I am hoping to get time, via the magic of technology, the telephone preferably, with members of Abraham Incorporated, a funk and klezmer band that plays Cal Performances at Zellerbach on Sunday evening November 13, 2011. I had interviewed live on air for KZSU and even jammed with (ok, backing vocals and slapping percussive elements onto the conference table) band members David Krakauer (clarinet) and Josh “Socalled” Dolgin (keyboards) a few years ago, January, 2009, when they were at Jen Bilfield’s Stanford Lively Arts with a Matt Haimovitz-led Messiaen project — although our little session was more about Akoka and Klezmer than classical, as I recall.
Alert “Plastic Alto” readers will recall that I am also perhaps interviewing Josh Roseman, the trombone player leading a session on Jamaican jazz (think Don Drummond) at Stanford the night before, Saturday, November 13. Hey, I wonder if there can be a secret midnight jam session at a neutral location — like a barge floating in the SF Bay — where Abraham Incorporated and Josh Roseman Unit can have a cutting session or work together. It will be a literal bone-a-rama.
I’ve been rocking an old cassette (probably documented and dubbed for me by David Schwartz of Fast Atmosphere) of Mother Hips live at Cubberley Center, January 19, 2001. The document is one of about 40 hours of tapes and cds I have in my vault. The Hips site lists the set list, which is very close to “Green Hills” cd, but also includes a Merle Haggard chestnut, and “Mr. Soul.” Check that it includes “Whiskey River” which is Willie Nelson’s signature song, or one of them, but was actually written by Johnny Bush.
The youtube cite mentions there is a Jay Blakesberg limited edition book out, or was, called “Now We Give It To You.” I met Jay at Brava Theatre where he was selling something he published, about Hunters Point in the 1970s. By Barry Shapiro. I was suggesting that there could be a companion soundtrack. The book is “Dangerously Curious Eye”. And I also now am finding this place to mention that I caught the event at SFMOMA recently that featured Deer Hoof (with whom I talked up Bruce Beasley) and a film about the Black Panthers, including a live conversation between Adam Pendleton and David Hilliard.
I posted this on the Palo Alto Weekly’s website, below Genady Sheyner’s coverage of the October 4, 2011 Historic Resources Board meeting, which included a presentation of a concept (but, according to Board Member Roger Kohler, significantly, NOT an actual application — it was like a trial balloon, perhaps????) regarding 456 University. Kohler told me by phone the next day that the landlord would have to return to the Board with actual plans, and that it was still possible that Council would take up the matter. Although, conversely, city staff member Stephen Turner told me the opposite, that it would not end up before Council.
I am focusing on getting Council traction with this, plus following up with concert industry representatives to check my math on just how well this might work. So far I would say that any progress in that realm has been mitigated by the dissonance on staff about whether this is doable or should they just look hard enough to appease the citizens. Jason Olaine of Yoshi’s (fourth-generation Palo Altan, lives in SF) suggested Uptown Theatre of Napa as possible comparison; also New York Times had blurbs about Michigan Theatre and The Ark, both of Ann Arbor.
And the question has been raised variously in this context about whether the real estate interests have too much of a hold on staff, what they do and how they do it. Meanwhile. for currency sake I am attending the debate on Measure D and E, which I so far have opposed.
I would say one, keep arguing for, asking for, speaking up about advocating something cultural and community-focused — and a conforming historic use — for 456 University Avenue, the historic and beloved Varsity Theatre — until the day that the next generation of 100 carpet-bagging tech geeks actually over-pay their delusional and venture-backed way in, and then, two, continue articulating your disappointment with the narrow-mindedness and cowardice of leadership here– on commission, board and council levels — such that it impacts the 2012 Council election, unseating for example the weakest two pro-developer incumbents and we start to have a swing back towards actual representation — one voter, one vote, not one-million-dollars, one vote, one billion dollars, one thousand votes — and some more residentialists on council.
That Bower for example would resort to demagoguery and jingoism rather than acknowledge our concerns, is pretty typical of the official debate — if that’s not to kind a word — so far. Also, Bernstein cut off Winter Dellenbach after three minutes, rather than the typical five — how is that Democratic? There were a total of four speakers pro-culture or conforming use: she, I, Tim Gray and Herb Burock. They don’t have twenty minutes to hear the people out, they only have twelve? (The developer had about an hour, including staff time).
That being said I am going to try to focus on the benefits of the conforming use — keep the theatre as a theatre — and not bash or complain about the lack of leadership. I’ve heard more often, however, “we are afraid of being sued” and “property rights is more important that the First Amendment and expression and the arts” — which sounds more like Tsarist Russia than Sam Adams and The U.S., than encouragement from our so-called leaders.
