroom 1970 – Photograph by Sam Cherry

Sam CherryCharles Bukowski (In the De Longpre Street Restroom), 1970/2008 Silver gelatin print on archival fiber based paper 16 x 20 inchesEdition of 12 "We had just come from taking advantage of the beer and all the slices you can eat at Shakey's on Sunset Boulevard."  – Sam Cherry The photographs of Sam Cherry (1913-2009) take the viewer on an historical journey through intimate moments with Charles Bukowski, the 1940s Bohemian scene at The Black Cat Café (San Francisco’s hub for the creative), and Los Angeles’ Skid Row in the 1980s. Cherry was born in 1913 in Philadephia, the son of Russian emigrants who barely escaped persecution in the Ukraine. His father a tailor, dabbled in bootlegging whiskey in their basement. Eventually he was caught and jailed, and the entire family fled to Los Angeles where they lived in poverty for many years in Hollywood.At the age of 16, Sam joined the ranks of thousands of downtrodden men and youth around the country, and hit the rails. He eventually se