415.362.1465 | 
RE/Search Newsletter #169, Nov 2017 Part 2
SPONSORSHIP NEEDED! Support independent publishing. Help us keep this newsletter going. For $72 you will receive a website listing, plus space for a small message, for 6 months.
Follow V. Vale on Twitter and Instagram!
Find our podcast, RE/Search Conversations on iTunes or your favorite podcast app.
Table of contents
0. Shannon Michael Cane, 1974-2017, R.I.P.
1: Forthcoming events part 2
2: Our past life
3: Recommended links
4: Quotes
5: Letters from readers
6: Sponsors (Check ’em out! – they make this newsletter possible!)
1: Forthcoming events part 2
2: Our past life
3: Recommended links
4: Quotes
5: Letters from readers
6: Sponsors (Check ’em out! – they make this newsletter possible!)
0. SHANNON MICHAEL CANE, 1974-2017 R.I.P. We have been in shock since reading the tiny obituary notice in Art Forum‘s website, and will somebody please tell us more?!? Shannon personally made it possible for RE/Search to attend the Los Angeles Art Book Fair and for the past two years, the New York Art Book Fair—high points in our lives where we met the “best” people on the planet from all over the world. He is way too young to be dead—what happened? Shannon endeared us by confiding that in 1989, when our best-seller-of-all-time, Modern Primitives came out, in Australia he borrowed his brother’s I.D. and managed to score a copy (there never have been many RE/Search or Search&Destroys in the down-under-continent) and he subsequently dared to ink his body and continue his searcher’s journey down the countercultural highway, finally being in a position of supreme responsibility for the L.A. and N.Y. Art Book Fairs, thus materially making the lives of people like RE/Search much more endurable—in fact, even a bit joyous. What will happen now?!? If there’s any way we can “help” please contact us. We feel like we’ve lost an extended family member. Shannon was obviously a DOER (his To-Do-List must have literally had hundreds of entries) and it’s hard to accept we won’t ever see him again. We’re still stuck in the anger stage of grief right now, but really just don’t know anything of substance, so… we hope somebody reading this will illuminate us more. But, we know that any amount of “knowledge” will not bring Shannon back, so… The Mother of Sighs is ringing our doorbell now…
1. FORTHCOMING EVENTS PART 2: (San Francisco unless Otherwise Noted)
() SUN NOV 19, 10-6pm: Meet RE/Search at the Howard Zinn Book Fair, S.F.City College Mission Campus on Valencia/22nd-23rd St. If you want any RE/Search rarity, please email us at info@researchpubs.com and we will try to comply…
() Roxie Theater has a lot of other great films playing this month! Same for the Castro, Balboa, Alamo Drafthouse, YBCA, Embarcadero, Clay and probably other theaters). If it’s still possible, try to see BLADE RUNNER 2049 in IMAX; it’s well worth the extra $$ (you see more & hear more).
() NOW FOR NOVEMBER at THE LAB: Annea Lockwood residency (events, film showings, et al) www.thelab.org
() FREE Fri Nov 10, 6-9pm Illegal Art Exhibit with Kal Spelletich, Mark Pauline, Matt Gonzalez and others. Luggage Store, 1007 Market/6th St., upstairs. Fri Dec 1: Artists Survival Techniques and The Law with advice from Matt Gonzalez and Ragi da Lawyer: how to survive tips, stories of those who made BIG mistakes! Uh, this was a GREAT event!!! Photos on Instagram on vale_research account!
() FREE Sun NOV 12 12-6:15pm Punk-Metal Flea Market at DNA Lounge, 11th St/Harrison St. RE/Search will have a table; come meet us! (Bands play til 9pm) This was a great event!!!
() $5 WED NOV 15, 8pm KREation Ensemble, Heartworm, The Senders, Headlights at Peacock Lounge, 552 Haight/Fillmore Sts.
() $ THU NOV 16, 2pm CatVideoFest at YBCA
() $ THU NOV 16, 730pm, Tanya Zimbardo presents Gunvor Nelson/Dorothy Wiley films at YBCA (RE/Search will attend!)
() $ SAT NOV 18, 7pm Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz at YBCA (also Sun Nov 19 2pm)
() FREE Sun NOV 19, 10-6pm Howard Zinn Book Fair at City College Mission Campus, Valencia/22nd St, RE/Search will have a table; come meet us!
