Welcome To V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter #142, September 2015

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Table of contents

1A: EDITORIAL: Burning Man, SF ZineFest Sun 9-6-15
1B. KAREN FINLEY intv by Zora Burden
1C. NEW FROM RE/SEARCH: Diane di Prima zine, LSD MUSEUM ZINE. Penny Rimbaud book. Monte Cazazza Zine (2nd printing!). AND NOW: Diane DiPrima zine (10 copies)!
1D. Must-Read Books by Artists!
2. The Counter Culture Hour: Sat Sept 12, 2015 4:30pm
3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS: RE/Search here and there…
4. OUR PAST LIFE: Books we’ve been given, etc.
5. Recommended Links – send us some!
6. QUOTES
7. Letters from Readers (send some!)
8. Sponsors (Check ’em out! – they make this newsletter possible!)

1A. Message from your editor: Burning Man, SF ZineFest Sun 9-6-15

A good reason to visit San Francisco (if you don’t live here) is the Punk Renaissance Week Sept 20-27, and the Sun 9/6/15 SF Zine Fest!

Life Changes and Words Change With It—or is it the other way around? Back in the Beatnik Fifties, the predominance of so many conformist nuclear-family “squares” caused the rise of the rebel adjective “hip”… which eventually degraded into the current (and disparaging) noun “hipster”… Anyone who’s truly “hip” today immediately rejects the term “hipster” as, well, not-hip. But, is **ANYBODY** truly “hip” today in the Age of Information-Mega-Overload-Driven-By-Viral-Shock-Video?

As a plethora of commodity-overload has inundated us with “commodity-consumption-fatigue,” Capitalism has brought us the Branded-“Hip”-Experience as token-signifier of the latest “hip”-ness: FESTIVALS. And in line with capitalism’s “driven-by-exclusivity” marketing engine, these festivals are often über-expensive and of course catering to the “It’s-Hip-to-be-Rich” generation of wanna-be-“creatives”-and-“outsiders”.

Right now as we speak, Burning Man (which started out as a free event at San Francisco’s Baker Beach) is succeeding-in-attracting, oh, 66,000 “privileged-white-male-Ayn-Rand-sociopaths” and their female/other-gender compañeras. Granted, in attendance are a few “real” artists who actually create the spectacular-Art-Machines-which-brand-Burning-Man (and, indeed this is the”Age of the Spectacle”—review your Situationism texts). RecentlyThe Wall Street Journal did a huge article spotlighting the global rise of the FESTIVAL as a new “hip” way to make big profits fast (music, art, film, food,et al), so… And when business magazines enthusiastically start endorsing something, at least start reading between the lines and critiquing the advertorial images, such as can be found on http://www.businessinsider.com/burning-man-pictures-livestream-2015-8 – Maybe the Burning Man “owners” should do a synergistic merger with the Playboy or Penthouse or Hustler clubs – babelicious!

We posit that the ONLY truly “hip” events are “free” or at least allow the opportunity to get-in-free-by-volunteering. And Sunday Sept 6 the San Francisco Zine Fest is both FREE and INSPIRING! RE/Search will have a table along with dozens of other creative dissidents and other malcontents doing their best to awake the millions of sleepwalkers lulled into passivity staring at their iPhones (where is the “app” telling iPhone-users how much of their life has been permanently lost consuming metabolically-addictive imagery?). Turn off your iPhone and MAKE A ZINE! Sunday, September 6 11am-5pm: San Francisco Zine Fest (ONE DAY ONLY). County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park, 1199 9th Avenue/Lincoln Way, S.F. https://www.facebook.com/events/1111496782211197/

1B. Karen Finley interview by Zora Burden, Part 1

Part 2 will appear in the next RE/Search Newsletter, Oct 2015.

ZB: You mentioned in the introduction to Shock Treatment that in your youth, poetry had greatly influenced you—you called it “a language of resistance.” What books had you read that inspired your interest in performance art or art in general?

KF: As a young adult, I think that many of the City Lights Pocket Poets Series were very important for my development. So were a lot of the San Francisco writers: Richard Brautigan (very influential), plus Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, Diane di Prima, Bob Kaufman… I think that Kaufman’s book Golden Sardine (which I wrote about in my introduction)—reading that book, hearing his voice and his language—everything just changed for me. It was a combination of reading poetry… poetic language. Reading Dadaist poets like Tristan Tzara had a big influence on me as well.

ZB: What was it like living here in SF, working at the Condor and going to the San Francisco Art Institute? Who were your mentors there?

KF: I moved to San Francisco in the summer of 1977 and lived in North Beach right across the street from the Institute (SFAI). I think one of my interests was the history of the bohemian scene—going against the establishment. The Art Institute had a tradition of teaching new genres, performance and conceptual art; I was studying with Howard Fried. There was music coming out of the school at that time, too: many Punk bands. The spirit of the school was going beyond “Color Field” painting, trying to find new directions that weren’t just focused on the object, the gallery or museum system—but going out of that system.

