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Kerouac's Scroll, Frank Photos at the IMA
Posted: Apr 11, 2008 in Things to do, Culture
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In April 1951, 57 years ago, Jack Kerouac taped 6 pieces of 20 foot long Japanese drawing paper together and fed that paper into his typewriter and wrote "On the Road" in three weeks, fueled by coffee and the desire to tell the story of his adventures using methods of "spontaneous prose" which were inspired by bebop and surrealist experiments. In June 2008, that legendary manuscript-- "The Scroll"-- will be displayed at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The Scroll will be illuminated by an exhibition of photos by renowned photographer and filmmaker Robert Frank. The photos displayed are virtually the entire contents of Frank's groundbreaking book "The Americans" (which had a preface by Kerouac when it was published in 1958). Frank is perhaps best known for his unreleased and notorious documentary film of the Rolling Stones 1972 tour whose title cannot be mentioned here and also as the cinematographer of the Beat classic film "Pull My Daisy". The exhibit will be displayed June 26-September 21 in the IMA's Schaefer and Gray Gallery.
Is "Pull My Daisy" the film that will be screened at the IMA later this year? And what is the film's title in relation to the Ginsberg poem of the same name?
I think Ginsberg and Kerouac and either Corso or Neal Cassady collaborated on that poem, which was set to music and was sort of the theme song of the film. I haven't seen it and don't know if its available. The narration of the film was improvised by Kerouac. There is a rare book that was released in conjunction with the film. The film the IMA is showing on July 17 is a documentary: "On the Road Now: Artists and Writers Respond to Kerouac in the 21st Century".
Does Jim Irsay still own The Scroll?
Yes. However many millions of dollars he paid for it is still a record amount for a modern literary manuscript. Perhaps someday they will construct a special building for it with a retractable roof.
Oh, thanks so much for following this. I'll be there! Seems the only thing the Indy exhibit is missing is some live music ~ surely there are a few local artists who are up to the task...
And, I love the retractable roof idea.
Yes. However many millions of dollars he paid for it is still a record amount ...
By "they," do you mean taxpayers? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
If the magazine is still on the stands, pick up a copy of the recent Vanity Fair. There's a great story about Robert Frank by Charlie LeDuff, former NYT columnist and now an enterprise writer for the Detroit News. The piece is awesome, and will give you a good idea of what to expect when you see Frank's photos. That exhibit is one not to be missed.