On the flip-side and sunny side, Nancy Shepherd introduced me to Chop Keenan; I offered to turn my research over to him if that will help him see the light. We actually shared a moment, regarding our favorite tribe of Indians, so who knows. It definitely does not work, history has shown, to try to alienate him. Also, I met Chip Conley of Joie De Vivre, touring Our Fair City with people from Ideo and he said, off the cuff, that the Varsity Theatre would help his new hotel here, at Casa Olga site, on Hamilton, more than would more office space.
And I took it as a good omen that blink 182, who I had at Cubberley for “Earth Day Rock and Bike — $6 all ages, two for one if you ride your bike ” in April, 1999, were at Shoreline Wednesday. I think with a little luck we will see some rock stars show for this. People I’ve tried to reach so far include Matt Nathanson, Josh Ritter, Brett Dennen and Cake, Chris Isaak. They all have ties to Palo Alto. (also wrote to Henry Rollins via the reply box on his site, plus his publicist Tresa Redburn, who I met once in Austin).
I think Gen did a good job covering above, thanks. I’m going to send my actual speech, it was written and rehearsed, to Council as part of the official record, or you can check it at Media Center site, I think.
I am hopeful that Kohler and Bunnenberg will continue to be assertive here, on behalf of the people. They pointed out that this is being rushed through.
I at first, until Gen set me straight, thought Mr. Bower was quoting his favorite Neil Diamond song not challenging my loyalty or whatever. In reply I will reference Thoreau on Civil Disobedience, and his statements about keeping up the standards of the Founding Fathers, and quote Sam Adams: There is nothing more at this meeting to further our country!!!
(also reminds me that I am meaning to bone up on Autobiography of Henry Adams, especially about “The Dynamo and The Virgin” — Henry is a cousin of Sam, who was a cousin of John Adams, etc.)
edit to add: In the quintessential Errol Morris “Fast Cheap and Out of Control” manner, I am throwing up here two photos of the Orozco murals, a detail of Behrends “Willie Mays” and the scene from Coen Brother’s “Intolerable Cruelty” that shows a minor character frolicking with some comely maidens while fantasizing about The Santa Fe Railroad.
660 or 2 x 2 x 3 x 5 x 11
Orozco's "Ancient Human Sacrifice" at Dartmouth, where Willie Mays got an honorary PhD
capture of "Intolerable Cruelty" by Coen Brothers"Anglo America Hispano" panel by Orozco: I admit this would have worked better with photo of tribute to Juan Marichal
edit to add, two hours later: I just got a call about tabling for the Jeff Adachi Mayoral Campaign tomorrow at Upper Haight farmers’ market so may just have to parlay that into a trip to Yoshi’s SF to see and maybe greet Stanley Jordan…One thing I like about Jeff Adachi, according to Fog City Journal, is that he is endorsed or supported by both Quentin Kopp and Matt Gonzalez (who, not coincidentally, each counseled me when I ran for Palo Alto City Council).
I’ve posted nine times here about the Varsity Theatre, starting on July 22, the day Fox News did a quick segment on this. I have also written about this for Patch Palo Alto, was the source of articles in Daily News and the Palo Alto Weekly, was mentioned (disparagingly) in The Daily Post. I’ve spoken for the record to Palo Alto City Council, which is searchable at Media Center, plus to some commissions. There is an August 1 letter to Council on file.
By the way “Plastic Alto”, the name of this blog series, refers to the white acrylic alto sax played by Ornette Coleman, but also references Silicon Valley and the scene in “The Graduate” where the guy says “Plastics”.
The visual is a screen capture of the Fox News piece. The abstract says “put the weight on me” a The Band and “Last Waltz” reference.
1. Palo Alto’s New Varsity and ‘The Last Picture Waltz’ initiative, published July 22, 2011
The visual is a screen capture from “Ghost Dog” and the abstract continues the reference by quoting or goofing on Public Enemy soundtrack:” lamping lamping cold cold lamping, counting crows on poles, bat and moles all adds up to the New New Varsity, TLPW 456 in Palo Alto. sho nuff ya dig by any means Elliot Ness is near, dearies”. The second visual is the “TLPW456” snipe flyer and there is also a video of Bob Pritchett, my former coach, playing in the Varsity courtyard.
3. TLPW 456 is The Last Picture Waltz 456 University Avenue aka ‘Save The Varsity’, published August 23, 2011
The visual is a picture of the snipe flyer on the door of Bell’s Books — thank you, Faith Bell for your support and insight on this issue. In the comments, which I often use as footnotes, there is the text of Mayor Sid Espinosa’s post on a website panning the idea of a theatre revival. I met with him subsequently and also suggested that ex-Mayor Gary Fazzino might have changed his mind on this as well. (Or I’m at least picturing the two of them sitting around one night watching movies and then having an “AHA!” moment).
