A spontaneous, obviously-unrehearsed, snack-sized-version piratey bit of “Fairytale of New York” baritone ukulele stylings – with a with fond dedication to the late Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl (with brief appearance by my fan #io just before bathtime)
Dharma Bums Typescript at Sottebys auction as part of “Important Modern Literature from the Library of an American Filmmaker”
Any speculation who;s stash is up for auction? Loads from Kerouac but also James Baldwin, Saul Bellow, Wm S Burroughs, Raymond Carver, Allen Ginsberg, John Cheever, TS Eliot, Wm Faulkner, Ian Fleming, E. Hemingway, A. Huxley, G.G. Marquez, H. Miller, V. Nabakov, E. O’Neil, J. O’Hara, J.D. Salinger (1st edition of Catcher in the Rye… what is this the same edition i have? wtf?), ok i gotta check this out.
Anyone in New York City able to go catch the auction? Lots close on Dec. 8th as i understand… Would make a heck of a Christmas present ?
Anyhow, Dharma Bums has a $240K USD opening bid with $300-500K estimate {my guess is $650K+ USD}
Including: “a green quarter morocco slipcase and chemise.” {best feature!}
Any of you in the area to go document the proceedings? (and say “hallo” to the new custodian)
There are a whole bunch of other Kerouac artifacts up on this auction block including many typed letters including to Allen Ginsberg and other notable characters.
While most items, starting obviously with the original rolled typescript of “Dharma Bums” are a couple $,000 beyond me, can’t help but notice this original Kerouac Postcard from Big Sur which seems like it should *really be* in my kura studio – I mean it hits all of my marks right?
The price is not as eye-watering and the postmark is lovely.
Estimate 1,000 – 2,000 USD
Starting Bid 600 USD
In the spirit of Kintsugi (usually meant for repairing busted ceramic pottery items with gold – and gluey goop but you don’t notice – to “emphasize” the imperfections), i repainted the worn-off top line of the haiku on the postbox at the “Rural Caprine Farm” in gold paint.
Created this functional poetic installation (and the “inexact doppelgänger” on canvas) in 2018, scant days before meeting Ryoko.
As it goes, this might be my most seen piece of art. And not only is it a functioning daily mailbox also – due to the exposure to elements and whatnot – the piece is constantly changing and evolving. Ergo: wabisabi / beauty in decay. Besides many insta-snaps, at least one patron painted the postbox itself.
Continue reading Kintsugi-esque Postbox Haiku refresh – on a Goat Farm Visit
Quick hit to say:
The Allen Ginsberg weekly newsletter of goodness included a gracious name check and link to my round up about the Dharma Bums and other Kerouac artifact auction at Sotheby’s, saying:
Upcoming at auction at Sotheby’s “Important Modern Literature from the Library of an American filmmaker” (one is tempted to ask who, of course), scheduled for next Friday, December the 8th.
“This collection features an impressive assemblage of Jack Kerouac materials”, the auction house notes, “including signed letters, inscribed copies of his novels, and, most notably, the original typescript scroll manuscript of The Dharma Bums“. For a full viewing of the Kerouac items see here
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More on the auction (and the background to the auction) from Dave Olson’s Creative Life Archive – here
The Allen Ginsberg Project: Friday’s Weekly Round-Up – 554
For the record, I added this to the comments:
Continue reading My Dharma riff in Ginsberg newsletter
Things I had planned to do today:
* Clean fans, cover and take to kura + busted lamp
* Same with the straw window shades
* Record another ukulele song or storybook video
What I’m actually going to do:
* stay in bed
* fold laundry
* listen to a hockey game
I have many things to say about:
Continue reading Theme, maybe: best intentions and all of that
Rushed to bus to seitai so now posting a “timestamp” photo to show that I’m at seitai (& my fluffy hair is full of static electricity) Dec. 1, 14:20
My favorite flowers in the seitai office entryway, maybe I forgot to mention but my thoughtful wife bought me similar on the anniversary of my mom’s passing.
Continue reading Diary: always on repeat, bus to seitai, postcards and coffee, ramen with darlingsI’ve done it, left the house for something other than a medical appointment… Heading to get a haircut, bus lets me off right near a sweet shrine so can I go toss in some coins and ring the bell and ask the 80,000 kami for a favor or two
Outfit: The crown/hat was handmade by a generational milliner in Springville Utah / a gift from a legendary artist friend who inscribed the headband with “uncle w33d” and hand written quote from Richard Brautigan. And yes my jacket (I gift from older brother) has a “Dave” name patch on it I added later.
New Year Cards:
Festive/holiday/new year cards ordered.
Next step is ordering the special “national lottery” commemorative new year stamps for domestic (¥63) and a whole bunch of ¥100 stamps for international plus airmail stickers
Continue reading Miscellany: did i forget to tell about hats, barbers, cards & winter clothes?These things don’t necessarily connect yet I keep remembering the importance, yes important, I’ve documenting the beautiful mundane of a life I’m so grateful for, ergo:
This week: no scheduled hospital visits, wife super busy with work, so… trying to catch up, finish a few tasks as well as keep the house rolling as we stumble towards end of year
The “basics” means manage laundry, keep up on dishes, make tea and rice, prepare hot bath, and light a fire as needed.
And if feeling all right (plus get medications, nutrition – my weak point – and oxygen into me) i can do some creative project and/or make a phone call or two.
As for “holidays” this year canceled my usual family and friends Christmas dinner party cause I just don’t got the energy but, we still will be doing new year cards (300), presents for Ichiro of course (he wants a trumpet and/or a bulldozer, not a toy bulldozer, one he can drive around… Not sure which one is less probable), and will decorate a tree, make hot chocolate on the woodstove, sing some songs etc. (One good thing about Christmas in Japan is there’s a lot less expectation around the whole dealio).
Continue reading Reminder: planning, finishing up and do the basicsI love making fires (maybe this is something to do with my Ayurvedic dosha?) the whole process: gathering the wood, making the fire starter, cleaning the ash, setting the wood, and one flick of the lighter and one flick only.
