Salt of The Earth: Saving A Press One Book at a Time
[Check out Salt's impressive catalogue: I just bought this book:
I Am You
Anne Tardos
Paperback
2008

I Am You collects three new poems: “The Aim of All Nature Is Beauty,” which Tardos wrote soon after the death or her husband and frequent collaborator Jackson Mac Low; “Letting Go,” a 100-page poem which combines memoir and self-examination in the face of loss, and the 50-page “The Letter: A Bloodbath.”]

Movie Nite (Saturday May 2) at Dixon Place

[for Movie Nite on Friday, May 1 See Nada Gordon's Capsule Reviews on Ululations]

Movie Nite took place this past Saturday evening at Dixon Place. Neo-Benshi by Brandon Downing, David Larsen, Tisa Bryant, Nada Gordon, Gary Sullivan, Eileen Myles, Linh Dinh, Bruce Andrews (with Brandon Downing), Mac McGinnes and Konrad Steiner and Drew Gardner and Risa Puno.

For those of you who have not yet heard about or experienced this relatively new form (already very popular on the West Coast), here poets add their own dialogue, sound effects, comments, sound tracks, etc to already existing films. While the themes, in general, were satiric and parodic send-ups, still, there was much intense poetic ambience to immerse oneself in, as one might expect of a line-up like the one above. There were so many surprising, artistically complex and satisfying, even exhilarating moments throughout the evening that I would love to describe for you, but due to my newness to the form, this might be difficult. But at least I can mention Brandon Downing's (who introduced and organized these presentations) "After Eileen Myles' Hell, Pterodactyl I, The Ship,The Anchor, and Pterodactyl II", David Larsen's stirring, heroic "Paris of Troy", Tisa Bryant's "Inspiration," sizzling B movie noir renditions, Nada Gordon's "Navrang," labyrinthine and operatic Bollywood recitations, Gary Sullivan's "Darby O'Gill and the Little People," Irish giants and midget leprechauns at odds in a magic poetry cave, accompanied by sly, hilarious references to the contemporary poetry scene, Eileen Myles' witty "Satyricon" with handmade original sound effects (at the end she joyfully rolled across the floor), Linh Dinh's "Smooth Life," fatal attractions behind a stack of modern classics (I kept trying to read the titles, while constantly being distracted by the heavy breathing in the movie), Bruce Andrews and Brandon Downing's ' "Gossip Bruce," one liner darts to the tune of endless conversations between two preening, priviliged Upper East Side girl friends (great fun for me as I am a fan of chick lit), McGinnes and Steiner's "Love Before Breakfast: An Interstellar Interlude", with a text by James Schuyler, starring Norma Cole as MOON, Edith Kramer as LAKE LONESOME GAL, David Larsen as CANOE and Roham Shakhani as SPACE, including the moon, stars and ducks in lyrical dialogues, and Drew Gardner and Risa Puno's Untitled piece focussing on violent video game targets, accompanied by a first, a haunting Drew Gardner movie soundtrack.

While academics continue to dispute the number of avant-guard angels that can stand on the head of a pin, the flesh and blood personnel like those who performed so brilliantly at Dixon Place last night will continue to create and perform works that astonish, confound, and provoke their grateful and delighted audiences.


[Comments, corrections or additions from Flarfists or audience members will be gladly published in the comments field].

Rain


Once, a long time ago, Toni and I got caught in a heavy downpour in Central Park. We waited, watched and listened, not saying much, under a huge tree. Eventually the storm passed, but for some reason, the moment stayed. Many years, storms and memories have, since then. come and gone. But this one stayed.

*****

Rain- 140 character version on Babytrotsky

New 140 space Contradicta

Babytrotsky on Twitter

Babytrotsky


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Ciccariello-Recycled Poem

Troubles Swapped for Something Fresh edited by Rupert Loydell, an anthology of manifestoes and antimanifestoes to be published in September, 2009 has just been announced by Salt Publishing. The book will contain 8 of my automatic manifestoes.

My Lunch With Sala

After some of the more personal items were touched on over sandwiches, coffee and Jerome's diet coke with a twist of lemon (health, friends, work and lit life) Jerome and I talked about poetry, the arts and the lives and careers of the younger generations. Finally Jerome revealed he had been publishing on a blog provocatively titled,The Best American Poetry. His ideas about Hegel, Creeley and William Carlos Williams' dictum "no ideas but in things" offers much to think -and talk about further- at our next lunch, which I hope is very soon.

