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Steve Abbott with The Poetry Forum of Columbus, sent this urgent note today. I am also sad about "Larry's" final closing. More than a campus bar, Larry's was an important, iconic site, part of my background, especially during its heyday during the tumultuous late 60s and early 70s. As he explains below, this sudden closing has caused the Forum to lose it's home of the past 25 years. Got any suggestions or ideas where the forurm can hold public readings? Let us know! - charlie
Friends,
The abrupt closing of Larry’s Bar on December 27, without the courtesy of notice to The Poetry Forum despite over 700 readings over 25 years, has forced us to cancel the series of readings scheduled to begin January 5 as we seek a new location. We have several possibilities that we’re looking into, and some may require shifting to another area of the city and/or to a coffeehouse rather than a bar. So it goes. The line turns.
We hope to have a new home and a revised schedule within 3 weeks. I’ll let you know what’s going on, and please forward this or pass word of our hiatus to friends, acquaintances and other possibly interested parties. (There’s a related story in today’s/Saturday’s/January 3 Columbus Dispatch.)
All of us at The Poetry Forum thank you for your past support and wish you the best for the new year.
for the past few months, steve ben isreal has been sending me a few gems from his vast collection of monologs and poems . There seems to be no pattern there, but every few weeks or months, I receive an email with one or two and little or no other comment. They, of course, speak for themselves.
This last one dates from 1978. Decades ago but it seems like yesterday.
what is common to us all a case of the jones of keeping up with joneses cult is the tip of the culture
ah this collective guilt of knowing what is being done to us by us
where was their individuality asked all the waving flags
and our grandfathers who said, if not me maybe my son grandsons still waiting hiding of clock cloak of worker dreaming that their 10,000 year old class will be abolished
slow death mass suicide mass for those who couldn't keep track of themselves without their main man in the midst of a subverted subverted future which clouds our love
yes there is a crack in the reality going to war suicide going to chemical plant suicide going to revolutionary suicide going to build nuke plant suicide not making a new world suicide not demystifying suicide
audy murphy, remember him uncle sam's no.1 son congressional medal of honor winner who died alone because he couldn't find community
sgt york alvin york who gary cooper made us love gun and sgt york dying of cancer
the same year the new anti war movement shook d.c. the i.r.s. danced around alvin's bed chanting you owe us taxes from the movie of your life humphrey bogart would say "taxes is a protection racket"
dylan don't follow leaders echoes earlier hip chants of how in the original moment the people copped for the king instead of themselves, the self suicide the denial of the self succumbing to the man's plan and believing it to death watch out for disciples baby
the guns creep in the guns creep out shouts the explorer to the new world still how heavy to fall in the new world yes dreams have cracks in the rainbow on the way to becoming human only forward never dies
hey wait nine months next time baby it took 10,000 years to make you baby
from the bottom tip of argentina chile death locks to the top of guyana not so strange deaths some will say it was the howls and screams from nicaraguan argentinean guatemalan chilean and brazilian torture dungeons that made them nuts conspiracy fact can wisdom come from death jones jim something alive must life demands it
This Thursday Raconteur Theatre Company opens Mom and Pop by Jill's fellow teacher at Olentangy High School, Sarah Tobin. Jill directed this piece and we would love to have you all come out to see our hard work come together-- we built a hardware store in the theatre for this one! We still have green in our finger nails from sponge painting. It's at Columbus Dance Theatre, right at the edge of Olde Towne East, so come support an OTE business (Raconteur Theatre) at a Main Street venue!
Hope to see you all soon! Andrew & Jill 410 S. Ohio Ave.
Play Synopsis In 1958, Ed (Sam Blythe) accepted the responsibility of taking over the family hardware store despite his dreams, which would have otherwise lead him to Memphis. Now he has passed the burden of choice to his children—should the three take over the stores or sell them? Gail (Danielle Filas) is determined to sell them, but Luke (JT Walker) is aggressively advocating that the stores stay in the family. This leaves Eda (Molly St. Cyr-Reid) stuck in the middle. Meanwhile, Ed is nowhere to be found to help guide them in their choice. Despite their decision, they are all forced to face one fact: mom and pop stores are a dying breed, and they even find themselves choosing big business over the little guy for convenience.