I had a very positive experience at the Art Institute—I enjoyed it immensely. I took classes in New Genres and Performance. A lot of my mentors at that time were my peers and we worked as a community, created art together, supported each other’s performances or music, and were each other’s audience. Kathy Acker was my teacher—she was a strong influence on me, very supportive, and seemingly did not have a filter or boundary. She was very accessible—serious about language and listening—and she gave me a lot of support in terms of my performance or poetic writing.

Also, Angela Davis conducted a weekly lecture that I used to “sit in” on. I think the Art Institute was her first teaching gig after her arrest. She would conduct lectures on everything from communism to Herbert Marcuse—different philosophers to revolutions. After her prepared lectures there would be a Q & A. Chris Burden also taught classes. This was late ’70s, post-Vietnam, post-disco, when Punk music was questioning everything. San Francisco was finding its own space in terms of conceptual practice, in performance and video. It was all about innovation and research—my colleagues were interested in innovating in all fields of culture toward a new way of thinking, new ways of presenting, and making work that was time-based.

ZB: Will you mention specific bands or artists that were important to you then?

KF: I loved the Mutants—they were an important band. I think the band lived across the street from the bus terminal, pre-gentrification. I loved the Dead Kennedys, The Dils, and Flipper—there were so many bands. I loved the Mabuhay Gardens. I loved Tony Labat’s work—it was incredible—and Mike Osterhout’s. Bruce Pollack had a place called the A-Hole Gallery, and Tom Marioni had a museum where he demonstrated his concept of “drinking beer as art.” David Ireland had his Capp Street Project: working on his house and looking at architectural reconstruction as the poetic space of the interior.Survival Research Laboratories was very important to me—Mark Pauline. Romeo Void’s Deborah Iyall. A woman named Ivey who had her own calendar. Ruby Ray, Mark McCloud and his collection of “LSD As An Art Form.” Everybody supported each other.

ZB: What was your approach to art back then in regards to your performances?

KF: It was very serious, intentional, and very adult. There was a standard of artistic integrity. It was about artistic research and innovation in the field: your process, your progress and how you’re contributing to the discourse of art practice. So there were critiques where you’d have to defend your work, discussing the concept and content, thinking about other artists, the engagement in society, and context in the history of art. The type of work I was doing then was about feminist issues: my body—being in my early 20s, it was the presentation of the female body. I think that my first performance was: I put two cantaloupes in my bra and I was scooping out the cantaloupe—the assignment was to “do a piece with food.”

ZB: Was your work then a documentation or self-exploration of your own development and sexual awakening through your art?

KF: I think part of it was; another part of it was research. I remember going to City Lights Bookstore and the library, getting books on psychology and drama, researching certain spaces and consciously being aware of creating language and images that would be connecting to the audience or viewer. So I wouldn’t say my work was primarily a “diary”—because then I would just be doing it for myself. I think I always had a relationship to the public,working within a discourse of art as a sort of social engagement or social practice.

ZB: Did your work at the Condor inform your art at all?

KF: Yes, it did. At that time I wasn’t a dancer—I was a cocktail waitress, which probably made more money than the dancers. There were others from the Art Institute working there. It was very beautiful—an art form of burlesque… it was a different time in terms of looking at standards of beauty. Each woman had a certain attribute which had a beauty or sensuality or tenderness: certain areas of their body, the way they could move, the energy of their performances. Some of the performers were older and did not have the perfect body of botox and plastic surgery. Although Carol Doda was definitely unreal, she acknowledged this, as her breasts were a very early example of silicone enhancement.

ZB: Did the audience back then react in a more appreciative way—as compared to an “objectified” way?

KF: It was more about arousal or desire: female burlesque or strip-tease wasn’t just full nudity, it was all about revealing. I found it quite beautiful; I loved this world and the freedom of the female body in this arena. Women were allowed onstage to be erotic or coy—and not to be ashamed of her body.

The entire time I worked there I don’t think I was ever disrespected. I would not have been working there if I had come from a wealthier family; I neededto support myself and pay for school—and that’s how I was able to do it. Living in North Beach, I worked evenings until one in the morning… and my classes started at 9 a.m. I could work four nights a week.

I also worked in the library at school (and remember, the school was across the street). I did take loans out too, but I don’t know how else I could have done it economically—it’s very expensive. I think it happened because I was living in San Francisco in this moment before gentrification—I don’t think it could have happened if I was living in Chicago or New York. There was still a working class in S.F., and things weren’t that expensive. There were a lot less things to do, and I didn’t have a television or a car. You didn’t have cellphones and all these things that are very distracting.

ZB: What do you think of technology in regards to creative expression—it seems like it should come from personal experience. Do you think technology helps or hurts artistic creativity?

