Listening to Glenn

At the opening of  « Dressed For Art » at fi:af, Glenn O’Brien arrived with a large bag, from which he pulled out a bullhorn to read some of his poems.

Plain

Give me a plain.

Make it a medium plain.

No, I don’t want anything in it.

You don’t have any medium ?

Only large, extra large,

But don’t fill it up all the way

 Glenn is the only poet who understands the relationship of Fashion and the commercial world. Once I heard he read « Beatnik  Executives », one of my favorites,  inside the Barneys store.

I saw the best minds of my generation

Depressed by lawsuits, dieting, sober, all dressed up,

….

Angelheaded hipsters renegotiating the social contract,

Trying to renegotiate the lease on life

And cool this microwaved world.

Excerpt from « Beatnick Executives », in Soapbox, Imschoot Uitgevers

Besides having been photographed in his pants by Andy Warhol for the cover sleeve of Sticky Fingers, he is the only poet who has been writing on the subject of « How to Be a Man », a philosopher’s take on sartorial subjects that extend unto questions like « the correct insult » or « what to do after death and how to deal with eternity. »

Most poets try to bring you down to make a living, but Glenn provides workable solutions for life:

When I get confused or dismayed or bored I always think : but what if this was an art movie.

In « Toward a More Bohemian Lifestyle », Soapbox, Imschoot Uitgevers

 

A color pencil interpretation of “The Happening”, an oil painting by Jean-Philippe Delhomme echoing Glenn’s reading. 

All that happened

Reading on my vintage Duke Kahanamoku Maui longboard

I love surfing.

If you paddle a little further than the other surfers, beyond the breaking line, not only will it keep you away from the harsh competition, but it also leave you plenty of time to read, think, or simply do nothing.

And at the end of the day, when everybody’s gone, you just catch a wave back to the shore.

It’s upon my return to civilization that, looking at the Purple Diary, I realized all that happened when I was surfing.

Beautiful sunset in Biarritz

While Terry was busy shooting a Pirelli calendar, Olivier was kissing more girls in a night than most people in their entire life. And he was also taking hundreds of new photographs of the sexy Natacha Ramsay in unexpected locations.

"Natacha Ramsay in Arizona", after Olivier Zahm

And this is how I learned about the death of Dash Snow, the fantastic artist with a fantastic name.

Before I read Glenn’s beautiful eulogy, I only knew of Dash from pictures in a 2008 issue of Purple.

Dash Snow, after Purple

Even the hipsters I questioned at the time were uncertain when it came to describing Dash’s work. Some said he was doing Polaroids. Others that he was handsome : « You have no idea with the beard, but he is incredibly handsome ! »

But even if you haven’t seen his collages or anything else, you could tell he was a true artist by these photographs, just like when you see a picture of Marcel Duchamp playing chess, Jackson Pollock putting own his paint-dripped shoes, or Picasso proudly standing in his briefs.

The effect is the same of Dash choosing an LP, drinking a beer in bed, or wearing a dress.

"Dash Snow in his Bowery studio", after Purple

For this is how one knows he is confronting a real artist : when you feel a little square or slightly overcautious !

By the way, on my last day of surfing, I flooded my ipod while listening to « Perfection as a Hipster », by God Help The Girl.

“The Cultivated Life” at Partners & Spade

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 "Gallery Booth" paintings by Jean-Philippe Delhomme at Parners & Spade

 

 

I went to Jean-Philippe Delhomme’s opening and new book « The Cultivated Life » launch at Partners & Spade the other day. It was Fools Day, and I was expecting some kind of weird joke, but I was curious to see the guy who drew me. The place was pretty crowded, even though it was raining. Glenn O’ Brien and Gina Nanni were there, Thom Browne, Gaby from threeASFOUR, Mathias Augustiniak from M/M Paris, Spade himself. And many others. I kept shaking hands, but …nobody was paying attention to me, The Unknown Hipster ! Only one of the gallery assistant had a smile when I told her my name. Even Delhomme nodded back in distract when I greeted him.  Was it for what I had dragged myself out my pad ? Instead of comfortably listening to one of my favorite poetry web radios ? I swore I’ll never go out again!..

 

 

Andy Spade holding a fish tank

 

 

 

Glenn O' Brien

 

 

 

Gina Nanni

 

 

Gaby from threeASFOUR

 

 

 

Mathias Augustyniak from M/M Paris

 

 

 

Thom Browne

 

 

 

Claude, a cool hipster with oversized glasses

 

 

 

Partners & Spade Anthony Sperduti