Hey Sal, this is not the first time you've talked here about a book that's on my shelf, too, and now, looking at my copy of "The Blurring of Art and Life" I must admit it looks unread, which is odd, as I've always felt that Allan Kaprow meant something to me, not least his take on toothbrushing. So now I know what to read next, which is a treat (like discovering a band you love very late, by which time they've released many amazing albums, which is what happened to me with The Feelies).
Another thing that was great about this was that I first read your lightly edited version, and then, some days later, watched the film, which includes the edited out part about Mothers' Day, which I enjoyed. (It also contains the part about your brief aphonia, so here's hoping you've made a full recovery in the meantime.)
And finally, the part where you speak about expressive practice and the way it isn't actually Zen if it's just a one-way street, felt, in this filmed version where I can see you, Sal, actually telling me this directly, like a strong appeal to use this comments function as part of the experience of partaking of your talk. Yes! N.
Nick, it's so true: everything is better if it's a conversation, at least for me. I don't want to be like a radio station if I can help it. Today I was gathering up some older notes into a new form and found a mention of us having a conversation in Berlin. Ages ago, now, but maybe we're still having it in some way.
& these talks are so much better as talks than they are as transcripts, no matter how much I try to make them come to life afterwards. I felt it especially with this one.
Today I also ran across this little text piece of Kaprow's from 1995:
This is great! I especially love the story of the heavy-duty Buddhist dirt : )
Hey Sal, this is not the first time you've talked here about a book that's on my shelf, too, and now, looking at my copy of "The Blurring of Art and Life" I must admit it looks unread, which is odd, as I've always felt that Allan Kaprow meant something to me, not least his take on toothbrushing. So now I know what to read next, which is a treat (like discovering a band you love very late, by which time they've released many amazing albums, which is what happened to me with The Feelies).
Another thing that was great about this was that I first read your lightly edited version, and then, some days later, watched the film, which includes the edited out part about Mothers' Day, which I enjoyed. (It also contains the part about your brief aphonia, so here's hoping you've made a full recovery in the meantime.)
And finally, the part where you speak about expressive practice and the way it isn't actually Zen if it's just a one-way street, felt, in this filmed version where I can see you, Sal, actually telling me this directly, like a strong appeal to use this comments function as part of the experience of partaking of your talk. Yes! N.
Nick, it's so true: everything is better if it's a conversation, at least for me. I don't want to be like a radio station if I can help it. Today I was gathering up some older notes into a new form and found a mention of us having a conversation in Berlin. Ages ago, now, but maybe we're still having it in some way.
& these talks are so much better as talks than they are as transcripts, no matter how much I try to make them come to life afterwards. I felt it especially with this one.
Today I also ran across this little text piece of Kaprow's from 1995:
Chores
Sweeping the dust from the floor of a room,
Spreading the dust in another room
So it won’t be noticed
Continuing daily.
More soon.