4. Matt et Mark, published August 29, 2011. This piece is a fantasia about getting Matt Nathanson to do a benefit for The Varsity, perhaps at Cafe Zoe in Menlo Park. As a promoter I generally do not reveal projects in development, because they have a way of falling through. But it is true that a lot of the musicians I’ve worked with at Cubberley would likely support this, and someone will eventually play here on this topic. (Meanwhile, I am hoping Becky Rogers persists in trying to book a local band benefit for the cause, and hope to aid her). One of the best parts of this project is hearing people describe their fond memories of The Varsity and the subset of musicians who I ask about if they’ve played there. (So far, Hershel Yatovitz wins the award for his stories of hanging out in the alley with his mentor and friend Michael Hedges).
There is no visual but there is a link and an embed to Matt Nathanson performances and the abstract teases Matt (and myself) about how nice and how funny he was back in the day:
Matt Nathanson is the first male column subject whose mention compelled me to check the box “sex” and it is not because he once offered in writing to be my “bitch.” He did say that. We knew he was going places.
5.
The Last Picture Waltz: tragedy or comedy? (Josephine Baker says its alright!), published September 13, 2011
This is a list of more than 100 “dramatis personnae” mostly people I’ve consulted although some of them I am trying to reach or merely are my muse. I’ve started saying I’ve had more than 100 conversations on this topic. The Josephine Baker reference is about my former client Mark “Stew” Stewart and his Broadway show “Passing Strange” (that workshopped at Stanford) and the song about someone giving the main character her keys — it’s about bridging gaps through conversation and humanity, which I felt is obliquely appropriate here. And besides I don’t want to be part of a revolution if I cannot sing or dance along the way.
consortium views arts as engines of recovery, published September 16, 2011
although this is only indirectly about the project and references some of my research efforts, like going to Berkeley to meet briefly with Steve Baker of Freight and Salvage (before and after a Country Joe McDonald tribute to Woody Guthrie, food for thought for bombs)
This does not say much about the Save The Varsity project – and actually talks more about The MacArthur Grants and Ann Packer than it does about Lisen’s author series, Peninsula Parlour but it references the true fact that there are a lot of groups, organizations and presenters who might benefit from having a place like 456 to play. Like Palo Alto International Film Festival, West Bay Opera, the “Youth Collaborative”/”Project Safety Net”/teen center supporters and more.
The visual is a bad photo of the otherwise very photogenic Stromberg and her guest, and the abstract makes some strange reference to their hair, and hummous.
This re-cap has gone on about 1,000 words so here might be a good place for a musical interlude featuring Cake’s “Mr. Mastodon Farm” performed here at the home studio of my favorite email provider and content people, but I have to mention here that they played this song for Earthwise Productions and The Palo Alto Soundcheck 12 years prior, in 1995.
8.
New New Varsity Revival blog on WordPress, published September 23, 2011
This is actually a verbatim reprint of Tasha Brooks post somewhere that also ran as a guest column in Palo Alto Weekly website. In the comments/footnotes section I paste in my post on Palo Alto Weekly that is coverage of the public hearing yesterday at HRB. I like that I found then thought to use the Sam Adams line “This meeting does nothing to further our country” which references the activists who stormed The Dartmouth (before all that was termed “The Boston Tea Party”, the name came later). I am also, similarly, trying to mine Henry David Thoreau on “civil disobedience” especially about his disappointment in the leadership of his times.
9. The ninth post is actually one that I’ve pulled from the page, about comments Nancy Shepherd made from the dias, to which I reacted harshly. I pulled it because I want to focus on the benefits of the project and not frustration with council, commissioners or board members. But to address the point, let us not confuse lack of a political will with the legality of our leaders playing a role her, being pro-active, engaging the landlord, being creative, being courageous, stepping up to the plate and more. I chose the word “intervene” in my August 1, 2011 letter to Council because Deval Patrick used that word in his book, I flipped through at, of all places, Borders (you know, at 456 University). One of my college friends, Ben Clements, was Patrick’s chief legislative aid so I hope to get the chance for Ben to chime in here about government “intervention” and it’s legality. I had the opportunity and honor to mention Ben to William B. Gould last night at Stanford Bookstore, where the former NLRB chair was discussing his book on baseball and labor history — Curt Flood and all that — He and his old friend a Mr. Novack I believe were classmates at Cornell Law, where Ben was once the ace of his class. (I also mentioned that I am NO on D).
Of course, and now I am really off topic, of a digest, and more towards fresh ground, although it was mentioned elsewhere, one of my moments was when Nancy Shepherd introduced me to Chop Keenan, the owner of 456 University Avenue, and generally thought of as the villain of this story, and we had a moment seeming to connect over our favorite Indian tribe. He offered that his son, like his partnering investor in The Varsity, Mark Gates, is like me, a Dartmouth alum. I said, “Maybe the Dartmouth community here can buy you out or partner with you.” Wah-hoo-wah.
