Further evidence of “working on some thing” about Jack Kerouac exhibit in Kobe, Japan 2021 – hardly shocking I know, but hey, here are many “On the Road” etc related items. Plus the typewriter to show I’m serious(ly) slow.
so many Jack Kerouac On the Road items“set” for outro video, swapped out typewriter thoughitems from goat farm, Jerry and Jackyes this is a real passport, repurposed
{What I’m trying to say is}, I keep trying to make/finish my “Kerouac and Kobe” video but keep on make more complicated, I made an *incredibly awesome* static-montage stop-motion animation intro, and recorded a vaguely-loquacious and informational outro but… it’s the middle part – you know, the part that actually matters with interview with Prof Matt Theado – I’m stuck at because requires sitting in front of the computer screen and my goodness, my eyes are kind of shot these days.
Keep on thinking I’ll finish it up but I haven’t so this is me killing time and trying to stoke the stoke to sit at the big screen (yes, I have a monitor that is made for “sensitive eyes” but still…)
Anyway, maybe you can play iSpy (with your little eye)?
Finally going to sneak up to Kobe just before the end of the Jack Kerouac exhibit (aug 3/4/5).
This one went to a dude in Scarborough
Was hoping things would be chiller and I would be healthier and could bounce up to Kyoto for a couple of days while generally absent in overseas tourists but it just doesn’t seem to ever lineup… Seems every time I leave the house, I “crash“ again #mecfs #digression
Anyhow, this is a little round up of dossiers I’ve mailed out to various Kerouac/beat enthusiast, collectors, archivists and generally-kind folks so that professor Matt Theado & colleagues work is amplified to other corners of other continents.
This to a collector and architect in Germany
Of course I love it when folks send me “static montage“ snapshots of the dossiers. As you will notice, along with the Jack Kerouac stuff, also added in different combinations Of my paintings, postcards, various snapshots, occasional goat farm brochures or museum catalogs and as usual, resplendent with stamps, both inky and postal.
Seen here is last year is canceled catalog and this year‘s phoenix
Shared here in slightly obstificated versions to pretend I’m protecting anyone’s privacy or whatever I don’t know.
Look at that, he already has it framed next to some other lovely pieces
If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say “Kerouac in Kobe“ or variations thereof, the short version is: this year, like everything else, it’s complicated ?
Here is a stash which went to a painter in eastern USA (included some postcards of paintings)
Was scheduled for last year with the original s/croll and a bunch of workshops (including mine) and ancillary exhibits but, due to quarantine etc., the “keeper of the scroll” (cool job!) couldn’t come… so this year it’s a painstakingly reproduced digital version of the scroll + there was a symposium a couple of weeks back and a nice collection of books and artifacts and typewriters in display.
Bringing it all back home to the goat farm as a reminder that there’s more information elsewhere in this archive
Loads more about elsewhere in this archive >> worth checking it out and giving them some support if you’re in the area. Runs until August 8.
Anyhow, today is father-in-law‘s birthday and think I’m gonna wear my new Fluevog shoes in celebration and we’ll eat curry & new secret hideout. Big moves all around. Ha ha
Oh and that painter I mentioned above also received one of my paintings from a numbered print run of “Gravelly Beach no. 4, Sakura“ I’ve now shared around the world
“On The Road” – Learn about Jack Kerouac’s classic novel in Kobe
“On The Road” – Learn about Jack Kerouac’s classic novel in Kobe, Japan from July 3 to August 8. This book is the fountainhead of so much what we now call counter culture – breaking out of the illusions of postwar malaise and sparking so much of what we know to be true today about personal expression, practical freedom, and mind expansion.
This exhibit will feature rare and unique editions of Kerouac and contemporaries books, typewriters and a faithful reproduction of the original sc/roll of On the Road as well as a speaker series.
Also: a fantastic guide about On the Road for Japanese readers made by Prof Theado and his classes outlining and explaining much of the unique vocabulary, slang, colloquialisms and cultural references – plus a rundown of Jazz musicians – from the book specifically for Japanese audiences.
