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photo by Styrous
I had another déjà vu last weekend. This one took me back to the late fifties, early sixties when I hung out in North Beach
drinking coffee and listening to poets and musicians pontificate on the
sorry state of the world; I guess not much has change in that regard,
unfortunately. It reanimated my memories of Michael McClure, Allen Ginsberg, etc.
It was quite an evening. The flashback was sparked by American poet, essayist, and playwright, Carla Harryman, who teaches Creative Writing at Eastern Michigan University and serves on the MFA faculty of the Milton Avery School of the Arts at Bard College. She read from her latest work, Cloud Cantata other works of hers and a letter. Her husband, poet Barrett Watten (brother to Jan Watten) was there to cheer her on. Harryman was accompanied by Jon Raskin, one of the founders of the Rova Saxophone Quartet.
I had time earlier in the day to be able to watch them in rehearsal (link below) as they went over the lines of the works to be presented.
The
event was part of the exhibition, Jingletown Originals now showing at
the Gray Loft Gallery. The closing for it is this Saturday, October 29.
Halloween attire is encouraged.
photos by Styrous®
except where noted
Jan Watten
Jon Raskin & Carla Harryman ~ Cantata
above & below
My first jolt from Raskin was when started playing a jew's harp.
I have loved that instrument since I was a little kid; it always brings
out all those cowboy feelings I had back then. I have heard harps a
bazillion times on recordings and in the movies but to hear one played
live is truly sublime. That "boingy" sound with it's shrill, metallic
reverberation that swirls around your brain with a razor-like painless
precision that is totally subline! You say, "What the hell is he talking
about?" Give it a try.
He played not one concertina but TWO of them at the same time . . .
of course he had to play the sax but not really. He talked through it!
He might have been tired by this time so he played only ONE concertina.
Then there was the completely riveting and beautiful equipment he used!
Jan Watten was able to catch some great shots of the audience as they were entranced by the words, sounds and wonders unfolding before them.
photos by Jan Watten
What more could anyone ask for you ask?
Well . . .
Cloud
Cantata is one of the series of events that happened during the course
of the exhibition, Jingletown Originals (link below) which has it's closing reception this Saturday, October 29, from 3 - 6 PM.
Jingletown Originals is
a group show that features some of the artists who lived and created
art in the first live/work building in Jingletown – as well as others
who live there currently – and celebrates this rich artistic history.
Participating Artists:Suzy Barnard, Daniel Baum, Ruth Boerefijn, Betty Jo Costanzo, Josh Greenberg, Ake Grunditz, Leslie Frierman Grunditz, Kyung Lee, Stacey Mackey, Sue Matthews, Lynn McGeever, Dorie Meister, Susan Parish, Russ Osterweil, Amy Sollins, Michael Stewart, Styrous, Jan Watten, Tom White and Karyn Yandow. Closing Reception is this Saturday, October 29, 3:00 – 6:00 pm
Hours open: Saturdays, 1:00 - 5:00 pmMasks are requested in the gallery.
Gray Loft Gallery
2889 Ford Street, third floor
Oakland, CA 94601
Net link:
Styrous ~ Friday, October 27, 2022
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