Mom and Pop runs December 4-20 at Columbus Dance Theatre (592 E. Main St.). Shows are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm and on Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $10-15 at the door or can be purchased for $12 online at http://raconteurtheatre.com/tickets.html -- Keep up with Raconteur Theatre Company at www.raconteurtheatre.com!
“SUPERSTAR” is an exhibition celebrating key figures of the Andy Warhol Factory from the 1960's and early 1970's. With great excitement we bring these artists to Columbus to share their experiences and hear their stories. The “SUPERSTAR” evening will consist of a multimedia exhibition of past and current work, performances, and a sure-to-be lively panel discussion. Please join us to view the work of these Warhol collaborators and celebrate their visit to Columbus.
Holly Woodlawn is a transsexual actor and was a key figure in Warhol's Factory during the early 1970's. Born in Puerto Rico, Woodlawn arrived on the NYC scene and was immortalized in Lou Reed's song Walk On The Wild Side. She starred in Warhol's Women In Revolt and Trash. John Giorno is an actor and poet and the lead in the Warhol film Sleep. Giorno is currently a spoken word poet and AIDS activist in New York City.
Penny Arcade starred in Women In Revolt. She is an avant-garde performance artist, actress and playwright residing in New York City.
Taylor Mead is an actor, painter and poet, an East Village icon as well as long standing Warhol Superstar. Mead participated in Warhol films Taylor Meads Ass, Lonesome Cowboys, Imitation Of Christ, Tarzan And Jane Revisited, Nude Restaurant and Couch. Taylor still acts and performs his poetry, which he will share with us this evening. His most recent theatrical role was in the last scene of the Jim Jarmusch film Coffee And Cigarettes.
I am rerunning this previous item to include "non violent executions" , a new piece sent here just this past week. Steve was an original member of the legendary, seminal Living Theatre. Please search my blog for previous articles about Steve Ben Isreal. -charlie
Award winning actor, performer, social commentator, poet, raconteur, and all-around good guy Steve Ben Israel sent three vignettes below. Steve is often heard delivering wry, relevant commentary on NPR. In this photo, (taken by Fernando Leon) he accepted an Obie award.
I met Steve at an all-night diner in the lower east side of NY city, several years ago, introduced by my long-time friend Stan. We talked, dank coffee, schmoozed, listened to his fabulous tales and enjoyed it enough to consider the evning memorable.
non-violent executions
in the revolution we will execute only the system with a new way of being alive
it won't be necessary to kill people anymore even the torturers the ones who did the dirty work of chasing angels will be allowed to live and build
for they are the dead to be raised and they the dead raised will be profoundest homage to those they have harmed
we will walk naked in the world as the sun gently touches our cocks and cunts humming a tune so beautiful that the dead poets will come in their graves and forever be at peace
steve ben israel
brooklyn
flunked out of high school went back in the summer and passed all 3 subjects amazing, teachers must be nicer in july and august what now,18 years old now what some friends out in k.u. in kansas write me and say come out here and I write them back are you kidding with my grades" they say write them anyhow and I do and they write me back and say are you kidding with your grades but they give me a three month trial period of three credits in english
so I make my way to the land of thank you and come back and there in english I am asked to write a paper on henry david thoreau's walden pond now reading and writing it down was always tough for me and still is, but I do it and hand it in a week later the papers are marked and ready the teacher is holding up two papers in front of the class he says this first paper shows remarkable insight in to walden pond but I am not quite sure what language he wrote it in this other students paper is grammatically perfect but I don¹t know what he read,now the first paper was mine a lot of red on yellow legal and he hands it to me in front of the entire class and I take the heat hoping that the bell is going to ring so I can go out and talk to a tree who I know will tell me I am really ok the bell rings so I make my way to the door and the teacher says steven can I see you for a momment sure and I make my way to the front of the class and the teacher says steven ah are you a foreign student and I say no I am from brooklyn
steve ben israel
not my real uncle
she invited me over to dinner for lisa bauer at her uncles house in west berlin she said he wasn't her real uncle he a berlin police captain hid seven jews in seven different houses along with her mother and brother for four years he provided food medicine and security they were hiding they were hidden they were hidden they were hiding the last day of the war she emerged to the sunlight and then raped by a drunken russian liberator in the midst of her joy and then stabbed in her breast later she became a pianist and teacher and was a bright light in a city with a wall around it I went to her uncles house for dinner along with the others who called him uncle every month he cooked dinner when I met him he said" just call me uncle" now that's an uncle
