[EVENT] Allen Ginsberg: A Man, A Poem, A Festival
For the most part I can’t stand the writing of Allen Ginsberg. The thing is that I really am not a big fan of his poetry.
“Howl” without a doubt is one of the more important bits of poetry produced in America in the 1950’s. Don’t get me wrong he’s an amazing technician and one of the great poets but my adoration of him comes from him as a cultural force cool curator.
I’m a Beat Generation Junkie. A lot of who I am has to do with the inspiration I found in the writings lives of Jack Kerroac, Williams S. Burroughs most of all dear old ‘Uncle Allen’ Ginsberg all we’re secret mentors and role figures since I discovered them in high school.
My interest in Buddhism, writing, creative companions, drugs, travel and most of all my sexual identity was deeply informed by the lives of those we now know as the ‘The Beats.’
Personal pride, intellectual snobbery shame kept me from feeling I could turn to my parents for anything, let alone on being role models. Jack, William Allen with their prolific chronicling of their lives, loves interpersonal dramas were ready stand ins.
Allen Ginsberg is one of most important poets in recent history but I would argue it’s more for what he edited curated in his friends and art of others and not for his writing.
It doesn’t take much time on the internet to discover that man’s influence. The guy helped create the world’s first fully accredited Buddhist University in America and helped foster the careers of many people both directly and through his inspiration.
HOWL! Fest held annually in New York City is one of the more interesting parts of Ginsberg’s legacy and best captures his spirt life long effort to cultivate artists and artistic expression.
Nothing embodies the part of his personality that resonates most deeply with me than this festival it’s varied offerings.
The festival has been annually highlighting the art, music creative efforts of those in and of New York East Village, both geographically spiritually speaking since 2003.
The three day festival brings together a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds in and around Thompkins Square Park for music, dance, theatre and exhibitions of mural art by local artists.
‘Art Around the Park’, the festival’s most visible and high impact happening, wraps the fences facing Avenue A East 6th Street with a 8 foot tall canvas and Individual sections are given to working artists to paint an onsite mural inspired by Howl! the poem, The Festival and New York City free of charge.
Todd Yeager will be unhand to contribute to the 900 foot + street mural and is sure to create images Mr. Ginsberg would write about.
Todd Yeager, unusually known for his inmate photo realistic nude portraits of creatives will be creating a large scale neoclassical portrait which will be kid safe yet keeping with his usually erotically charged style.
The Ghost of Ginsberg understands but would probably prefer one of the artist’s full monty Pans.
Giving a public space for artists to create large scale paintings street side is just one of the ways in which the Festival works to promote local artists. The blank canvas goes up Saturday morning and the artists will begin their work by noon.
My favorite part of Art Around the park is getting to meet new artists in person. The street as studio is a conducive setting for conversation with those creating and a great networking opportunity for the artists.
A festival would not be complete without something for the kids and each year the festival uses part of the park as a kid’s carnival with face painting, balloons animals, crafts and live entertainment provided by Rosie’s Theater Kids.
For those of you with mature tastes and preferences more along with Allen’s own. rising star Go Go Harder, Muse, Model social curator will be performing with The Jackie Factory Nightclub Collective’s annual ‘Low Life’ in an evening of sexy performances.
The collective, which takes it’s name from cultural critic writer Luc Sante’s exploration of turn of the century urban life are also the folks behind ‘Night of a 1000 Stevies’ so expect a raucous good time of cross dressing burlesque fun.
This year’s festival coincides with what of been Allen’s 85th birthday of June 3rd and kicks off with a symphonic group reading of it’s name sake poem lead by Bowery Poetry Club’s Bob Holman on Friday afternoon.
All proceeds raised by the festival will go to support Howl Art’s yearly festival efforts towards funding The Howl Emergency Life Project (H.E.L.P).
Administered through the Actors Fund, H.E.L.P. provides emergency finical support to former Festival participants and those working living in New York City’s East Village LES:
Whose work challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theatre, music, multimedia and the spoken word.
Patty Smith, Lenny Kaye Debbie Harry all lend their glitteratti shine to H.E.L.P.’s advisory board and it’s efforts to help artists in need. In addition to cash grants the project also connects applicants with community resources offers educational workshops on a variety of subjects unique to struggling artists.
Noticeably absent is a screening of Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s 2010 film “Howl!” which starred James Franco as Ginsberg.
While some may see this as a missed opportunity to expose the world to the sleepy little flick I take as clear evidence of the grassroots nature and focus of the festival.
Howl Arts Inc, the festival’s organizers’ mission statement highlight’s it’s tight focus:
“to perpetuate, coordinate and support the arts and creative industries with exhibitions and documentation. We aim to improve the daily lives of artists and members of the creative community and to enhance and create opportunities for artists in the production of their work.”
Even if you are not a huge fan of Ginsberg’s (of his work or life) the festival offers something for everyone and is a tradition deserving of such an important cultural figure and society changing poem.
About Justin Stone-Diaz
When Justin is not correcting people, relatives or online services on what his name is, how to spell it or explaining how hyphens, like bacon can make anything better he spends his time reading, writing pondering media in all it’s forms.
An attendee of Ben Jerry’s Scoop U, Reed College The School of Hard Knocks, Justin Stone-Diaz has contributed to various print, trade technical journals under his or some version of his name.
That’s code for he’s a ghost writer. Wink Wink.
He is one half of the media duo working under the moniker ‘Toonmonk’ and the pixel pusher behind this and many other sites.
An attendee of Ben Jerry’s Scoop U, Reed College The School of Hard Knocks, Justin Stone-Diaz has contributed to various print, trade technical journals under his or some version of his name.
That’s code for he’s a ghost writer. Wink Wink.
He is one half of the media duo working under the moniker ‘Toonmonk’ and the pixel pusher behind this and many other sites.
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