() Roxie Theater has a lot of other great films playing this month! Same for the Castro, Balboa, Alamo Drafthouse, YBCA, Embarcadero, Clay and probably other theaters). If it’s still possible, try to see BLADE RUNNER 2049 in IMAX; it’s well worth the extra $$ (you see more & hear more).
() NOW FOR NOVEMBER at THE LAB: Annea Lockwood residency (events, film showings, et al) www.thelab.org
() FREE Fri Nov 10, 6-9pm Illegal Art Exhibit with Kal Spelletich, Mark Pauline, Matt Gonzalez and others. Luggage Store, 1007 Market/6th St., upstairs. Fri Dec 1: Artists Survival Techniques and The Law with advice from Matt Gonzalez and Ragi da Lawyer: how to survive tips, stories of those who made BIG mistakes! Uh, this was a GREAT event!!! Photos on Instagram on vale_research account!
() FREE Sun NOV 12 12-6:15pm Punk-Metal Flea Market at DNA Lounge, 11th St/Harrison St. RE/Search will have a table; come meet us! (Bands play til 9pm) This was a great event!!!
() $5 WED NOV 15, 8pm KREation Ensemble, Heartworm, The Senders, Headlights at Peacock Lounge, 552 Haight/Fillmore Sts.
() $ THU NOV 16, 2pm CatVideoFest at YBCA
() $ THU NOV 16, 730pm, Tanya Zimbardo presents Gunvor Nelson/Dorothy Wiley films at YBCA (RE/Search will attend!)
() $ SAT NOV 18, 7pm Bob Fosse’s All That Jazz at YBCA (also Sun Nov 19 2pm)
() FREE Sun NOV 19, 10-6pm Howard Zinn Book Fair at City College Mission Campus, Valencia/22nd St, RE/Search will have a table; come meet us!
() $ Sun Nov 19 8pm Fillmore: Gary Numan – wish we could go!!!
() FREE Tue Nov 28, 7pm City Lights Bookstore hosts A.J. Lees on William S. Burroughs: new book, Mentored By a Madman, published by Notting Hill Editions.
() FREE Fri Dec 1, Matt Gonzalez talks on “Artists’ Survival Techniques and The Law” at Luggage Store, 1007 Market/6th St.
() FREE Tue Nov 28, 7pm City Lights Bookstore hosts A.J. Lees on William S. Burroughs: new book, Mentored By a Madman, published by Notting Hill Editions.
() FREE Fri Dec 1, Matt Gonzalez talks on “Artists’ Survival Techniques and The Law” at Luggage Store, 1007 Market/6th St.
() FREE Sat Dec 2, 10-5pm SF Center for the Book Arts/Book Fair: RE/Search will have a table; come meet us! 375 Rhode Island St/16th St, S.F. https://sfcb.org/holidayfair2017
() $ Sat Dec 2, evening: Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten) and Danielle Picciotto (musician-writer-artist from Berlin) at THE LAB with Kal Spelletich. Don’t miss this! RE/Search plans to attend (hint, hint)
() $ Mon Dec 4 Pere Ubu at INdependent
3: Links (send us some!)
5: Letters from readers
() “Hi Vale; Hope you are well. Tomorrow the Residents are playing here in Amsterdam. I bought a ticket already.
() FREE Tue Dec 5, 3-9pm Slim’s Bizarre Bazaar at Slim’s, 11th St/Folsom. RE/Search will have a table; come meet us! Thanks, Stephanie Anderson & Chuk Foss!
() $ Thur Dec 14, 7pm: Roxie Cinema, “Roxie Mixtape” group film show, including “Project Y” (1983, 10 min) by Marian Wallace. Roxie Mixtape is a new local-shorts film series curated by the Roxie staff. “Project Y” is an experimental faux-narrative inspired by Jean-Luc Godard, with an analog-generated&edited industrial sound track. 3117 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103.
() FREE Wed Dec 20, 6-8pm, SF Main Library Koret Auditorium: S.F. Punk Film Series – Shorts & Clips from 1977-1980 including Mindy Bagdon’s “Louder Faster Shorter” which Search & Destroy helped make
() Now through Jan 28, 2018: BAMPFA **BERKELEY** Miyoko Ito Art Show! Also, Jan 17-May 6 BAMPFA has a huge show titled “Way Bay” of Bay Area artists like Bruce Conner, Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, Richard Diebenkorn, and many others — a must-see! www.bampfa.org
() V. Vale appears briefly (in the middle?) talking about his “Goals of Life” manifesto in FAR#9 Radio Program by Erica Lyle & friends: https://www.mixcloud.com/kpissfm/free-air-radio-9/
() V. Vale on youtube (1 minute) supporting the striking students at HBK Braunschweig Art School who have had their art studios closed down during weekends and nights, violating a hundred-year tradition and precedent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsre_ZrWAnM www.hbkbs.de
PERENNIAL FORTHCOMINGs to CHECK OUT:
() Support the Roxie Theater: great programming EVERY NIGHT (our opinion). http://www.roxie.com
() Castro Theater: a beautiful Film Palace! Amazing built-into-the-walls pipe organ often played before shows, so get there early.
