News/Events
November 2nd, Mary Kerr gave a lecture at the San Jose Museum of Art, “Expressions and Impressions of Joan Brown” during their exhibition of the Joan Brown’s art which will be in their gallery until March 12, 2012. This talented, individualistic artist was part of the avant-garde group that came out of the California School of Fine Arts and exhibited their work in the bars of North Beach as well as the underground galleries in San Francisco during the 50s & 60s.
San Francisco’s Wild History Groove was screened again in Nov. 2011 at Agder University in Norway where they conduct classes on the American beat scene. It was previously screened there in 2009.
David Meltzer's book launch event, June 23, 2011 at City Lights Books was for his recently published "When I Was A Poet" # 60 of their Pocket Poets Series. David and his partner, Julie Rogers read to a crowd of poets and other literary friends including
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, who were there to congratulate him for his well-deserved achievement. You can view this event on youtube.
Our Indiegogo campaign is officially over but contributions are still being processed on their site. You can donate by searching on Swinging in the Shadows. Rewards for contributing also continue to apply. This crowdfunding effort helped a great deal and we were able to complete both documentaries of this two-part series. Now we need to raise funds to make a two DVD box set with all the extra bonus material that will add even more to the story of the California Beat Era.
Jack Foley' s tour de force— " Visions & Affiliations–A California Literary Timeline: Poets & Poetry 1940-2005" is a must read for anyone who wants to know how poetry developed here on the West Coast. You get all the facts—highlights, dates as well as quotes and poems from the poets who created the scene from this comprehensive, invaluable book. Available on Amazon.com
Venice West and the LA Scene will be shown in San Francisco at the E6 Gallery, 1632 Market, Suite B (nr Franklin) on May 16, 2011 7PM. San Francisco's Wild History Groove is screening at the Love Unlimited and Art Festival in Portland at The Variant Theater on May 27th.
Charles Brittin, photographer and participant in our documentary died on January 23, 2011 after a long illness. It is another sad loss for us. He followed our progress, keeping a copy each version of Venice West and the LA Scene. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the completion.
Brittin will have an exhibition of his photographs, opening in April 16th at the Michael Kohn Gallery, Los Angeles. Kristine McKenna has completed her book on his photographs that will be available in April too.
Charles was one of the few to photograph the 50s underground in Los Angeles. His willingness to let us use his excellent work without any charge made it possible for us to make this documentary.
The Temple of Man’s 50th Anniversary Event took place October 30, 2010 at Beyond Baroque in Venice, CA. Several of the original members were there as well as the more recent members. This repository for poetry and art is still a vital part of the Los Angeles underground culture. The next day we took a tour of Venice Beach with Frank Rios taking us to each poet wall along the boardwalk. Jack Foley encapsulated the experience in his own inimitable way.
See photo and poem here.
San Francisco’s Wild History Groove was screened on November 4th at Agder University in Norway in conjunction with their Beat Era course at that school. In September the documentary was shown at the 2010 Docutah International Film Festival. It also screened on September 27th at film critic, Michael Fox’s Olli class in Berkeley.
Venice West and the LA Sceneis nearly finished with the replacement of jazz by composer/musician Jimmy Z. See Ztribe.com link for more on these talented LA musicians. It was a difficult but necessary decision to replace the Charles Mingus jazz with original compositions. Fortunately, this new music adds an even more independent vibe to the documentary.
Jack Foley Day took place June 5, 2010 where he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Berkeley Poetry Festival. Foley well deserved this award for all the work he's done over the years writing and producing his weekly "Cover to Cover" KPFA radio program.
Artist Deborah Remington died on April 21st of lung cancer. She plays an important part in San Francisco’s Wild History Groove.
I met her in the early 60’s when she showed her work at the Dilexi Gallery in San Francisco. In the 50s she was one of the original members of the avant-garde 6 Gallery.
There has been several obituaries--New York Times (5/21), Boston Globe (5/21) and Philly. Com (4/28).
Deborah was a very talented, uncompromising painter. I'll miss her intelligent, sharp comments about the art world, politics and life—an unique individual.
We had a Sneak Preview Screening of San Francisco’s Wild History Groove on December 13, 2009 at the San Francisco Art Institute. It was an appropriate venue to have this “fine cut” showing at the school where so many artists during the 50s learned from exceptional instructors, influenced one another and started on their own creative path.
Susan Landauer, who wrote “The San Francisco School of Abstract Expressionism” and Ron Loewinsohn, Retired Professor of English at UCB made the introductions before screening, giving enlightening background information of the period. After the screening, poetry performed by ruth weiss, Jack Foley and David Meltzer brought out the interaction between poetry and art that was such an important element during the Beat Era milieu.
The audience gave the documentary a very enthusiastic response. Because of the positive feedback and comments, we are now proceeding with the last, polishing touches. But we do need to raise more money for this expensive technical work--getting this project ready for possible broadcast. (See paragraph below for more details on artwork available for sale as well as contributing towards the completion of San Francisco’s Wild History Groove.)
THE BEACH was shown at San Jose Museum of Art during their exhibition, “The Culture of Spontaneity” from January through May 2009.
VENICE WEST AND THE LA SCENE was screened at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm during the weekend of December 13th through January 6th. This screening was in conjunction with their exhibit, “Time and Place: Los Angeles, 1957-1968.”
Congratulations to Jack Foley, poet and participant in San Francisco’s Wild History Groove. His "ALL A James Broughton Reader" was voted #1 Gay Book of the Year by the website, www.afterelton.com. Foley edited the book, adding his comments on the sheer variety and encompassing range of work from this wonderful, effervescent California poet and filmmaker. You can get a copy by contacting the publisher, White Crane Institute www.gaywisdom.org.
Memorial from Philomene Long was held December 7th at Beyond Baroque in Venice. We shared our poems, video and memories of this extraordinary poet—“The Queen of Bohemia”. Philomene was the Poet Laureate of Venice and played an important part in Venice West and the LA Scene. It’s sad to know that she is gone—much too soon.
Tribute for Tony Scibella was held on October 28th at Beyond Baroque in Venice. He was a first-rate, unique poet and an important participant in Venice West and the LA Scene. David Meltzer and others who have read The Kid in America, Scibella’s long prose poem of his coming-of-age in Venice, claim that it is equal to Kerouac’s On the Road. Several excerpts from this were used in the documentary. If you would like to obtain a copy, email us. We can give you the publisher’s contact number. A couple of short poems and photos from the event can be viewed here.
The art auction on September 7th at the 8 gallery was very successful. Several outstanding pieces were auctioned. Images of the unsold items will be on this website by the beginning of October and can be purchased by clicking on the “Donation” button. If we can sell these donated items, we will much closer to achieving our goal of raising the necessary funds for completion of the documentary. Images of the unsold items are now on this website and can be purchased by clicking here.
Swinging in the Shadows, two-part series that includes Venice West and the LA Scene and San Francisco’s Wild History Groove is ready for the last stage of effort before distribution. Funds are needed to make DVD’s of both with all the extra bonus material. This is an expensive process and will require contributions to make this happen before the end of this year. You can help by contributing money or by purchasing donated artwork. Buying a DVD of The Beach for $30 also goes directly to these last expenses.
Donations to the non-profit CA Palm are tax deductible. Contributions go directly to the completion of Swinging in the Shadows. Thank you for your interest and support.
Purchase / Donate
Contact contact@beatera.org for more information about this project.
Enter you email address below to receive email with the latest news and events!
