For SFMoMA's Open Space: A Paper Person

New post up at SFMoMA's Open Space, first of four as columnist-in-residence. The old world meets the same old, same old; American history, etc. You can also find here a piece I wrote for Open Space's "Interwoven" last spring, "Liberty and Luxury." 

Though this new piece isn't an excerpt from Wite Out, my forthcoming book, it does address some things explored in that book and its prequel, The Public Gardens: Poems and History (2011). #Dorchester Days, #EmmettTill, #JamesBaldwin, #FannyHowe, #BernadetteDevlin, #RoevWade, #BrownvBoard, #TheSoilingofOldGlory, #ToniMorrison, #archives, #notebooks, #collages, #IrishAmericans, #ItalianAmericans, #racism . . .

From Old Notebooks

"Liberty and Luxury" essay at SFMoMA's Open Space

Last week SFMoMA's Open Space published my essay, 

Liberty and Luxury, in their Interwoven special issue.

You can read it here. 

Thanks to Gordon Faylor and Claudia La Rocco 

for brilliant collaboration, editing, and design.

 "She tells me what happens to fabric when you put it in your mouth (saliva dissolves rayon, but strengthens linen). Says that if you’re cutting and sewing sequined fabric, be sure to wear goggles to protect your eyes. And never set polyester on fire. Once, she says, a customer came into the store and asked for silk orgasma. You can see how that would happen here — this place inspires lust."

Bookstore as Pawn Shop

From Robert Lowell's "91 Revere Street"

I mentioned Robert Lowell in the Kenyon Review interview, then went looking for the book on my shelf and couldn't find it. Perhaps I'd sold it? I've sold thousands of books over the years. We had a tiny apartment, we needed money . . .

I went into Moe's to get a few things last week. Found Lowell's LIFE STUDIES/FOR THE UNION DEAD in the "used poetry" section. It was my own copy! I'd bought it in Brooklyn in 1990 and sold it to Moe's in December of 2010, before moving to this new apartment in Oakland. They sold it back to me for $2.50 (half-price). Bookstore as pawn shop!

Massachusetts 54th
Robert Gould Shaw Memorial on the Boston Common