steve ben israel
star wars 1999
I won't be waiting on line and I don't need any tickets because star wars is playing everywhere, especially on CNN the military home shopping channel and every half hour, James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, says,"this is CNN" and I won't be picking up any action figures to this" new phanto menace"
because I remember April 29,1975 our sons first birthday, and he's asleep and he doesn't know it when suddenly he's awakened by another baby crying 6,000 miles away coming out of the tv because I'm watching the NBC special "the evacuation of Saigon
the next picture was of the parents of the last American soldier to die in that Vietnam war and they were both holding back their tears as the father say's,"my son gave his life for his country" I held our son even closer and realized how precious that moment was
a few years later a friend of mine says,"have you seen the new star wars movie yet?" and I said "not me, pops, the last thing I want to do is see a movie with the word war in it'
but that changed very quickly, when all of a sudden our son said 'daddy, daddy, we have to go see star wars, everybody I know has seen star wars, we have to see star wars" so we went to see star wars. and I actually saw all three of those modern day swashbuckling intergalactic sagas of good guys verses bad guys and, actually the movies played for years on our son's floor I was always avoiding stepping on luke Skywalker, princes laya, Darth Vader,Han solo, Jaba the hut, chubacka the wookie,Yoda r2d2 and cp30. I once spent an hour and a half on my knees trying to find Yoda's cane and screamed out,"I found it, I found it, I found Yoda's cane"
but know our son is twenty five and I think this time, together we are going to skip this phantom menace and go to the peace vigil out the 42nd street library hoping that we are going to be joined by the liberals and the conservatives the democrats and republicans the left and the right because too many parents have cried in this century for the children they have lost
The sad notice below came to me from Harry Farkas.
Sue Urbas was a family friend, a community activist, an idealist, provocative, actively anti-war during the Vietnam era, early Free Press contributor, founding member of the community festival now known as Comfest, and many other things too numerous to mention here. Sue also had one of the friendliest smiles as seen in this photograph I took of her at Comfest 04. We will miss her -charlie
As most of you know our dear friend and sister Sue Urbas passed away last Saturday. I have been contacted by John Urbas and want to pass along the following:
A Memorial Gathering for Sue will be held at the Goodale Park Shelter House on Sunday, November 23, from 5 to 7 PM. Candy Watkins is assisting in organizing the memorial and can be contacted atAfoot765@cs.com.
Still tentative, but likely is a gathering later that evening at Dick's Den. Sue's earthly remains are in the process of cremation, though her spirit soars. An obituary will be published in the newspaper prior to the memorial.
Jodi Kushins has indicated a willingness to record stories about Sue either at this gathering or otherwise. She has also volunteered to assist with Sue's memorabilia. There is also a discussion on the Comfest Organizers Yahoo group regarding a permanent memorial to Sue, possibly at 16th and Waldeck. [Some of this duplicates info already on the Comfest Organizers Yahoo group.]
I am available if anyone requires additional information. I can be contacted athfarkas@wowway.com
Our loss is great, but together we will remember Sue. Please pass this information along to anyone who might not have received it, especially those without email.
Last month I was visiting my friends Alan Fliegel and Studio Stu in Kingston, New York. They introduced me to their friend, Yvonne, a photographer who is currently exhibiting black and white portraits at the 2/20 Gallery, in New York City.
Alan and his wife Lynn, own and run Babytoes, a business of handmade and hand painted kids and adults garments, in Phoenicia, NY. They also are co-owners of The Arts Upstairs, a gallery featuring many NY artists in their monthly, rotating exhibitions. We have featured Babytoes and the Arts Upstairs in this blog previously.
Studio Stu is a jazz virtuoso on the wash-tub bass, who performs regularly in that area of New York state. Friends of this blog have also read about him before.
If you happen to be in New York City anytime this November, check out Yvonne's Gallery show. Learn more about all three of my wonderful creative friends by visiting their websites:
While the polls are about to close on the west coast, I am distracting myself by sending you this message about our fall 2008 concert.
The Columbus Women's Chorus will be performing Traveling Together Sunday, November 23 Trinity Episcopal Church 125 East Broad Street Columbus (southeast corner of Broad and Third Streets).
The silent auction starts at 2:30 PM and The concert begins at 4:00 PM.
We will be joined by WINDSONG (a women's chorus from Cleveland).
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and retirees.