I am meaning to write another re-cap or a second letter to the editor, focusing and recasting, hopefully with updates from industry sources, and from Tommy Fehrenbach’s notes, if they can be public, on the prospects and benefits of a cultural or multi-use project. Also, there were some talk of both PAIFF and Gryphon getting the word out to their followers. I talked to Roger Kohler today who said the proposal for office space presented yesterday was in such a vague form, changed to a “concept” from I think “project” that there is indeed time for public comment and perhaps most significantly the possibility that Council will bring this to their agenda and purview.
I loved the film “Page One” and hope to see it screened again in Bay Area soon, perhaps with Dartmouth Club. I was only slightly disappointed that my two favorite Timesmen, Yardley and Steinberg, were not among those interviewed –although David Carr was sure a star. (There are 1,200 newsroom people so the odds of talking to my guys was slim). But then a quantum of solace in seeing Jacques Steinberg today on Craig Ferguson show talking about his “Iron man” book– I wrote a story on Iron Man for the Worcester Telegram in 1985, will have to suss out the clip.
I would state that “Page One” as befits its subject features exceptional reporting on wikileaks, the dimunition of the fourth estate, New York and more. David Carr is a star. Kudos and hearty “wah-hoo-wahs” for Kate Novack, Andrew Rossi and their crack team!
I also texted to her email address Ms. Novack directly after show to say “LOVED IT” ditto to James Von Rittman of the local Dartmouth Club who is considering hosting a screening.
—– Forwarded Message —–
From: mark weiss
To: “bradkava@aol.com”
Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 9:29 AM
Subject: Fw: Fwd: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
nice chatting with you. see you soon. mark
—– Forwarded Message —–
From: mark weiss
To: jay thorwaldsen
Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 9:09 AM
Subject: Fw: Fwd: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
—– Forwarded Message —–
From: mark weiss
To: Ztiburon
Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 9:06 AM
Subject: Fw: Fwd: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
This is my interview with Kate Novack, the co-director, with her husband Andrew Rossi. Terri and I are attending the screening this a.m., even if no one else from my invite list is able to make it. I am also a driver for filmmaker Chris Paine who’s work about electric cars shows tonight. The first Palo Alto International Film Festival has been worthwhile supporting, as volunteer and patron.
Mark
—– Forwarded Message —–
From: “eknovack@aol.com”
To: mark weiss
Sent: Saturday, October 1, 2011 5:06 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
1) Do you mind if I read from this verbatim, if I end up being the one who introduces the film?
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FINE!
2) Where you aware of the Dartmouth connection at the Times? Did you interface with any of the alumni there? (for example, David Shipler is a Dartmouth trustee, and was a writer there for a while).
I WASN’T. THE NUMBER OF TIMES CONNECTIONS I’ve encountered along the way is uncanny though. We were in Martha’s Vineyard recently for a screening and panel and one of the local papers there was once published by Scotty Reston.
3) Did you see like or were aware of the Bill Cunningham film?
I SAW IT at New Directors in NY and thought it was such a moving portrait of an artist. I’ve also been a fan of Bill Cunningham’s work for a long time.
4) Do you know Ricki Stern the ’88 who made the film about Joan Rivers — it seems like she made a special deal to get access to Joan.
I don’t know Ricki, although we have been at film festivals together and I’ve met her. And I don’t know the details of their access to Joan Rivers. (By the way, I thought Joan Rivers was a compelling story about women aging and what that means in the world we live in.) It’s worth mentioning here that for Page One, the Times had no editorial control over the film and no financial interest in it. We just agreed to respect off the record sources and uphold the same standards of journalism as the paper.
5) Was Mark Decker at Dartmouth — he is a documentary maker and teacher — when you were there, or did you study film at Dartmouth? Were you, even for one byline, on the D or other student press?
I did study film. I sort of unofficially minored in film and took a handful of film studies courses there and took filmmaking in my senior year, where we shot a short narrative feature on 16mm and then cut it on film, which was unforgettable and stays with me even as we now use Final Cut. I remember we opened with a Rolling Stones song–something only college students and Scorsese have the luxury of doing. It was a revelatory course for me though. I also co-directed a short on Generation X. The Douglas Coupland book was very hot then!
Let me know what happens with the screening. And thanks for your support on the film! We may screen at one of the San Fran area schools later in the fall–I will let you know.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: mark weiss
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:37:19 -0700 (PDT)
To: eknovack@aol.com
ReplyTo: mark weiss
Subject: Re: Fwd: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
Hi, Kate.
Thanks for responding. You are obviously very busy.
1) Do you mind if I read from this verbatim, if I end up being the one who introduces the film?
2) Where you aware of the Dartmouth connection at the Times? Did you interface with any of the alumni there? (for example, David Shipler is a Dartmouth trustee, and was a writer there for a while).