() The Balboa, too! Go OUT to the movies! See films with others & buy popcorn! It’s FUN!
() S.F./BAY AREA EVENTS to Google Regularly: The Long Now Foundation. Goethe Institute. The List (Punk Rock). Dorkbot. Bottom of the Hill. The INdependent. Thee Parkside. The Chapel. Brick & Mortar. ATA Gallery (last “underground” film place?). Mule Gallery. Live Worms Gallery on Grant Avenue. The Lab under Dena Beard. Southern Exposure Gallery under Patricia Maloney. SF Cinematheque under Antonella Bonfanti. Gray Area on Mission St/23rd St: very avant-garde programming; go to their website.
2: Our Past Life:
() Now through Jan 28, 2018: BAMPFA **BERKELEY** Miyoko Ito Art Show! Also, Jan 17-May 6 BAMPFA has a huge show titled “Way Bay” of Bay Area artists like Bruce Conner, Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, Richard Diebenkorn, and many others — a must-see! www.bampfa.org
() V. Vale appears briefly (in the middle?) talking about his “Goals of Life” manifesto in FAR#9 Radio Program by Erica Lyle & friends: https://www.mixcloud.com/kpissfm/free-air-radio-9/
() V. Vale on youtube (1 minute) supporting the striking students at HBK Braunschweig Art School who have had their art studios closed down during weekends and nights, violating a hundred-year tradition and precedent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsre_ZrWAnM www.hbkbs.de
PERENNIAL FORTHCOMINGs to CHECK OUT:
() Support the Roxie Theater: great programming EVERY NIGHT (our opinion). http://www.roxie.com
() Castro Theater: a beautiful Film Palace! Amazing built-into-the-walls pipe organ often played before shows, so get there early.
() The Balboa, too! Go OUT to the movies! See films with others & buy popcorn! It’s FUN!
() S.F./BAY AREA EVENTS to Google Regularly: The Long Now Foundation. Goethe Institute. The List (Punk Rock). Dorkbot. Bottom of the Hill. The INdependent. Thee Parkside. The Chapel. Brick & Mortar. ATA Gallery (last “underground” film place?). Mule Gallery. Live Worms Gallery on Grant Avenue. The Lab under Dena Beard. Southern Exposure Gallery under Patricia Maloney. SF Cinematheque under Antonella Bonfanti. Gray Area on Mission St/23rd St: very avant-garde programming; go to their website.
2: Our Past Life:
() FILMS WE SAW AND LIKED:
– At the Roxie Noir Festival, “The Strange Mr Steve” with Jeanne Moreau: great clothes, beautiful B&W photography, femme fatale plot; unforgettable. That Steve sure is good at thinking up new crimes to commit!
– The Florida Project with Willem Dafoe (but the 6-year-old kids are the big stars); a must-see. Great naive-art backgrounds; a white-trash downwardly-mobile poignant color cinema-verite contemporary “childhood classic”. The heavily tattooed single mom just doing what it takes to survive is unforgettable, too. The 6-year-old kids just want to have fun (with no money, of course, so they’re forced to use their imaginations and improvise) but already are much too streetwise…
– Blade Runner 2049 – we want to see it a third time in IMAX. The image is twice as large, twice as detailed (you can actually read the tiny end credits), and four times louder and more stereoscopic. What a world! Great sets and costumes and lighting and…A classic.
– Agnes Varda (89 years young; living legend who worked with Godard, et al) in Faces, Places, a film by JR. A fun French travelogue film with real people interviewed and filmed and real street art made on a large scale. Definitely worth seeing once.
– Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace (at the Roxie theater) was beautiful, colorful, haunting and—women’s hairstyles and clothing have definitely not gotten “better”! Perhaps every film by Mario Bava is worth seeing?!?