KF: I ask myself that all the time! I kind of go back and forth. I’m not interested in having everyone know all about me, or being connected to millions of people. I like “face time”—the human experience. I like talking to people and hearing a person’s voice—much more than email or text. You can hear so many nuances—I love the pauses, I like to hear the tone. Also, I think there’s nothing wrong with “missing”: what happens now is that people don’t have the patience of missing people. But you need that transition time. On the positive side, it becomes an equalizer. I’m thinking of making my work more available at the Art Institute in terms of copyright and access. But if I can have a real experience, I prefer that.

ZB: Now that pornography is rampant online in every kind of fetish or presentation—compared to the ’90s—does this fact cause resentment, after you going through 8 years of a trial for “obscenity”? What is left that’s taboo?

KF: Everything you’re saying I agree with. My interest is in public shaming: that people not feel ashamed about sexuality. That’s what concerns me: the shaming that goes on. Now there’s more shame with the male body than the female body—you’re still not allowed to see the male body nude.

The shaming that goes on with “sexting” or with being “caught and found out”—I just find this so puritanical. I wish we could get past these incidents of shaming. You see young people whose lives are ruined because they sent a picture of their body, or received one. I’m not talking about anything illegal or damaging to someone but I think it’s just horrible—you see it even with high-school kids. There should be more fun and joy with showing and seeing the body. I just don’t like any of the shaming: that you’re supposed to feel bad, or keep quiet, or be secretive. There’s a double standard that goes on—we have all this freedom, but sexually we’re publically shamed.

ZB: What do you think could be a solution to this shaming? How should we address this is?

KF: I think that people should not allow themselves to feel ashamed—it has to be changed. I don’t think that people should be punished for it.  Sexuality is in our face, yet the female body is still primarily the sexual mover for us. When I say “mover” I mean that it’s still the focus. It’s very hard if you’re under 18 years old—many are committing suicide because the shaming is so horrific. Transwomen-of-color have more risk of suicide or of being murdered. Sexual expression, sexual identity—that’s what I’m concerned about, and the violence that’s a result. Shaming can be sexualized as well. We have to change it in child-rearing, when we shame children showing their bodies. Everyone has to lighten up! I hope these views will change.

ZB: How much do you think the censorship in the ‘90s and “being persecuted for your self-expression during the NEA trial” had to do with power rather than a moralistic religious issue? That it was about keeping gender roles established in a rigid, patriarchal society? Or was Capitalist Exploitation at its core?

KF: It was difficult for me to turn on the radio or open a newspaper where I was demonized or my work was distorted. I had to get support—12 years of analysis. I finally realized I was in an abusive relationship with Jesse Helms. It was kinky: I think he was actually turned on by me—a kind of S/M relationship where he was the dominant and I was the submissive on a public stage. When I realized that I was no longer going to be in this relationship, I started laughing about it. So I became the top and it changed—my problems went away!

It’s complicated. There’s different answers for the individual, society, and the nation: issues with gender and relationships and personal autonomy. I can say that usually when people become so adamant and heated consciously, it’s a projection. I feel the “culture wars” of the nineties were a projection of their own fears, their own sexuality and repressed desires—their own relationship with morality and ethics. When you see these movements happening at a time before there is going to be a change in the world… that is what happens. You see now there are more rights for women—it’s better than it was for women fifty years ago: women have more power, more access, more ambition. This is what I see before there is social shift.

ZB: Humor is a good way to deal with trauma. So looking at it with humor—or satirizing it—helped to take your power back?

KF: When I became the dominatrix in my engagement towards this archetype of Helms, I used humor. I posed in Playboy, started doing television—I used humor. I agreed with them: if I didn’t argue with them, then I ended the engagement—I was no longer the victim. I don’t think it was “right” politically, but at that moment it was something to “change the playing field.” Nevertheless, that situation changed my access to the institutions of culture. That’s one of the reasons I’m teaching, because my opportunities with institutions changed. For example, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art had one of my sculptures returned because they didn’t want to have it in their collection, due to my involvement with the NEA. At that time I was, I guess, blacklisted…

[Part 2 appears in the next RE/Search Newsletter. Also, NOTE that Karen Finley appears in person in San Francisco Sept 15 and 17; see our “Forthcoming Events” below. She is on a U.S. book tour and will appear in Saratoga, CA; Los Angeles at Book Soup; NYC at Bluestockings Bookstore; etc. Full itinerary at: http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100034690&fa=events

1C. We need YOU to order books direct from us to help us keep going!

() We just made 10 copies of a zine on Diane di Prima (with a xerox of a drawing by Kersey Barrett-Tormey) and they are $10 each plus $5 shipping or $10 overseas shipping. Just PayPal $15 or $20 to: info@researchpubs.com – be sure to include your address!