3) Did you see like or were aware of the Bill Cunningham film?
4) Do you know Ricki Stern the ’88 who made the film about Joan Rivers — it seems like she made a special deal to get access to Joan.
5) Was Mark Decker at Dartmouth — he is a documentary maker and teacher — when you were there, or did you study film at Dartmouth? Were you, even for one byline, on the D or other student press?
My best friend — I was best man in this wedding, we talk at least weekly — is a physician neuropathologist in Illinois –Dr. Brian E. Moore ’86 — who I met at the D freshman winter and was a film major and made a doc about ROTC coming back to Dartmouth but then went on to med school, despite the fact that I bought him Les Blank’s film about Errol Morris called “Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe”
If you ever do a screening in Springfield maybe he and his crew will support the event as I am doing here — or I’ll fly to Springy to support such.
Mark Weiss
Earthwise Productions of Palo Alto
closest I actually got to the Times was when we had a reunion of D staff at Becco’s in New York which Jack Steinberg
My former The Dartmouth trainee and now Timesman Jacques Steinberg on the Craig Ferguson Show
said was a hangout for the Times, at the old buildings — what has happened to the old building?
Also, is it fair that the reviewer of your film for the Times said your work was more about the building than the people?
From: “eknovack@aol.com”
To: earwopa@yahoo.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 12:18 PM
Subject: Fwd: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
Hi Mark,
Thanks for writing.
Not sure what would be most helpful but here is one question we always get when we screen the film: Why did the New York Times let you in?
When we came up with the idea for Page One (inspired in part, as I read you were, by the Kingdom and the Power) it was not at all clear that we’d be let inside. The newspaper business was in bad shape, newsroom morale was low (or, as Bill Keller describes the mood in the newsroom at that time: “funereal”) and, on top of that, the paper had just suffered the utter embarrassment of a piece on the Daily Show (which if you haven’t seen you should check out).
Andrew Rossi, the director (who’s also my husband), ran the idea for a movie on the Times’ media desk by David Carr, the Times’ media columnist who would eventually become one of the stars of Page One. We’d met David at a film festival while promoting A Table In Heaven, our previous film about the New York City restaurant Le Cirque. David said he was a qualified yes. “Go talk to my bosses,” he’d told Andrew, thinking there was no way in hell the editors would let in the cameras.
It took about six months of meetings with editors and writers but eventually we got the go ahead. Ultimately it was Bill Keller, the former executive editor, who made the decision. “I’m proud of my journalists,” he said, “and I want the world to see them.”
Hope that helps. If there’s anything specific you want to know, feel free to shoot me an email at eknovack@aol.com.
Thanks again–
Kate
P.S. We’re actually screening the film in Hanover in November…
—–Original Message—–
From: andrewrossi@ymail.com
To: Kate Novack
Sent: Tue, Sep 27, 2011 8:04 pm
Subject: Fw: kate novack and page one in palo alto
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryFrom: mark weiss <earwopa@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:50:50 -0700 (PDT)
To: nastasya@mrc-pr.com<nastasya@mrc-pr.com>
ReplyTo: mark weiss <earwopa@yahoo.com>
Cc: andrew@eatthisnewyork.com<andrew@eatthisnewyork.com>
Subject: kate novack and page one in palo alto
To Kate Novack ’94 via Nastasya:
Hi, Kate. Happy to notice in recent alumni magazine just read this a.m. that a Dartmouth grad (and her husband) produced “Page One” in that I am trying to bring a group (bought ten tickects at group rate), preview for my blog “Plastic Alto” at wordpress, and perhaps may end up introducing the screening Saturday at 11 a.m. at Palo Alto International Film festival.
I was going to write about having trained two Timesmen during my student press days. Jim Yardley, James Barrett Yardley, whose father Jonathan Yardley was the very first intern to James Barrett “Scotty” Reston, attended my high school here for one year in 1981, played football, when his mother Rosemary, was a Knight Fellow at Stanford, but when we heard his lineage we conscripted him for his first byline at the Gunn High Oracle. Then, of course, there is Jack Jacques Steinberg of the Times who was a freshman reporter for The Dartmouth when I was an editor there working with new reporters. It’s also true that someone who from ages 13 to 18 played at, worked at and sometimes promoted — like an intern — my concert series, Rachel Metz, a Cal grad, freelanced for the Times recently — mostly crime stories it seemed, and is an AP tech writer. Jim Newton was my editor at Dartmouth, a former Reston intern (I think Steinberg was as well), and is now LA Times editorial page editor. I think I met one or two other Dartmouth Timesmen over the years.
Just wanted to say “Hey” and if you had a chance to write me back and could offer a few words for either,as I said, my blog, my breakfast (I am actually trying to comp my high school journalism staff from 1980-1982) or my potential introduction to the screening itself, cool.
