Tag Archives: simon warner

artifacts assembled by beat scholar Simon Warner from dossier i sent from “Kerouac in Kobe” ephemera

Following all the shenanigans of the Kerouac in Kobe event in 2021 , including:

… i joined up with the International Beat Studies Association – or rather sent them $40 and heard nothing and received nothing so i *guess* i am – or was – a member, so i received the Journal of Beat Studies (with the seemingly-obligatory faux typewriter typeface title on cover) and inside with an article about the Kerouac exhibit including my idea about exploring JK as a “community wrangler” by Prof Matt Theado, who is again featured in the “Kerouac in Kobe” – *On the Road scroll* in Japan / video interview (its all very meta).

Anyhow, there was a snapshot accompanying the article with Prof M. Theado, Kaori Misyashita-Theado – the two of whom were critical catalysts of the exhibit and accompanying conference, along with me and Ryoko Olson snapped by a museum helper in front the exhibjit entrance.

We are identified as “Two friends (and Kerouac fans)”. Duly, archived here as yet another almost delicate brush with anonymous immortality, just out here living beat ya know :)

Libraries / Museums / Archives

“Kerouac in Kobe” in Allen Ginsberg project round-up & Beat Museum + poets of note

October 29, 2022 daveo 1 Comment

Allen’s Estate & Archive

So happy to be included in this fantastic Allen Ginsberg Project news round-up with my Kerouac in Kobe project // catch more goodness via @ginsbergpoem on Twtr &/or Allen Ginsberg on Fb. They do a truly incredible job of archiving, amplifying and curating so much poetic goodness.

(from Allen Ginsberg Archive, round-up} Allen Ginsberg at the April 1973 “Tribute to Jack Kerouac” at Salem State College – for more images from that historic occasion – see here

the Allen Ginsberg Project: Friday’s Weekly Round-Up – 487, excerpts follow:

Kerouac Centennial. In case anybody missed it. Here’s our two-part posting on the legendary (very first) Kerouac Conference, back in 1973 in Salem, Massachusetts – here and here
and next Thursday and Friday, November 3 and 4, The Beat Studies Association in collaboration with Harper College, Palatine, Illinois, will host a Jack Kerouac Centenary Conference with keynote speaker, Ann Charters, and special presentations by Kerouac biographers, Dennis McNally, Holly George-Warren, Kerouac scholars Tim Hunt and Regina Weinreich, and Jim Sampas, executor of the Kerouac Estate
and more Kerouac – Simon Warner interviews Dave Olson on the recent (2021) Kerouac and The Beats exhibition in Kobe, Japan. and more on “Kerouac in Kobe” – see here

I added…

Note: For the all the influences of Japan on the wider Beat community – especially Zen and haiku – this was the first comprehensive exhibit. While centered around Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” typescript, was really reflective of roots and branches of Beats in Japan with loads of ephemera (esp from Kazu-san at http://www.flying-books.com/ including: chapbooks, posters, editions, maps, passports, records from dear Allen as well as Nanao Sakaki, Gary Snyder + Phillip Whalen and others.

Encourage anyone with an interest about this unique viewpoint to dig in to the interview with Prof Matt Theado with loads of riffs and topics and laughs, plus the “Rock and Beat Generation” interview with Simon Warner and even a spontaneous video  from my historic barn studio in provincial Okayama with topics from car crashes to Television (the band not the communications medium) to namechecks for poets Marc Zegans and Ron Whitehead and pods from Ken Bole.

+ I now have Dave Olson “tag space” at Allen Ginsberg project site

Beat Museum chiming in

Righteous words from Jerry Cimino at the Beat Museum (*of course* i have a photo essay and field notes from this stellar museum, currently, literally “On the Road” at my creative life archive), about the “Kerouac in Kobe” interview with Prof Matt Theado and the Rock and Beat Generation newsletter interview with Simon Warner – all discussed in a spontaneous video riff from historic barn studio in provincial Japan with topics ranging from car crashes to podcasts to Television (the band, not communication medium) and many points in between.

