Speech is Not Free-Henry Miller Memorial Library
Sometimes you don’t have to travel far from our own back yard to find a special place. Fifteen years ago when I moved out to California I began to visit the Henry Miller Memorial Library with my toddler. Then I began to bring my poetry classes there, and then I joined the board and then…
Flash forward to today. I now serve as President of the board of the Henry Miller Memorial Library. The Library needs your help to continue to carry on.
If you can donate any amount of money to help the Library in this period of temporary closure to navigate the un-sexy hurdles of building new bathrooms, and providing ADA compliant parking, among other projects.
When on a recent foray to Los Angeles these kind folks below all came out and donated their time in support of the Library, we hope you will too.
The Coagula Curatorial Gallery in Chinatown. Mat Gleason is the owner/curator and quite a groovy guy who donated this space for the Library to use. We created an exhibit and put up rare manuscripts and letters by Henry Miller. There were first edition copies of Tropic of Cancer hanging from the same lamps which used to illuminate Charles Bukowski when he worked at THE post office.
On November 7th, 2014 we participated in the “Speech is not Free” reading sponsored by the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, California.
Performance artist, Tim Youd
The beautiful audience at the Coagula Curatorial
Maria Reading from her award-winning poetry collection, The Revolution Will have its Sky with scenes from Jean Genet’s play, The Balcony
Mark Lamoureux
On November 8th, 2014 The Library hosted an informal chat on Henry Miller, censorship and the Obscenity trial. There were plenty of Miller scholars in attendance, notably William Ashley. The conversation was lively. Topics raised around how we self-censor everyday via social media lead to several folks admitting they do this because they don’t want their Aunt Chick to know what a radical they are. I am self censoring right now 🙂
It’s not really a trip to L.A. unless you hang out with rock stars in Santa Monica. To this end two wonderful people spent a lot of time gathering together the following musicians who graciously donated their talents to help support the Library. For the Sunday November 9th event (((folkYEAH!))) master mind and übermensch Britt Govea, along with and kick ass producer Aja Pecknold put together THE best show you ever missed at the legendary McCabe’s Guitar shop. All acoustic sets. Paz Lenchantin built a band from scratch with her violin and synthesizer. I don’t really know how she did it because I am a poet not a musician, but it was a bit of magic for sure. Also blowing my mind were these other musicians who donated their talents: Kevin Morby Emmett Kelley, Jonathan Wilson, Christian Wargo, Deradoorian, Pearl Charles and Lauren Barth all donated their talents.
Sound check! Britt talking to Christian Wargo, Jonathan and Omar rehearsing, Angel Deradoorian reading.
Kevin Morby. His voice reminds me of a young Bob Dylan, but better.
Jonathan Wilson and Omar Velasco, his music gave me goosebumps.
Paz Lechantin is one badass musician. I was blown away by her musicianship.
McCabe’s Guitars
The office as McCabe’s is filled with signed music posters.
Pearl Charles and Lauren Barth’s songs sounded like angels singing on dilaudid. Beautiful and otherworldly.
Deradoorian’s music was like a balm for a world-weary soul.
Christian Wargo Benefit for Library McCabe’s Emmett Kelley benefit for Library McCabe’s
So this is just to say, help support the Library in whatever way you can. Five dollars to 5,000 dollars, all are equally important.
Thank you,
Maria
Henry Miller Library Board President