() We made a zine on LSD MUSEUM’s Mark McCloud. We only made 20 copies and they are $20 each (includes blotter acid print) plus $5 shipping or $10 overseas shipping. Just PayPal $25 or $30 to: info@researchpubs.com – be sure to include your address! Only (2) left.

() We offer a 2nd printing of the 64-page MONTE CAZAZZA zine. Price just $12 (plus $5 shipping; just PayPal $17 to: info@researchpubs.com). Monte Cazazza is one of the big mysteries in the RE/Search canon, and we think it is a miracle he has survived to this day, integrity more-or-less intact! NOTE: Overseas orders $10 SHIPPING (total $22). CALIF residents add 8.75% tax ($2.19 tax, total $19.19).

() We offer a 2nd printing of the McKenzie Wark zine with handmade silkscreen suitable for framing. $20 plus $5 shipping or $10 overseas shipping. Just PayPal $25 or $30 to: info@researchpubs.com – be sure to include your address!

() Three V. VALE PIANO IMPROVISATIONS available for listening on bandcamp NOW. One features amazing guitarist Will Rogers! https://researchpubs.bandcamp.com

() FINALLY:  the newest RE/Search Pocketbook is in stock: PENNY RIMBAUD. CRASS proto-Punk co-founder (with Gee Vaucher), performer-philosopher-poet-writer-bread-maker, Penny has a lot to say about how to navigate through our increasingly-confusing media-sedated world. $14.99 plus $5 ship ($10 overseas)

() Volume 4 of our “Punk and Tech” series is “Screw the System” (with a great essay on J.G. Ballard by Jack Sargeant), 300 copies. $30 plus $5 shipping or $25 shipping overseas; PayPal the amount to: info@researchpubs.com

() With the current brouhaha over A.I., we can say that RE/Search brought it to you “first”: DATING A.I. by the Russian genius (under a pseudonym) but his book is the best, funniest (yet not dumbed-down) guide to A.I. you can find! www.researchpubs.com

1D: Must-Read Books by “Artists” Part 3 (by V. Vale)

1. Headhunters by Jo Nesbo (stretching the phrase “by artists” but…)
2. Karen Finley: Shock Treatment (she’s at SFAI soon!)
3. Conversations: the Autobiography of Surrealism by Andre Breton
4. Pontus Hulten: The Surrealists Look at Art
5. Ed Hardy: Wear Your Dreams
6. Dorothea Tanning: Between Lives (and Abyss)
7. Ghost Ships: A Surrealist Love Triangle by Robert McNab
8. Babs Gonzalez: i, paid my dues
9. Charles Mingus: Beneath the Underdog
10. Art Pepper: Straight Life

2. Counter Culture Hour – Sat Sept 12, 2015 4:30pm Pacific Time

The Counter Culture Hour (aka RE/SEARCH TV) is also simulcast ON-LINE as well as on cable access San Francisco Channel 29 — 4:30pm Pacific Time, now EVERY Saturday! – see this link at broadcast time: http://www.bavc.org/channel29

You need a fairly decent internet connection and computer to “get it.”
USA west coast: 4:30 PM Sat SEPT 12, 2015
USA; east coast: 7:30 PM Sat SEPT 12, 2015.
Tokyo: 8:30 AM Sunday, SEPT 13, 2015

If you cannot get this online email us at info@researchpubs.com
See RE/Search channel on youtube: “researchpubs”

3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)

() $ http://www.thrillpeddlers.com – our favorite local Grand Guignol Theatre Company at the Hypnodrome – support live local theatre!

() Support the Roxie Theater: great programming EVERY NIGHT (our opinion). http://www.roxie.com Thur nites at the Castro Theater feature NOIR films (our favorite) programmed by The Roxie.

() S.F. EVENTS to Check Out Regularly: Long Now Foundation. Goethe Institute. The List (Punk Rock). Dorkbot. Bottom of the Hill. INdependent. Thee Parkside. The Chapel. Terminal: http://fierysummons.blogspot.com/

() $ NOW at Clay Theatre, SF – THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL (feature film based on Phoebe Gloeckner‘s book) – see it on the big screen! This film is a MUST –  You will remember it as long as you live! Some beautiful visual images, plus at least one panoramic vista of San Francisco I’ve never seen before, which includes the Columbarium in the stage-right background…

() $10 Wed Sept 2, 9pm: Alexander Hacke + Danielle de Picciotto “We Are Gypsies” Tour, Hemlock, 1131 Polk St/Post http://www.hemlocktavern.com/calendar/danielle-de-picciotto-alexander-hacke-of-einsturzende-neubauten-dark-materials-yellow-pages/

() Wed Sept 2, 6PM, 555 Post Street, San Francisco – TechTalk / Studio event 6PM – Scoble on Startups 2015: Context, Cloud and Bleeding EdgeTech. Kevin O’Malley in conversations with Robert Scoble.

