Don wrote: >I also think the collector is a genius because he had previously recognized the genius of Kenneth Patchen, one of my greatest and earliest heroes.(However, I was not in any kind altered state when I first discovered Patchen and I am not certain if one has to be to make such discoveries) They hold a Kenneth Patchen festival every year in, I think, Youngstown, Ohio, about 80 miles Northeast of where I live. I discovered the genius of Kenneth Patchen in 1960 when I first read his poetry at the Lamont undergraduate poetry library and also listened to Patchen's entermedia-like poetry readings to jazz. Patchen is one of the great unsung greats of American art and had a great influence on Ginsberg, Kerouac and subsequent artists including the Fluxus ones.<
Kenneth Patchen is fantastic. Thanks for mentioning him. I still remember how bowled over I was when I first saw Wonderings (only discovered by browsing publications on New Directions)...it's a great book that everyone should read........I'm very keen on most of Patchen's output also love his dedications of "for Miriam". Yes Don he does seem an unsung hero and I don't know why because his stuff is very accessible and must've been read and enjoyed by so many. Don, I agree that the altered state isn't necessary to an appreciation of most cultural output of this high quality. The altered states of mind are normally only beneficial to the sales of mediocre work. That is not to say that altered states do not enhance work that one already enjoys. BTW - speaking of the beats I was reading in the paper at the weekend that there'll be free parties at City Lights (San Francisco) and Shakespeare and Company (Paris) to celebrate 50 years of the shops being in business. The parties will be held simultaneously on 15th August 2002 so something to check out if we're in the area I think. cheers, Sol.