– The Embarcadero Cinema: The Square, 2.5 hours of exploring (with humor, all the time) the meaning of art, relationships, freedom (what “cutting-edge” means), responsibility, censorship, et al. Doubt if this Scandinavian film could ever have been made in America, but… We enjoyed it! Some great camerawork, retro-sounding-Bach-music-done-by-vocals-only, etc. Actually, this is a MUST-SEE film; there are so many “topics” which can spark discussion, and the continually-renewed suspense keeps you on the edge of your seat until suddenly: the film is over, almost shockingly soon… No wonder this movie got the Palme d’Or prize; make no mistake, this is a GREAT FILM…
BOOKS/ZINES/PRINT/ETC:
– We’ve been reading Heather Vescent’s colorful/funny/disturbing book, The Cyber Attack Survival Manual – google to find it! Gorgeous layout and design.
– Carl Hiassen’s Striptease – found it on a North Beach street; this must surely be his greatest mystery set in the white-trash-South (Florida)?!? Didn’t realize the author was such an environmentalist, historian and anti-corporate-investigator. Very satisfying ending…
– our friend Kent Beyda sent us as a gift the latest (and signed!!) copy of Lee Child’s new Jack Reacher novel and we’re already fifty pages into it: The Midnight Line. Autographed—we didn’t even know Lee Child did a recent author tour of America, or we would have tried to attend a public appearance…
– The North Beach Public Library regularly shows films, and we finally attended, on a Wednesday night at 6pm: a one-hour opera version of Cinderella which was totally amusing, with beautiful sets and costumes and of course the impossibly absurd virtuosic theatrics of all the singers (how can you sing all those complicated scales that fast?!?)…
– We’re slowly reading everything we’ve been sent, and will make a big effort to include more mini-reviews in the December 2017 newsletter…
3: Links (send us some!)
() La Mère electronic sound-scape offerings (Marian “RE/Search” Wallace) can be found on bandcamp at this link: https://lamere1.bandcamp.com/ . Take a listen for free — new songs added monthly! To get the “full effect,” listen to whole song — it might just improve your mood, make you laugh, or give you something to think about!
Newest offering “Hum … ” now available.
() David Cox interviewed V. Vale, Marian Wallace and Martina Gross after seeing Blade Runner 2049, and you can hear it here:
() from Ryan Foerster: https://vimeo.com/230819633 https://vimeo.com/227738984
() from V in London: http://www.carlabrahamsson.com/news/a-topy-occulture-webinar-coming-up/
() from Martina G: a link of Agnes Varda’s film about her uncle, who was her older cousin https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9uq65
() Scroll down to see photos of various photos of V. Vale giving a talk, etc about the Jim Marshall photograph featuring Vale front & center with Blue Cheer in the background & the Haight/Ashbury sign prominently above: http://gallery.leicastoresf.com/blog/the-photography-of-jim-marshall/
4: Quotations:
4: Quotations:
() philosophy of design: “Less…but Better!”—Dieter Rams, designer of Braun products—we have a Braun battery-powered alarm clock and white-plastic Braun orange-juice squeezer (electric) and they are kinda amazingly efficient and enduring; highly recommended) John Alderman told us SFMOMA had a Dieter Rams show about 6 years ago; we’re going to see if there was a catalog…
() Whenever you say, “That’s good enough”—it ISN’T!
() “Beauty & Humor Uber Alles”
() “People can be selfish when money is scarce”
() “I’m a serious person who loves jokes”
() [to make a film] “All it takes is an idea out of the ordinary“
() [on self-help advice books] “If only it were that easy…”
() Ask, “Who are the greatest designers who ever lived?”
() Ask, “Who are the greatest designers who ever lived?”
() Idea; “Change the world through design.” “Make [things] that are simple, beautiful, useful, and long-lasting…but that don’t necessarily call attention to the design!”
() Goal: Rigor and Vigor.
() “The future came wearing the look of the past.”—Red Rover
5: Letters from readers
() “Thank you for the super-quick delivery and thank you for all these years of a radical and critical publication! Cheers! — Bryan”
() “Hi there — With a purchase of some RE/SEARCH books recently I received a photocopy of your “Goals Of Life.” I put it on my wall and I read it often. It got me thinking about how great it would be to interview you about the principles you outline as well as how you have manifested these into your prolific publishing career documenting the underground and obscure subcultures. I know you already have your own podcast but I wanted to ask if you would participate in my radio show on nts.live which broadcasts out of our Los Angeles studios. My show is called Lucifer Over Los Angeles and some favorite shows I have done recently featured Cosey Fanni Tutti, writer David Keenan and Chrome’s Helios Creed.