() FREE Fri Sept 4, 4:30pm David Meltzer reads, Writers’ Studio of CCA SF, 195 De Haro/15th St

() FREE Sun Sept 6 SF ZINE FEST (RE/SEARCH will be there; meet us!) Sunday, September 6 11am-5pm: San Francisco Zine Fest (ONE DAY ONLY). County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park, 1199 9th Avenue/Lincoln Way, S.F.https://www.facebook.com/events/1111496782211197/

() Thur-Sun Sep 10-13, 2015:
The 16th Annual San Francisco Electronic Music Festival (SFEMF)
Tickets Available now through Brown Paper Tickets:
http://www.sfemf.org/archive/sfemf-2015/  http://sfemf2015.brownpapertickets.com/ (tickets)
http://sfemf2015pass.brownpapertickets.com/ (festival pass)

BRAVA Theater Center, 2781 24th Street (at York), SF
EXPLORATORIUM, Kanbar Forum. Pier 15, SF

() Thurs Sept 10. 7pm  EXPLORATORIUM
Kanbar Forum: Alessandro Cortini. Thomas Dimuzio.

() Fri Sept 11, 8pm BRAVA
Lawrence English and John Chantler. Surabhi Saraf. Horaflora.

() Sat Sept 12, 8pm BRAVA
Robert Rich. Charles Cohen. Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

() Sun Sept 13, 8pm BRAVA
Olivia Block. Doug Lynner. Kevin Blechdom & Aqulaqutaqu.

() SF PUNK RENAISSANCE: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Punk – SEPTEMBER Sun 9/20- Sun 9/27, 2015 (A WEEK LONG!)

For latest updates & time changes, plus prices (some events are FREE), please check http://punkrocksewingcircle.com/sf-punk-renaissance-the-master-calender/

contact email: punkrocksewingcircle@gmail.com
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpn47C6lkfc

() SUNDAY 9/20/15 ELI’S MILE HIGH CLUB, 3629 MLK. Jr. Way, Oakland, Time TBA – Dr. Frank (Frank Portman) of The Mr. T Experience. solo, Impatient Youth (old school Mab faves), The International Café Revue including members of The Jars, Young Adults and Psycotic Pineapple (all early Berkeley punk bands),Yo (Bruce Rayburn’s band after Xmas Eve), Edge City Ruins (featuring Jules Worsey -guitar of Kwik Way), Ike Eichensehr (vocals) of Boneless Ones, 13 and Fang. Co-produced by Eli’s. All ages.

() MONDAY 9/21/15 WALK INTO THE PAST, Time TBA
The first of four punk walking tours, this walking tour focuses on South of Market punk landmarks. Join your host, Raymond Ernest Andre lll on a narrated walking tour filled with tales of punk’s underground revolution as the tour travels past legendary and infamous brick and mortar landmarks Learn about the clubs, rehearsal spaces, infamous punk houses, and after hour punk party venues. Early punk history was created in these locations; the movement crystalized and erupted on these very streets. All ages welcome. Free.

() TUESDAY 9/22/15 El RIO, 3158 Mission Street, San Francisco, Time TBA In association with the Punk Rock Sewing Circle, Scott Alcoholocaust presents exciting new punk bands at the El Rio. It’s a night of new music and energy that taps the old punk rock vein. Over 21 only.

() $$ TUESDAY 9/22/15 5:30 check in, 6PM, 555 Post St., San Francisco
SOCAP Preview 2015: Funding What Matters in Our Local Economies
A panel on bringing the full diversity of a community into local economy-building moderated by Kevin O’Malley. http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2015-09-22/socap-preview-2015-funding-what-matters-our-local-economies

() WEDNESDAY 09/23/15, 2:30-4:30 PM, THE POWER OF THE WORD: FANZINES AND THE PIONEERING OF PUNK ROCK JOURNALISM, Koret Auditorium, SF Public Library Main Branch, 111 Larkin, San Francisco
In a co-production of the San Francisco Public Library’s new Punk Rock Archive and the Punk Rock Sewing Circle, Peter Urban, veteran of numerous punk ‘zines, moderates a panel, which includes publishers and writers V. Vale of Search and Destroy, Mickey of Creep zine, and Linda Walker/Verna Wilson of Ripper. The panelists will discuss the importance and centrality of punk fanzines  and their personal experiences as pioneers of punk journalism, during the years 1975 – 1981. All ages welcome. Free