Sure hoping all comes together safely and we can celebrate this story together after last year’s event being thwarted by public health concerns.
Like everything, not shockingly, the Jack Kerouac “on the road” sc/roll exhibition in Kobe (what would’ve been the sc/roll’s first time in Asia), and my related storymaking workshop “We are the stories we create“ are cancelled.
Good news is: I have a handy inky “cancelled” stamp to make the poster an accurate souvenir.
Best regards to Professor Matt Theado and his colleagues at the University and museum for all the work that went into this project and also hat tip to the keeper of the artifact, the wonderfully named, Mr. Jim Canary, who would’ve been subject to a two week quarantine amongst other challenges of going forward with this event.
Not a lot of fun but we could’ve delivered him rice balls a few times a day and left them at the door :).
Hopefully, there will be an availability in the future for Mr. Canary and the scroll to make the trip. I had big ideas for my workshop, but not really things that are shareable by video as meant to be hands-on.
The time will come, the time will come.
Patience and time are our allies. I’ll keep sharing the goods from Jack Kerouac and contemporaries in the meanwhile.
Jack Kerouac is/was a mixed-media story maker. Sure mostly noted for novels or poems but also made sketches/drawing, imaginary baseball games, diary, notebooks and indeed paintings. Evidence follows.
Also friendly reminder Jack’s noted artifact – the whole dang sc/roll of On the Road comes to Kobe Japan from end of April ~ end of May and i am helping kick off the bonanza with a special mixed media storymaking workshop on April 29 1400-1600. Will involve scissors, glue and me and you + envelopes and suitcases of mystery and usual assorted hats
Hit the road with Kerouac from New York to Kobe (or something like that)
The legendary sc/roll of “On the Road“ which sparked so many people hitchhiking, train hopping, disappearing on ships — opening their mind, exploring new cultures and traditions and sparking so much counter-culture… from beats, pranksters, hippies, punks, to diy independent everything and freethinking anyone, yes that one / ‘Tis lionized in many songs, remixes, movies, chapbooks, fanzines – the thumbprints are everywhere.
And now you can add to the legend by showing up as this (valuable in every sense) artifact is coming to Asia for the first time ever. Specifically, Kobe Japan from April 25 – May 31 at BB Plaza Museum of Art.
Plus, your old pal (me!) is helping kick things off with a special hands-on, hand-made, do-it-ourselves, story-making workshop on April 29. All ages welcome, just bring a curious mind and be ready to use some scissors and glue and instant camera and typewriters and have some laughs and learning. Continue reading Hit the road with Kerouac – from New York to Kobe (or something like that)→
Workshop: “We Are the Stories We Create” April 29 (Wed.) 14:00 to 16:00 Venue: BB Plaza Museum of Art, Kobe, Japan Capacity: 20 people / Free participation (* Exhibition ticket required) / Advance reservation system / First come first served / Presented in English and Japanese
Blurb: Handmade workshop! Participants create their stories using typewriters, paper, scissors and glue, and explore various ways to share them. Create one booklet together. We work with original materials such as mimeographs and hand-made books shown by instructor Dave.
+++ 会場：BBプラザ美術館 神戸市灘区岩屋中町4-2-7 BBプラザ2F TEL 078-802-9286 シンポジウム「ジャック・ケルアックの『オン・ザ・ロード』の旅：神戸から世界へ」 5月24 日（日）13:00-17:00 （開場 12:30） 会 場：シマブンホール（BBプラザ4F） 定 員：200名 聴講無料（＊展覧会観覧券の提示要）・事前予約制 ・先着順 ・通訳付 講演者： 青山南（作家、翻訳家） 柴田元幸（神戸市外国語大学客員教授、東京大学名誉教授、『MONKEY』責任編集者、翻訳家） ヒラリー・ハラデイ（ビート研究者、前マサチューセッツ大学ローウェル校アメリカン・スタディーズ・ケルアック・センター所長、What’s Your Road, Man?: Critical Essays on Jack Kerouac’s On the Road 編集者） マシュー・セアドー（神戸市外国語大学教授、著作 Understanding Jack Kerouac, The Beats: A Literary Reference） 司 会：難波江仁美（神戸市外国語大学教授）
Kerouac “On the Road” storymaking workshop / in Japanese and English
Workshop: “We Are the Stories We Create”
April 29 (Wed.) 14:00 to 16:00
Venue: BB Plaza Museum of Art, Kobe, Japan
Capacity: 20 people / Free participation (* Exhibition ticket required) / Advance reservation system / First come first served /
Presented in English and Japanese
Blurb:
Handmade workshop! Participants create their stories using typewriters, paper, scissors and glue, and explore various ways to share them. Create one booklet together. We work with original materials such as mimeographs and hand-made books shown by instructor Dave.