If you happen to be in any way inclined let me know what you think! Thanks a lot, — Alea nts.live https://www.nts.live/shows/lucifer-over-london [Answer: Why YES!…Let’s figure out a time!]
() “Hi V.Vale,
“As an avid reader of the RE/Search publications in my teens (and later) I was very excited to read that you were speaking at the Toronto Art Fair last week. Or misread, as the case turned out. However, I enjoyed the talk about your work and it caused me to revisit Pranks 1 & 2, Angry Women, and a few other titles I had handy.
“I’m writing to see if you’d be interested in writing a very brief guest post for the blog I operate on the subject of artists’ books and multiples. The site updates daily with almost 3000 posts to date, and has a large readership.
“All I would require from you is a recent artist book or edition that would endorse as a gift. And then a short bio of yourself and anything you wish to link to.
“Examples from previous contributors can be seen here:
“Thanks in advance for considering this. Yours, Dave”
() “Hi Vale; Hope you are well. Tomorrow the Residents are playing here in Amsterdam. I bought a ticket already.
But I was thinking that it might be mutually beneficial to meet them backstage, or afterwards.
(I remember vaguely meeting one of them, I think with Pamela Mosher,
but no clear memory, as it was so long ago in the 70’s)
Do you have a way to connect me with them? An email, name, or their phone number?
PS: my newest film- ‘RESILIENCE- Vision for a new America’ I just finished a few days ago, 70 min. I think you would appreciate its content..
Be well, Babeth M. VanLoo, FILM ART Amsterdam
Director BFFE @EYE Filmmuseum”
[Babeth worked on Search&Destroy 1977-79]
() “Dear Marian & Vale, Thank you very much, already uploaded! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsre_ZrWAnM (Vale on youtube)
“Occupation is actually a lot of fun, we are learning a lot and we are becoming a stronger and better group every day. Now we are starting bigger projects like our own big exhibition with everybody without the art school.
“We act under the premise „Democracy is fun“ by Joseph Beuys all the time now. 🙂
All the best, Till”
() “Dear Vale, The talk went really well. There were many people in the audience for whom RE/Search is deeply important. It was exciting to talk with them.
“Thanks for all the support and inspiration. x Lauren”
() “Here’s a link to the story that I mentioned.
and here’s a link to his 10 Principles of Good Design
http://www.designprinciplesftw.com/collections/ten-principles-for-good-design — John Alderman, musician-writer-thinker-amazing-human
6: Sponsors
(Without them you would NOT be receiving this newsletter – Please go to their websites!)
Here, a personal thanks to our pal Dave S and to Paul L. And this newsletter would not exist without Andrew B. and Emily.
If you would like to be a sponsor, a year costs $144; we ask for a 6-month minimum of $72.
1. BEYOND BAROQUE: Only bookstore in L.A. with a complete stock of RE/SEARCH BOOKS! Please patronize them… (Also, some RE/Search titles at The Pop-Hop in L.A.; thanks, Rhea Tepp!) RE/Search books now at bozomag’s store in L.A.!
2. $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 @bruceshttp://flickr.com/brucesterling
Information Wants To Be Free WE MEAN IT MAN!
$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$0
3. Hicks Metal Design & Production: Supporting creativity in the Bay Area since 1994 (x4-30-18)
4. We Heard You Like Books accepts the dominance of RE/Search in all matters, but here’s our website anyway: weheardyoulikebooks.com (The Ice Party) (x4-30-18)
5. DRYLAND: Los Angeles Underground Art & Writing—uniquely based in South Central L.A. Poetry, fiction, nonfiction, reviews, interviews. https://drylandlit.org/ (x10-31-17)
6. What’s CBD and how is it related to harm reduction and vaping? To learn more, visit our blog at http://CascadiaVape.com To purchase CBD and Kava supplements visit http://CascadiaVape.net (x/end1/18)
7. Support & visit NYC Gallerist Margaret Lee! 47 Canal (gallery). (x/end1/18)
8. WorkshopSF, located in Western Addition, offers creative, affordable DIY classes for adults, taught by awesome local artists, woodworkers, and makers, since 2009. http://www.workshopsf.org/ (x03/18)
9. Uncertain is a post-industrial musick project by Florian-Ayala Fauna (2007 on), influenced by the Occult and work of artists like Coil, Current 93, Aleister Crowley (the esoteric tradition). https://uncertain.bandcamp.com (x03/18)
10. Paul L. many many thanks!! Also, thanks much to Dave S. and Billy H.
The end, for now
Comments are closed.