() WEDNESDAY 9/23/15, 6:00 PM-12:00 Midnight, SF PUNK RENAISSANCE OPENING EXTRAVAGANZA and opening of TUNNEL VISION: THE PUNK PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT, PUBLIC WORKS, 161 Erie Street, San Francisco
At the opening night extravaganza for the SF Punk Renaissance, Public Works will be filled with the sights and sounds of early era punk. Rare and never before shown works of punk photography will be exhibited in the Roll Up Gallery (Exhibit Runs from 9/23-10/2/15) and the entire venue will be hung with rare punk flyers, photography, and art from the first era. Beginning at 6:15 PM, rarely seen examples of punk rock film and video will be shown, including: Joe Target’s Stand Up, Mark Huestis’s Whatever Happened to Susan Jane, Richard Gaikowski’s Deaf Punk, excerpts from Starling Cinema’s recently completed punk documentary Buried in the Mix, Bruce Geduldig’s Childhood Prostitute and Cell Life, Bobby Castro’s The Mab, and Babeth M. Vanloo’s “Sex Pistols and the Berlin Wall.” The Richard Gaikowski Deaf Punk Films are a collection of recently discovered archival 16mm films made at the historic early era punk venue, the Deaf Club.
The Tunnel Vision photography exhibition (running through 10/02/15), features the photographic works of Vincent Anton, Joe Truck, Richard Allen Peterson, Sue Brisk, Jack Johnson, George Sera, Erich Brogger, Ruby Ray, and Kamera Zie in the Roll Up Gallery. Numerous additional works included in the greater venue include large works by Ruby Ray, Kamera Zie, and Bobby Castro, collage pieces by artist Jeff Raphael, album art from artist Kim Seltzer, and a host of other individual artists. Illustrating the incredible breadth, number of shows, and artwork of the era an enormous collection of historic flyers and posters  will cover several walls.
Live music by Stooges tribute band Gimme Danger follows the films (featuring members of Chrome and Thrill of the Pull) and then it’s on to a first era dance party. Pogo the night away to early punk classics spun by our DJ extraordinaire Bryan James. 21 and over only.
See http://punkrocksewingcircle.com/sf-punk-renaissance-the-master-calender/

() THURSDAY 9/24/15, 1:00 – 10:00 PM, SWAP, SHARE and TELL, ODDFELLOWS HALL, 26 7th Street, San Francisco
More than a record swap meet, Swap, Share, and Tell kicks off with an opportunity to peruse a vast array of punk records, books, ‘zines, flyers, and other collectibles for sale. Vendors from RE/Search, Subterranean Records, Frightwig, to the Punk Rock Sewing Circle. Free after 1:00 PM
At 6:00 PM it’s Shut Up and Listen, Shut Up and Listen, is a night of panel discussions with seminal figures from the first punk scene. The evening begins with a panel discussion on The Intersection of Queer and Punk Cultures, moderated by Erich Brogger. Panelists include David Dictor, Terrence Allen Smith (Joan Jett Black), Dominique Leslie, and Don Baird. Following audience questions and a break, the night’s second panel on Punk: What Went Wrong…or Right? will be moderated by Michael Stewart Foley (author of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables) Panelists include V.Vale, Jeff Bale, Denise Sullivan, and Peter Urban. All ages welcome. Free

() THURSDAY, 9/24/15, WALK INTO THE PAST Time TBA
The second Punk Walking Tour, this tour focuses on locations around the Mission District. Join your host, Eric Bradner. All ages welcome. Free

() FRIDAY, 09/25/15, WALK INTO THE PAST, Time TBA
The third Punk Walking Tour focuses on locations around the Mission District. Join your host, Eric Bradner. All ages welcome. Free

() FRIDAY, 09/25/15, 7:00 PM-12: 30 AM, THE WILD, BEAUTIFUL, AND ECLECTIC, 111 MINNA – ZAPPA ROOM, 111 Minna Street, San Francisco
THE WILD, BEAUTIFUL, and ECLECTIC SIDE of PUNK Dramatic, mesmerizing and mysterious, these legendary early era punk artists and bands never disappoint. The Toiling Midgets return with their swirling guitar sounds after a two-year hiatus. LA based The Deadbeats w/ Geza X unleash a night of stunning visual and sonic contrasts, Enigmatic genius Winston Tong with Lx Rudis mesmerize in a rare appearance and the iconic Alice Bag provides a stunning reading and musical performance. Marc Zegans premieres his book of poetry “The Underwater Typewriter.“ Performance Artist Jeorgia Anderson and Spoken Word artist Jennifer Blowdryer enthrall while L’Egregore rivets with their multimedia performance art. 21 and over only. http://punkrocksewingcircle.com/sf-punk-renaissance-the-master-calender/