Here is something I wrote about “Bill Cunningham”.
Mark Weiss (Dartmouth ’86)
Palo Alto, CA
(650) 305-xxxx
also hoping to reach Jim Yardley in India re his thoughts on Palo Alto salad days or your film
edit to add, oct. 6: I loved the film “Page One” and hope to see it screened again in Bay Area soon, perhaps with Dartmouth club. I was slightly disappointed that my two favorite Timesmen, Yardley and Steinberg, were not among those interviewed –although David Carr was sure a star. (There are 1,200 newsroom people so the odds of talking to my guys was slim). But then solace in seeing Jacques Steinberg today on Craig Ferguson show talking about his “Iron man” book– I wrote a story on Iron Man for the Worcester Telegram in 1985.
I would state that “Page One” as befits its subject features exceptional reporting on wikileaks, the dimunition of the fourth estate, New York and more. David Carr is a star. Kudos and hearty “wah-hoo-wahs” for Kate Novack, Andrew Rossi and their crack team!
NB: the Ruby Show was produced by my high school newspaper humor columnist Marsh McCall, who also played in a band I booked once called Marsh and The Mellows I mean Standard Procedure.
PAIFF founder Devi Kamdar rocked not one but two red dresses at her fete
detail of Orozco mural at Dartmouth, “Hispano-America”
My mom recently had given me a medal that belonged to her father, Henry. It was from the Rochester, New York Veterans committee honoring “Popsie’s” role in serving his country — our country — in World War I. Henry died in 1974 at the age of 80 or so, so would have been in his early twenties during the First War. I don’t recall him talking about his service much accept he may have said that he learned he was allergic to penicillin during that time and that he turned bright red and they thought it might be scarlet fever.
When the house I was renting on Chimalus Avenue in Palo Alto — in Barron Park — was burglarized in February, 2008 — Friday, February 1, 2008 to be exact –among the items pilfered was Henry’s medal. (The chief loss was of a binder of rare baseball cards, from 1884 to 1962 or so, mostly Topps late fifties superstars –Aaron, Mays, Koufax — but also tobacco cards and gum cards including those featuring Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, Mordecai Three Finger Brown and Lou Gehrig — a 1934 Goudy “Lou Gehrig Says” Gehrig — I bought for $35 at a card show when I was about 11 and supposedly worth $3,000 now — that I had pledged to sell off in part and donate some of the proceeds to a fund for a deceased former athlete — The Danny McCallister Fund — but I digress).
I am also thinking of a picture of Patti Smith that ran recently in New York Times Magazine that showed her with a bunch of medals she must have picked up at second hand shops. I am thinking of Antiques Roadshow, as well. Or Harry Hillman’s three Olympic Gold medals from the 1904 St. Louis games (and Worlds Fair) that are hanging outside the track and field coach’s office at Dartmouth — a five minute walk from the Orozco Mural. (I did not see them in June, 2011, my 25th reunion but saw them and shot them in November, 2009, in town for a funeral, a different funeral.)
The Patti Smith medals photo does not suss up easily; but I did find here that her National Book Award for “Just Kids” included a medal.
I was going to write about Orozco vis a vis my newfound interest in public art and murals — here in Palo Alto we have Joey Piziali, David Huffman, Mohammed Soumeh and plenty of Greg Brown — but flashed to the medals instead. I think Orozco’s intention in this detail was actually critical of the militarized new hemisphere not reverential. Also, I am not sure the significance of writing about art, Orozco, Dartmouth, WWI, medals, the fallen or capitalism is on Rosh HaShanah. I know that Yom Kippur is next Friday night and Saturday day and I doubt I will be posting a blog during that window. I also know that Henry’s yartzeit — honoring the anniversary of his death — is coming up in October and we occassionally attend synogogue for that, and I have a meeting coming up with Rabbi Janet Marder of Beth Am to discuss the benefits of a unmarried person re-joining the congregation. Also, on this Jewish theme –for Rosh HaShana — I did recently speak with the administrator of a synagogue in Chicago — KAM Israel — that holds a Judaica collection donated by my other grandfather, my namesake Mort Weiss, “Pop-pop Mort”, that needs some tending to, in the development sense.
Not sure why I waited five weeks to post my photos of Santa Fe Indian Market and then chose to do so while watching the Redskins-Cowboys Monday Night Football. Maybe it has something to do with watching Jacob Ellsbury (Navaho) of the Red Sox blast a home run yesterday.
1.
Jody Naranjo pot with horses
This is not from our trips to Santa Fe in August but relates to my previous post about meeting the Santa Clara potter Jody Naranjo and reaching a handshake deal with her to produce a band or label under the name The Pueblo Girls. This photo is of another Jody Naranjo pot that I saw in a private collection.