Please mark your calendar for this special show! Thanks!
Chas Ray Krider: Days of Noir, and Kirk Richard Smith: Images from the Storm November 7, 8, 9, 2008 10 - 5 pm November 10 - 16, by appointment 614 327 2793 Opening Reception: Saturday, November 8, 2008, 6-10pm
Here's a new Youtube entry of a recent performance by Steve Ben Israel. Very hilarious. I'm especially grateful for his commitment to "cherrrr…". Don't know what that is? Check out the clip and find out. -charlie
This is the fifth installment of the Radiance series. All photos where taken in various desolate and beautiful places in Ohio, Kentucky, New Mexico and Texas this year. Enjoy the charms of the Fall season and keep in touch!
This documentary by Oscar-nominated, Emmy-winning filmmaker Dorothy Fadiman, narrated by Peter Coyote, is now premiering online. Will the 2008 Presidential Election stolen? The film presents many samples of evidence of questionable vote totals, illegal purging, machine "glitches" and more. If, as many believe, they already stole it twice in a row, why couldn't they do it again? See for yourself? www.stealingamerica.org
This note was sent to me by my friend Babette Gorman. Please note that my sister in law, Sally Fingerett of the Four Bitchin Babes was not included on the poster, but will definitively be a part of this - charlie
Dear Charlie,
Please help us Sing Out the Vote this Wednesday, October 22, at 7 PM, at the Unitarian Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd in Clintonville.
Organizer Holly Near says, "A little tour has become a traveling music festival for change, dedicated to serving the brave people of Ohio. 8 cities and 18 singers will weave in and out as schedule allows. Singing Out the Vote in Columbus are some of our country's finest social change artists. Come get renewed, refueled, and inspired so we all go full tilt to election day. Add your voice to the choir!"
Global Gallery has an additional location and they will have advance ticket sales as well: 3535 North High Street, Clintonville. 614/262-5535.
The flyer is attached but all the text is quoted below, just in case you have a problem with the attachment. I have added website information for each of the artists so you can research them if you like.
SING OUT THE VOTE A Suite for Change
Musicians on tour through Ohio to Sing Out the Vote will present a collage of powerful social change songs written by participating artists, including:
"We come to inspire, heal, motivate, energize; however we can be of use. We want to support the dedicated people of Ohio who are determined to see that there is a fair and representative election this time around." -organizer of Sing Out the Vote, Holly Near
7:00 p.m. October 22, 2008 First Unitarian Church of Columbus in Clintonville 93 West Weisheimer Road Columbus OH 43201
Tickets will be sold at: Global Gallery in the Short North 682 North High Street 614-621-1744
Donations of $10.00 in cash or checks only. Checks should be made out to Holly Near with Sing Out The Vote on the memo line
Sing Out the Vote will be in Athens 7:00 p.m. October 24, 2008 at Arts West, 132 W State Street ******************************
**********
Hope to see you there! Babette Gorman
PS. This is not a benefit for any campaign nor is it sponsored by the Unitarian Church. Funds collected will go towards renting the church and reimbursing the artists, who are donating their time, travel, and backs (sleeping on couches).
Photographer Mark Berger, inspired by the yearly butterfly exhibit at the Columbus Conservatory, sent us the following three images. Enjoy!
-charlie
Green Vein Charaxes
Charaxes are among the fastest flying butterflies in the world, some reach speeds of nearly 40mph! They are nearly impossible to chase on the wing so catchers wait until they are at rest or sunning. Charaxes are highly desirable and they have extraordinary undersides richly designed and colorful.
Typically dwelling in medium and high altitude tropical African forests, members of the species prefer densely wooded areas and often fly high in the tree canopy. Such traits can make the species extremely difficult to catch unless one knows the secret to attracting the elusive butterflies.
Graphium agamemnon is a predominantly green and black tropical butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family. The butterfly is also called Green Spotted Triangle, Tailed Green Jay or the Green Triangle. It is a common, non-threatened species native to India, Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia and into Australia.
Once found primarily close to wooded country where there is a fairly heavy rainfall, the Green Triangle is now very common at low elevations and regularly seen in gardens.
Strong and restless fliers, they are very active butterflies and flutter their wings constantly even when at flowers. They are seldom seen drinking from damp patches
Iv'e been an arts guy for a long time. This blog reflects my interests in that as well as in my community and the world. Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment and/or follow.
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