() SATURDAY, 09/26/15, 2:00 PM-12: 30 AM, FIRST ERA PUNK BANDS, THE VERDI CLUB, 2424 Mariposa Street, San Francisco
Featuring an Old School punk line-up of headliners from the Mab days, it’s an evening of traditional old school punk.  Dead Boy, Cheetah Chrome headlines in a rare Bay Area appearance. The Avengers (freshly returned from a European tour) take the stage to deliver their classic punk anthems. Before there were Riot Grrrls, there was Frightwig, who will perform a set and then transform into a backing band for Alice Bag. Legendary SF punk band, The Mutants melodically assault and Seattle-transplants turned hometown heroes, The Lewd, return with their 1979 line up. Representing for the South Bay, the heavyweights of Skate Punk bands, the Drunk Injuns tear it up, and long standing punk stalwarts, VKTMS, open the musical proceedings.
Complimenting these musical performances, authors Patrick O’Neil (Gun, Needle and Spoon) and Michael Stewart Foley (Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables) read from and sign their recently released works.
Photographers Bobby Castro, Russell Allen, Mark Hanford, Alanna Alberts, and Andy Zicklin will exhibit at the Verdi Club. All ages welcome. http://punkrocksewingcircle.com/sf-punk-renaissance-the-master-calender/

() SUNDAY, 09/27/15, 1:00 – 4:00 PM, PUNK ROCK RENAISSANCE AFTER-PARTY, LUCKY 13, 2140 Market Street
Negative Trend and Toiling Midgets guitarist Craig Gray tends the bar and selects the soundtrack for this final celebration of Punk Rock’s 40th anniversary celebration. If you haven’t died yet, step up to the bar and name your poison, while socializing with the crème de le crème of the pioneering punk community of San Francisco. 21 and over only.

() SUNDAY, 09/27/15, WALK INTO THE PAST,Time TBA

The last of four punk walking tours, this tour focuses on locations around the North Beach district. Join your host, Eric Bradner. Wander past the sites of creative percolation such as Search and Destroy RE/Search house, the steps above the On Broadway, Dirk Dirksen Alley and the Mabuhay Gardens, coffee houses, infamous punk houses, and after-hour punk party venues. Learn about the historical significance of these early gathering places and hear the tales. Early Punk history was created in these locations; the movement crystallized and erupted on these streets. All ages welcome. Free

REPEAT: For latest updates/prices/time changes: http://punkrocksewingcircle.com/sf-punk-renaissance-the-master-calender/

() FREE Tue Sept 15, 7pm: Karen Finley at SFAI Lecture Hall, 800 Chestnut http://www.sfai.edu/events-calendar/detail/karen-finley

() $ Thu Sept 17, 9pm The Vibrators at Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St, SF http://www.theeparkside.com/month/4/2013

() FREE Thu Sept 17, **NOON** Karen Finley will sign copies of Shock Treatment: Expanded 25th Anniversary Edition at City Lights Bookstore, 161 Columbus, SF

() $ Sat Sept 19, 8:30pm show at 9pm Psychic TV at INdependent, Divisadero St, SF (also in Los Angeles Sept 21 at Teragram Ballroom)  http://www.theindependentsf.com/calendar/

() FREE Thu Sept 24 at 65 Capp St (The Lost Church), SF: Mel Gordon will sign his book Horizontal Collaboration: The Erotic World of Paris, 1920-1946. Tickets will be available at City Lights Books 9/8/15 first-come, first-served basis

() VERY RARE: Fri-Sun Oct 2-4, Sacramento, CA: Monte Cazazza performs (plus Q&A, possibly w/Meri St. Mary)  http://www.norcalnoisefest.com   http://noisefest2015.brownpapertickets.com

() FREE **OLYMPIA, WA** Oct 23-25, 2015 RE/Search will appear at the Olympia Zine Fest, and Marian Wallace will present an evening of films featuring W.S. Burroughs, Industrial Musicians, etc  http://olympiazinefest.tumblr.com/schedule
http://hellomoon.org/uploads/OZF-OFS-Poster.jpg

() ? Thur Oct 29, 7-11pm (& Mon Nov 2) at The Midway, 900 Marin St: Ed Hardy solo show curated by Varnish. Also Trevor. http://www.varnishfineart.com/Artist-Info.cfm?ArtistsID=758&Object=#GeneralInfo  or http://varnishfineart.com/Exhibit_Detail.cfm?ShowsID=145&cid=11646&beid=139&tid=130

() $ Tu,Wed,Th Dec 29,30,31: Patti Smith & Band at The Fillmore, SF

4. Our past life

What We’ve Attended or WANTED to Attend/What We’ve Been Reading/Seeing/Listening to/What We’ve Been Sent/Given, or Seen

() We are Gypsies Now by Danielle de Picciotto. A graphic novel depicting Danielle’s travels with Alexander Hacke (of Einsturzende Neubauten fame), after they decided to leave their house in Berlin and travel for 18 months – which has now been 5 years and counting – to perform and practice their arts. Published by AMOK books in LA. Wholesale from SCB Distributors.

() Alfred Korzybski’s SCIENCE AND SANITY. Super-major influence on the thinking of W.S. Burroughs!

() PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED and Recommended:

() At the L.A. Zine Fest (Thanks, Rhea Tepp!) we acquired a number of publications and will try to “review” or at least list them next time! Thank You, All of You – You know who you are… You taught us the word “face-ist” to add to the list of other “ists”…

() Bucky Sinister’s new novel, BLACK HOLE (drugs, sex and madness/alternate “realities” in the Tenderloin, S.F.). softskull.com

5. Links (Send Us Some!)

Visit our website to see our recommended links for September 2015.

6. Quotations

() “Pictures are worthless. Reputation is everything.”—Jo Nesbo, Headhunters

() “Cynicism is popular because it stimulates the brain chemicals that make you feel good. It stimulates dopamine by making the world feel predictable. It triggers serotonin by making you feel superior to “the jerks.” It triggers oxytocin by telling you who to trust. You pay a high price for these moments, unfortunately, because cynicism keeps you focused on problems instead of opportunities.”—Loretta Breuning

“And link to her blog, very HELPFUL and interesting!
http://innermammalinstitute.org/blog/ ” – from Gloria K.

7. Letters from readers

() “as always thanks for the wonderful newsletter and the plug for http://www.norcalnoisefest….
– anyone can be a troublemaker  especially if they go out and cause some trouble…
– Abby the cat looks very content sleeping – too bad we don’t have a dream machine for cats….
– Down and Out in London an excellent suggestion…
– Go See Straight Out of Compton…. better yet just look up the NWA videos on youtube…. I should do a review on the movie… still a fan of Dr. Dre and Slim Shady….
– Clinton and Bush want to save Syria… How about saving Detroit, Motherfuckers?  Ciao, Monte C…”

() “http://aphelis.net this seems like a VERY interesting blog that I just stumbled upon….there is an article about the BBC iggy pop audiodoc (w/ links to it) on Wm Burroughs that I totally missed but you probably heard…anyhoooooo, search for that & check this blogsite out for me, since I have SO VERY LITTLE time until mid september when I hope I’ll have a bit more…hope you are well !!!! –  Dave S.

ps also I have 3 good friends in this exhibit over in the Mission that I think you might want to share…
http://www.yourmusegallery.com/exhibits.html

() “I am really enjoying the writing of Von Stephane” – Victor A.

() [from V in London] “Hi Vale, I’m tabling at the Satanic Flea Market this Sunday with Monkey of blotter art and also tabling for Strange Attractor press. (So selling books and blotter art). I did not know that you had a zine out about blotter art—if so i would have tried to get some over to London for sale.  Would you be interested in getting some of your zines on the blotter art page? You’d need to liaise with Monkey, though.” Monkey’s business: http://blotterart.com

Satanic Flea Market: https://www.facebook.com/events/933748793332960/

() from Danielle N: “Have you ever visited Pier 24 Photography in San Francisco? They have a show up right now on one of my favorite photographers, Paul Graham. Please check it out!” (recommended: danielleneu.com – great photos!)

8. Sponsors

Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter – Please go to their websites!

If you would like to subscribe, we ask for a 6-month minimum of $72. (But, we will take sponsorships @$12/month!)

1. 47 Canal Street (Gallery w/events, NYC) – 47CanalStreet.com go visit & say RE/Search sent you! **NEW ADDRESS** 291 Grand St, 2nd floor! (x11/30/15)

2. BEYOND BAROQUE: Only bookstore in L.A. with a complete stock of RE/SEARCH BOOKS! Please patronize them…

3. Blotter Barn Hits – dedicated to Forester. A tiny book full of pictures of LSD blotters from Mark McCloud’s Institute of Illegal Images. This little gem is a hardbound book measuring 2 by 2 inches, with over 100 pages of full color, highly detailed pics. Only $9.99!
link: http://www.blotterbarn.com/books.html (x8/31/15)

4. Kevin O’Malley+Christie Dames, the High-Heeled Anarchist: TechTalk/Studio: http://techtalkstudio.com + Commonwealth Club, San Francisco. (x4/31/15)

5. From our friends Amy and Brian – “We think RE/Search is great and love to support it.” (x7/31/15)

6. $0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0$0
V. Vale’s RE/Search Newsletter is cordially sponsored by “Beyond the Beyond.” http://archive.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond
http://brucesterling.tumblr.com @bruces http://flickr.com/brucesterling
Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN!
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7. Charles H. Kerr Publishing Company – Penelope Rosemont, Chicago Surrealist Group founder. (x5/31/15)

8. D. Mickey Sampson. (x4/30/15). BillyH. (x10/31/15). We thank Lucas Reiner for support!

9. Beverly Potter sent us her newest fun memoir, Animal House On Acid which includes tales of Punk Rock in Berkeley, specifically the Barrington Hall co-op. Order from: http://www.animalhouseonacid.com/ (x7/31/16)

10. THANK YOU, TIJANNA Eaton (x02-28-1

The end, for now

September 2015 RE/Search Newsletter #142 written by V. Vale & other contributors. RE/Search website powered by Laughing Squid.