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May 1, 2000 Remembering Joan is unutterably touching and moving. Beautiful photographs. Aren't we going to get to see a few of Joan's paintings? In 1973 I was working at a huge post office PCC-LGT in Long Island City, housed in a sprawling complex which at one time had been the film studios of the U.S. Army Signal Corps - I guess that was where Barney learned to use a camera. At the same time I was living with a marvellous painter named Janet Fish, who had her loft on the twelfth floor of 652 Broadway. The Broadway Central was across the street just a few doors uptown. The tenderness and power of being lovers who are artists. Thanks. -Kenneth Tindall |
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18 October 1998 Dear Barney, I hardly write letters anymore. No time. (And this one is definitely not for publication - since I see you have a Letters-to the -Editor section.) I can't tell you how moved I was to see and then receive my own copy of your, Astrid and Jason's hand-made copy of the new Evergreen Review. It is only what a madman would do - or a genius, which I define as an incredibly generous spirit. Thank you for it, and I am very proud to be even vaguely associated with it. In your covering letter you asked for a response, and so, because of time constraints, mine must be very short, but hopefully "sweet." The most important thing I can say to you is that the magazine is too backward-looking in its vision: you are constantly reminding people of who or what Evergreen was. Ironically, this goes against the actual life of the issue - which is completely forward-looking. You have so much new stuff in it, great stuff: I read bits and pieces of everything. Why contextualize this great new substance in a backward-looking rhetoric? Yes, Evergreen was revolutionary. But all people are going to do is ask you what is Evergreen today, not yesterday. (And for those who need to be reminded because they are among the still (!) unenlightened you can do nothing . Only actions count, and the only act worth anything is self-enlightenment.) Stop defining E.R. by re-publishing the ol stuff, mentioning the old authors, etc. Give people a chance to remember these things themselves. Fine, you have used the old name. That's enough - maybe too much as it is. Now, as you yourself always say, "Do you want to know who we were and what we're about? Then read what we published." New actions speak louder then old words. Personally, I love "old words" myself - in many senses of the term, but sometimes you just have to let go. Otherwise, people are going to see you as the old guy trying to revive the old corpse. What a shame - since you are one of the most actively intelligent and sensitive people I know. In my earliest, brashed moment, I could not have kept up with you! Old names, editors, etc. are listed on the masthead. Enough. Just fill the pages with great new images and text - and mum is the word. Not that I didn;t love your editorial - but it looks over its shoulder too much at the past. We are alive now, not yesterday or tomorrow. You are the youngest, most lively, energetic person I have ever met. You will be so for the rest of your life. Put the history where it belongs - in your autobiography - and the present where it belongs - in the pages of the new Evergreen Review. Much love as always, Richard Milazzo |
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Dear Evergreen: I received an email from the managing editor, I believe, a few days ago. But the email was lost when my computer died. So, I'm emailing here in hopes that I can pick up the lost line. I'll be placing a link to Evergreen in the OBR links pages. I was planning to do this anyway. I spent quite a while a few days last week going through your website. I was very happy to find the magazine alive on the web, and I hope that this new medium works for you. Evergreen is the primary influence behind Oyster Boy Review. I only started reading the back issues of Evergreen when I was an undergrad in the late 80s, but I was so amazed by the content, by the editorial selection, that for some time after, the idea of publishing a literary magazine in that vein stewed several years until I started OBR in 93. I have returned many times since then to my collection of back issues of Evergreen when in need of editorial inspiration. In fact, I modeled OBR5's layout on Evergreen's classic design. If you're interested, I'd be happy to send a copy of the next issue your way. Regards. damon sauve |
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Hello -- I visited your web site and enjoyed it very much. I was wondering if you produce a published version on paper (not on-line) of your review. If you do, do you take subscriptions / mail orders? Please let me know. Thanks, |
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Dear Barney, I want to wish you every success with Evergreen Review. You are a living legend in the publishing world and have done more for advancing the cause of literature than almost anyone else in America or elsewhere for that matter. I love your fighting spirit and know that you will continue to provide a place for voices to be heard that would otherwise be silenced in the modern world where MBA's rule the day and mandate only voices that immediately promise to improve a corporate balance sheet's bottom line. Best wishes,
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Dear Barney,
Thanks for sending the interview, its great. I had a wonderful time reading it. It certainly is strange to look back at the 50s today. There were more than one dichotomy in the country. It was a time for madness, bigotry, betrayal, yet artistically so much was happening, at least in NYC. What a wonderful time to be alive. I remember in the late 40s and early 50s they had sessions on Sunday afternoon in Birdland and every musician who was in town would come by and play, and it was only a buck to get in with no minimum. And there was all kinds of places and things happening everywhere. Judson church, St Marks, coffee houses. The galleries on 10th street. Poetry readings all over town. Things were really happening. I remember we all had regular jobs and earned enough to pay our bills, go to a movie and sit in the Cedar St. Bar. And the movies were great in those days too. I'm sure glad I was alive during those days. And we're all glad you were. This country has alot to thank you for. I sure hope you have a sense of how important you were/are, and how much were respect, admire and love you for it. Thanks for it all my friend. I send you all my love and best wishes and hope this finds you well and happy and enjoying the Blessings of Life. Hubert Selby, Jr. |
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