Jack Kerouac Alley, San Francisco, 2018 (come here this guy tell beat stories)
Jack Kerouac is well-noted for typing/writing his epic novels of personal discovery against a backdrop of a rapidly changing America on long sc/rolls of paper – to maintain momentum rather than pausing to change sheets among other reasons.
Jack Kerouac examines roll manuscript Note: Obv not my photo, source unknown
There are around 8 of these sc/rolls in existence and all were sold off by the estate managers (rather than archived in museums/libraries) the location of most is unknown… however the most *famous* of the rolls “On the Road” sold for some millions and is now coming for exhibition display to Kobe, Japan at BB Plaza Museum.
Typewriter: Kerouac’s Underwood – Note: Not my photo, source unknown
Of course, Kerouac is a massive influence on my life of hitchhiking, train/ship riding, poetry writing, and finding beauty in the downtrodden and digging into life with vigour and authenticity.
Along with the majestic original tome of a genre-defining and culture-changing book comes a series of events curated by Prof Matt Theado and colleagues at Kobe University [see Kerouac Comes to Japan FB to follow along] including documentary film screening, symposium and more.
Among the line-up is your pal (me) doing a 2 hour hands-on analog workshop about making stories in various formats. I’ll be bringing the old-timey suitcases filled with surprises from the archive and supplies for making new artifacts in real-time.
If you are in Japan, consider coming along – seriously, we’ll have a good time. Not in Japan? Maybe i’ll capture some goodness for ya but if you can spread the word and/or send some vibes, ’tis well-appreciated.
Read on for details of my gig and then more about the event in general… Also, spending time with the roll i suspect will feel like see King Tutankhamun’s death mask (Seattle 1978).
Capacity: 20 people / Free participation (* Exhibition ticket required) / Advance reservation system / First come first served / Presented in English and Japanese
Handmade workshop! Participants create their stories using typewriters, paper, scissors and glue, and explore various ways to share them. Create one booklet together. We work with original materials such as mimeographs and hand-made books shown by instructor Dave. Continue reading “On The Road” to Kobe for Kerouac – scroll exhibit and story workshop→
A rather rough overview originally compiled in advance of friends coming to Okayama for wedding. Re-purposed in slightly more general terms for logistical convenience as needed.
Japan can be intimidating, even for seasoned travellers. You arrive to massive sticker shock, tiny octopi in soup, and 30 kinds of hot canned coffee (which all taste moreorless the same) in ubiquitous vending machines.
Japan is a long country with 80% mountains – covering several climates, from frosty Hokkaido in the north, to tropical Kyushu giving adventurous folks much opportunity to head to the outer provinces for exploration of the heady scenery of this varied archipelago. With some planning, politeness and persistence, combined with a little zen, you can find big adventures.
Indeed, it is easy to get lost in the big cities of Tokyo and Osaka – crowded with skyscrapers and twisted alleys, piled high with screaming neon clubs pumping techno, reggae or karaoke and shops piled with futuristic technological gadgets that won’t make it to North America for another decade – but, far away from the expensive hotels and talking toilets of the huge Pacific metropolis, you may find yourself soaking in alpine hot springs on a starry night, drinking sake with strangers crammed into a mountain hut after a backcountry dinner of rice, seaweed, miso and green tea.