2. Virginia Lowden is an Acoma potter who entered our pantheon because my sister Linda found one of her pots at a garage sale in San Carlos, Calif. I met Virginia, told her that tale, then bought one of her owl figurines which may or may not end up as holiday gift for my sis.
3.
Andrea Fisher figure by Virgil Ortiz
Andrea Fisher is a Berkeley art grad who studied sculpture with Peter Voulkos then moved to Santa Fe to open the only pottery-only gallery there. As a tribute the great Cochiti potter and conceptual artist Virgil Ortiz made this effigy or figurine or storyteller of Andrea, in leather — reminds me now tripped out Terry and I were yesterday at Caffe Della Stella in SF noticing what I realized later were people in leather thongs coming home from Folsome Street fair.
4.
Jacob Koopee circa 1996
Derek Fisher, not the Lakers’ guard but the somewhat tall son of Andrea Fisher had just returned to town with a consignment that included this piece created by the recently deceased Hopi potter Jacob Koopee. A private collector snatched it up pronto as I eavesdropped from behind the curtains a la Polonius.
5. Andrea Fisher had a special show featuring three generations of the famous San Ildefonso family of potters including Maria Martinez, Popovi Da and Tony Da. I took special notice of these two works, a plate by Maria and a small red sgraffito (incised) bowl by Tony.
Maria Martinez plate
Tony Da seed jar
6. Terry Allen is from Lubbock and lives in Santa Fe although Terry Davis and I met him in San Francisco a few weeks after our trip south-by-southeast. We got a tour of Jack Lemmon’s Landfall Press in Santa Fe and were shown some of the work that the singer, songwriter and conceptual artist did there. Then coming back from the Deerhoof show at SFMOMA, I noticed this 1993 sculpture by Terry Allen at Yerba Buena Gardens called Shaking Man.
Terry Allen sculpture detail San Francisco
7. and 8. This is more Santa Fe bohemia in general than pueblo, but I met this busking duo, Anna Edge of Western Mass. and now Willamette I think she said, on guitar and vocals, and her pal, Zazie Tobey (Anna-Zazi?) doing bare-foot interpretive dance, who said she is a student at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina (where James Franco went, I just gleaned). I tried to be a schmoozer and line up Anna with Eugene’s troubadour the former Box of Rain resident David Jacobs Strain, by voice mail.
Zazie Tobey
Anna Edge
Anna Edge promised to come to Palo Alto for the International Congress of Buskers of Palo Alto (ICOBOPA) so I better save her email address (“Yo, China Cat Sun Flower check twelve five what is this?”).
9. Seeing Cracker at Santa Fe Plaza was one of the highlights of my trip. I briefly meet-and-greeted with David Lowery after the show, name-checking Enorchestra and Santa Cruz. I wanted to trek to Los Alamos to see Carolyn Wonderland but got voted down.
10.
sky near albuquerque
This is kinda generic, but what a great sky, on way to Albuquerque.
11. My parents Paul and Barbara Weiss and I visited Wheelwright Museum and I snapped this shot of them next to an Allan Houser.edit to add, Oct. 11, 2011: My mom and I took another peek at the Picasso show at De Young in SF on Sunday, but also stopped by to check on the mini’s donated as part of the promised gift of Paul E. and Barbara Weiss Pottery Collection. Here I catch her pondering in front of a Susan Folwell (Santa Clara) and something Hopi, one of the Nampeyo’s (of which there are five in the collection, generations of Nampeyo).
I woke up this morning with a dream that Sedge Thomson’s West Coast Live show was soundchecking nearby and I could throw on my clothes and attend the live taping. Actually, Sedge and Sylvia Brownrigg, his beautiful wife, 2/3 baby-mom to his brood, Gunn graduate and little sister to Burlingame council member Michael Brownrigg, are on vacation so his show is a repeat. In honor of that, I am running a “best of” column with excerpts from some of my previous 151 (like the rum proof) posts. I am quoting from the nine posts that mention my sweetie, the visual artist, arts administrator and all-around goddess Terry Acebo Davis.
In this post, which includes a picture of us with our favorite Santa Fe arts couple, Mateo Romero and Melissa Talachy, I describe our travels in the Southwest, and sundry other arts topics.
Mateo Romero, Mark Weiss, Terry Acebo Davis, Melissa Talachy Romero
It actually talks about Matt Gonzalez and Alden Van Buskirk as much it does Terry but it’s also true that so much of my view on the visual arts is catalyzed by my relationship with Terry, who I’ve been dating since summer, 2009. I also link to her semi-recent show at Triton.
Then around New Year’s 2011 I posted a brief entry that was mainly a picture I snapped of her with my cell as we were going to Santa Fe for the holidays, plus some links to another of her shows, plus some random Flip-related links
Terry Acebo Davis on flight to or from San Jose or Albuquerque, Dec., 2010
. All and all, this blog is probably the best source for info on Terry Acebo Davis. Most of her considerable arts output predates the internet era, which is also probably true of Earthwise Productions and “The Cubberley Sessions.”
