A major Lawrence Ferlinghetti show, Ferlinghetti For San Francisco opens at the De Young Museum in San Francisco tomorrow (through to March 22nd of next year)
“This exhibition”, the curators write, “explores the artistic practice of one of San Francisco’s most beloved and significant cultural figures: Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919–2021). A poet, activist, publisher, and cofounder of City Lights Bookstore, Ferlinghetti was also an avid painter, draftsman, and printmaker. His work across mediums – often figurative with nautical motifs – frequently combines image and text to delve into themes of isolation, violence, and human resilience. With artworks drawn entirely from our works on paper collection, this exhibition showcases Ferlinghetti’s dynamic work in printmaking, including etching, lithography, and letterpress.”
Read Mauro Aprile Zanetti‘s “Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s Life + Legacy” – here – and “Living Poetry – My Time With Lawrence Ferlinghetti in San Francisco” – here
Hear Ferlinghetti reading “The Changing Light” (San Francisco’s ever-changing light)- here
Kerouac’s Road – The Beat of A Nation, the new Jack Kerouac documentary we noted here a couple of weeks ago, just released a trailer – see here. The film will be available in select American cinemas starting next month.
Also premiering next month Aaron Brookner and Rodrigo Areias‘ new film, Nova 78 – Here’s a clip from the movie, William S. Burroughs delivering his keynote address on December 1st, the first night at New York City’s Entermedia Theatre, during the sold-out, three-day Nova Convention
Speaking of new movies, the Marc Bolan documentary, AngelHeaded Hipster, has at least a glancing relation to Allen – (the phrase is, of course, famously, from “Howl” – “angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night”)
and speaking of rock stars and Zeitgeist, Lana del Ray on her current tour has been continuing to attempt to channel and hommage Allen Ginsberg (her recitation of the opening lines of “Howl” comes here, listen carefully, approximately four minutes in)
Jim Pennington – the first of European Beat Studies Network Fireside Chat Series – see here (and see other informative EBSN podcasts)
Steven Taylor‘s introduction to The Fugs (meeting Ed Sanders – and Tuli Kupferberg) – here
It’s Hunter S Thompson‘s birthday today! Happy Birthday Hunter (he would have been 88!)
and the anniversary too of of the birthdays today of Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and of Allen’s beloved Italian translator, Fernanda Pivano
enjoyable