Please investigate all of the above and add your sparks to the tinder to keep the creative goodness flowing from these notable poets, scholars and renegades, ergo from Jerry:

My friend Dave Olson is a Canadian living in Japan who sends out periodic riffs on all things Beat. He has a tremendous breadth and depth to his knowledge and his delivery style is authentically engaging. You should check out his page and dig into the work he’s doing – I always learn something from Dave.”
“The Beats aren’t frozen in amber. What these writers wrote about and inspired us to do is go out and live life intentionally and deliberately and full-on and photgraph your tears…”
~ Dave Olson

+ What the Poets are Saying

Poet / creative project advisor Marc Zegans, shared his kind words (adding tinder to the little flame)

Marvelously rich and detailed interview. I was particularly struck by Dave’s account of how he kept adapting his plans to the ever-changing situation with respect to the Kobe exhibition. His laid back adaptations in the moment would, I imagine, make Gary Snyder smile. Also loved the bit about choosing the Red Norvo track for the film. it does resonate strongly as something Sal and Dean might have been listening to in the big old Hudson. Thoroughly enjoyed Dave’s account of his journey to, from, and back to Japan. Wonderful questions Simon, and thoroughly engaging responses.
Marc Zegans via Rock and Beat Generation

Beat Sushi

Rock and the Beat Generation interview (+ usual poets & postal)

Video October 26, 2022 daveo 2 Comments

Quick hits (while pausing music by Neal Casal and next up Television –the band not the communication medium – to talk about Kerouac in Kobe interview in Simon Warner’s “Rock and the Beat Generation” newsletter and encouraging you to sign-up… plus:

* remarks about two inspiring poets: Ron Whitehead & Marc Zegans

* the conundrums/excitement of adding sparks to tinder to help a creative project gain kindling-like momentum

* review of upcoming storytime on “writers read the early sht” with Jason Emde

* a note about my occasional podcast “Postcards from Gravelly Beach” and the machinations of moving feeds from relatively ancient times

* a hint I’m working on a poetry book tentatively titled “a circumnavigation of sorts”

* something about my weird illness ME/CFS and recent articles in the Atlantic and San Francisco Chronicle

+ usual thing about “let me know you’re paying attention and I’ll send you a postcard” maybe

Interview #12: Dave Olson
A Canadian who long went East reveals the ins and outs of a magnificent Kerouac event in Japan forced to dodge the impact of the global pandemic yet which hauled triumph from the jaws of defeat
from Simon Warner “Interview #12: Dave Olson” Rock and Beat Generation

Television and the Beats and DOA and other items

PS I’ll add links to relevant things later / still in the barn listening to records and writing letters. In the meanwhile, you’re clever and I’m confident can figure it out on your own.

Yup, that is a signed *by councillor Joe Keithley and Randy Rampage (rip)* original pressing of DOA’s Hardcore 81 on the wall

Oh links!

Rock and Beat Generation Interview with Simon Warner
Kerouac in Kobe video, dossier etc
Marc Zegans is at: http://www.marczegans.com/
Ron Whitehead is at: https://www.patreon.com/RonWhitehead/posts (amongst other places)
Jerry Cimino and the Beat Museum are at: https://www.kerouac.com/
Ken Bole’s podcast etc are at: https://www.dicksnjanes.ca/ & book is called “Waiting for Now” https://www.blurb.com/b/10510038-waiting-for-now-my-life-in-letters
Casey Bean’s The Bean Pod is at: https://thebeanpod.buzzsprout.com/
Jason Emde’s WRTES pod is at: https://wrtes.buzzsprout.com/
Great article about Television (the band) by Elizabeth Nelson “Lightning Struck Itself: Television’s ‘Marquee Moon’ in Eight Phases“
Stellar article about MECFS from The Atlantic, By Ed Yong:
“… a Reckoning for One of Medicine’s Most Neglected Diseases – Only a couple dozen doctors specialize in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Now their knowledge could be crucial to treating millions more patients”

Since we are here and archiving

Marc Zegans chimed in with:

Another charming, delightful, and thoroughly engaging video from Dave Olson. Really appreciated his warm shout out on behalf of Lyon Street and my work as a creative development advisor and friend to writers and artists of all stripes.

By the way, Dave was very recently interviewed in a fascinating piece by Simon Warner. You can check it out on Simon’s Rock and the Beat Generation series.

Ron Whitehead chimed in with:

Thank you Dave!! I included Richard Hell in the 48-hour non-stop music & poetry NEW ORLEANS INSOMNIACATHON which historian Douglas Brinkley and I produced in August 1996. I introduced Richard to a packed house. Doug and I got a historic marker put up in front of William S. Burroughs home there in Algiers, across the Mississippi River. Burroughs did a phone interview with us, as part of the INSOMNIACATHON. We included many of The Beats. Dave, you’re interview in Simon Warner’s important and fantastic fun Rock and The Beat Generation is excellent! I love your posts! Keep up the great work!!

One more note:

… float up all the poetic boats and gently encourage reader to dig into your works on their terms. I’ve found – in the journey of a creative artist – sometimes the rewards come unexpectedly and are different than originally thought, so whilst waiting, can feel a bit lonely so best make yourself comfortable to enjoy the experience.
dvo

Dave Olson's Creative Life Archive