The Flarf/Conceptual reading at the Whitney Friday 4/17 was terrific, fun, a great success, featuring readings by Bok, Goldsmith, Wershler, Rosenfield, Gordon, Mesmer, Mohammad, Sullivan, introduced smartly by the organizer, Conceptual poet/artist Kenny Goldsmth. Hard to believe that each poet read for only 5 minutes, so much happened. Very concentrated thought, laughter, language, verbal and body, quite a charismatic bunch. Goldsmith, bearded in an orange tie, Sullivan in t shirt and suit jacket, Mesmer and Rosenfield, Wershler and Bok dressed to the nines, Nada in a striking cartoony dress she made herself, Mohammad in a costume composed of an astronaut's uniform. Each of the eight offered a thoroughly enjoyable performance of distinctively inspired writing enacted/ framed by a clearly conceived and energetically presented dramatic persona. Much applause for individual poems, much laughter. We will undoubtedly be hearing and seeing more from the flarf/conceptual groups. They were welcomed in a way that telegraphed that they are here to stay. Audience sightings: Susan Bee, Charles Bernstein, Star Black, Katie Degentesh, Jordan Davis, Laura Elrick, Rob Fitterman, Chris Funkhouser, Kristen Gallagher, Drew Gardner, Mitch Highfill, Tan Lin, Sean Killian, Marianne Shaneen, Toni Simon, Stephanie Strickland, Christina Strong, Rodrigo Toscano and many other familiar faces. The room was completely packed, and some stayed until they had to get out of the way of the closing crew. Sorry I couldn't make it to the downtown party later on. Perhaps there will be more about this on other blogs, that of Drew Gardener, Gary Sullivan, Nada Gordon or Sharon Mesmer, let's see.

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flarf vs conceptual poetry: the vids via Nada Gordon's Ululations

Flarf vs Conceptual at the Whitney (via Limetree)

Search Cube

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Nico Vassilakis New York Art Show opens April 16
Rhizome


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Nico Vassilakis reading at the Poetry Project April 24


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Poets and Writers Interview

By Pamela ?oler
(repostiing: original posting 4/1

"We" Follow

twitter: we follow

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Half an hour of browsing led to one twitter worth following
Al Gore

thus:

The Extreme Ice Survey

The Two Bright Doves- Laura Carter

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Jackie Lipton's New Paintings are on exhibit at Corinne Robbins Gallery


147 Atlantic Avenue (between Clinton and Henry Streets) April 16-May 17, 2009

Opening Reception is Thursday, April 16th 6-8pm

Gallery hours are Wed-Sat, 11-6 and Sun 12-5

718.855.1672
Directions: 2,3 or 4,5 to Borough Hall (or R to Court Street), walk down Joralemon Street
into Brooklyn Heights until you come to Clinton Street, then walk on Clinton to
Atlantic Avenue.

Turn right and you are there. Or walk down Court Street To Atlantic Avenue, then on Atlantic
past Clinton Street to 147 Atlantic Avenue.

This Just In from Nico Vassilakis

My first Visual Poetry Show

Runs April 16th – May 9th, 2009

at

AC [Institute Direct] Chapel

547 W. 27th St, 5th Floor, #519-529

Gallery Hours: Wed, Fri. & Sat: 1-6pm, Thurs.: 1-8pm



The opening is on April 16th

Rhizome



Brochure Pdf included



(I’ll be around early evening April 23rd)



&



A Reading at the Poetry Project – April 24th, 10pm

Lawrence Giffin & Nico Vassilakis



thanks for your time,


n

Mira Schor's artist's talk Friday April 10 at Momenta Art

Not In Service (words scribbled on a napkin)

It is no longer even interesting for me to wonder why for such long periods I have grown silent. But I do keep wondering what that silence is saying , because it is clear to me that it is saying something more precise and encompassing that I can now put into words. What is it telling me? Is it telling me that writing does so much more for the reader than it does for the writer? Is it saying that often, with writing I feel that I am painting myself into a corner? Is it murmuring to me that my words are a drop in the bucket, not even that-- a drop in the ocean, in an avalanche, a tidal wave? Is it telling me that the conclusions are mostly I-told-you-sos, been there done that, whatever, anything you can say I can say better? Is it saying that the written or blogged or printed word way too often does not enlighten, but, like a match in an underground cave, momentarily dazzles and then leaves the darkness darker? Is it saying that words are not like notes in a classical symphony, but more like sardonic echoes in an institutional lunchroom?

Interview re: Contradicta in the April issue of Poets and Writers Online

by Pamela D Toler

Contradicta






Perhaps it's not so important whether you will love others or yourself, but whether you will come to love the others in yourself.



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In the end everyone will understand what you meant to say. How you lived is what you meant to say.

Suddenly!

Did You Miss the Buzz at the Mira Schor Opening at Momenta Art?

Too bad, because that was last night, folks. Now you have only until April 20 to go see this not-to-be-missed show.

Also, check out the announcement of two books by Mira Schor that will be out soon, a book of her essays, and she has also edited a selection from the journals and other writings of the important abstract expressionist artist, Jack Tworkov.

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Contradicta





It is much too noisy. I can't hear myself being quiet.




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It is hard to think after trying so hard not to think.



[PS I wrote these after coming home from Mira Schor's opening last night, and only realized just now, that they were very likely inspired by her terrific show!]

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Poetry Project Newsletter Review of Fait Accompli (Factory School, 2007) by Dustin Williamson
is now available as a PDF(Pages 25-27)

Chopin E minor Prelude (#4)


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This just in from Michael Cross (Atticus/Finch):
If you live near NYC, please join us on Tuesday, March 31st at 6:00 pm for the east coast book
launch at ACA Galleries (529 W. 20th St., 5th Floor) as part of Boog City's Renegade Press series,
featuring readings by David Larsen, Judith Goldman, Thom Donovan, Kyle Schlesinger, and music and poetry
by Julian Brolaski.


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New from Nico Vassilakis!

starReduction

Superman by Katie Degentesh/Boog City

Baghdadi Bath