3. “Terry Acebo Davis backlit New Year’s Santa Fe flight” from 2/23/11
Next, from Spring, 2011, is actually a verbatim re-pasting of my cover letter and query to become a contributor to Patch Palo Alto but I had shot its editor Aaron Selverston
Aaron Selverston, editor of the new local media outlet Patch.com, a part of AOL, interviews sculptor James Moore and PAPAC commissioner Terry Acebo Davis on Earth Day, April 22, 2011 at the Bill Bliss Memorial installation in Palo Alto, Calif.
speaking to Terry and artist James Moore at the Earth Day event at Baylands.
(note to self, as if my blog is anything beyond a note to self, maybe I can re-post some of these photos in thumbnail here)
talk among yourselves until i get back to edit to add
edit to add, Saturday, September 24, 2011, noonish: Terry and I paid a visit to the Farmers’ Market. Highlights include: seeing our favorite plumber/drummer sitting in the Naomi and Friends klezmer, explaining or correcting someone who confused the terms “clave” and “klezmer”, seeing Alexandra Ippolite, her husband and babygirl Paige, and her upping my group discount to “Page One” group viewing on Saturday, October 1 at 11:00 a.m. part of Palo Alto International Film Festival; spotting ex-49ers lineman Harris Barton, who I secretly stalk, and watching him order four plates from Oaxaca Kitchen, presumably to share with his family; buying a croissant afterwards from the new Kim family Paris Baguette bakery at Uni and Waverley. Terry is off to try to salvage old bowling pins from the former Fiesta Lanes while I am back to blogsville.
5. “Terry Acebo Davis as virtual open studio installation” from 5/19/11
Terry Davis plus her work plus her studio equal installation
6. “Mia Ollikainen George Herms diptych” from 7/6/11
This one is actually more about Mia Ollikainen than Terry Acebo Davis, but it mentions Terry in a couple places, AND she logs on (albeit under my name — confusing, I know, hence the John Berryman “Dreamsongs” digression) to comment.
7. “Please slug yourselfs to SF to see Terry Allen” from 8/27/11
This one is about Terry Allen not Terry Acebo Davis, and references Dizzy Dean as much as our arts commission outgoing chair, but Terry Davis did read this post closely enough to win, hands down, the Sled Allen baseball card contest. Terry made a set of 100, a box set nonetheless, on the obscure baseball player whose son we were honoring. In lieu of a cash prize I ended up paying for Frida’s little sojourn at the vets/boarding. Frida being her Cocker Spaniel that I walk three times a day, not the actual Frida,
Frida the cocker spaniel enjoying a sunny Palo Alto afternoon walk
Kahlo her namesake. Sometimes we call her Lady Boo-zine-GaGa, not sure why. (Maybe I can do a similar omnibus of Frida at “Plastic Alto”)
https://markweiss86.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/please-slud-yourselfs-to-sf-to-see-terry-allen-sept-first/ I would say overall my baseball card contest was more actualized than my Giants-Rangers proposed tribute record (“Humm Rhyme Derby”) but less so that TLPW456, my Smith-Andersen one day art show in honor of my campaign for City Council in 2009 or my Wallace Stegner tribute. If any stragglers turn in cards I will forward them to Paule Anglim. Terry Acebo Davis, in the comments, posted a link to see her card, but I think it only works from her home computer.
8. “Marcus Shelby and Howard Wiley at Cafe Claude” from 9/2/11
https://markweiss86.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/marcus-shelby-and-howard-wiley-at-cafe-claude/ This one is about Marcus Shelby but it mentions Terry Acebo Davis in the first sentence because we met Marcus and Howard Wiley at Cafe Claude after the Terry Allen show, and I ended up hiring Marcus to play the Mildred Howard event at Palo Alto City Hall, for “Clear Story” a project Terry was involved in (although it was Karen Kienzle’s baby, more than 2/3).
9. “Happy anniversary to Terry and I” from today, September 14, 2011
Okay now we are back to this, whose prologue reads:
happy anniversary to my girlfriend Terry Acebo Davis and I. Thanks, Terry for two such beautiful and exciting years. Continue reading →
The Pueblo Girls projected from imagination to clay and soon to flesh and a theatre near you.
At Indian Market I met Jody Naranjo, a renowned potter from Santa Clara Pueblo living in Albuquerque. She and I decided to take the fictitious rock band The Pueblo Girls, seen on this red ribbon winning vase, and turn the concept into an actual band. We hope to recruit female musicians in training from her pueblo and train them to conquer the world with rock music.
Stay tuned.
Plastic Alto with Mark Weiss 