http://www.thevillager.com/villager_360/eastvillageturnout.html
By Cary Abrams
March 24 - 30, 2010
The Bowery Poetry Club was crowded on Saturday evening March 6 with
fans and friends celebrating Downtown legend, cultural icon Tuli
Kupferberg. Kupferberg, 86, is blind after suffering two strokes, and
the event raised more than $800, which will assist with his care
since he requires a full-time attendant.
The benefit followed an earlier celebration at St. Ann's Warehouse in
Brooklyn that focused on music. The Bowery Poetry Club event gave The
Fugs co-founder's legion of friends an opportunity to appreciate his
work anew and honor him a little closer to his longtime East Village
home. This article's writer and Bob Holman, director of the Bowery
Poetry Club, together organized and emceed the lengthy roster of
those reading poems in English, Yiddish and other dialects, along
with singing verses they created, or some of Kupferberg's own work
that he made famous while a member of the seminal group The Fugs.
As the club filled, a slide presentation showed images, including
Fred McDarrah photos of the 1950s and '60s Village, as well as many
other memorable images from Kupferberg's lengthy and illustrious
career. Familar Fugs bohemian anthems rang out in the background to
the crowd's hearty approval. Kupferberg's son Noah opened the evening
by reading perhaps his father's most well-known poem, "Greenwich
Village of My Dreams," in which Kupferberg honored earlier Village
luminaries who first drew him to the neighborhood in the '50s.
David Amram, another legendary artist, reminisced about meeting
Kupferberg in the Village back in the '50s when he played background
music while Jack Kerouac recited his work. A new documentary on
Amram's life is due out soon. Amram, who played his flute at the
benefit, described how it is possible for an artist to live a
creative life and remain vital, as Kupferberg and he have over the
past half-century.
Peter Stampfel, who helped create The Holy Modal Rounders, a group
Sam Shepard played in when first coming to New York, had the club
moving in their seats to his raucous songs. Stampfel joined The Fugs
in the '60s and continues to perform in various groups.
Penny Arcade added her talents to the evening as she created a song
that attempted to capture Kupferberg's essence. Many described
feeling Tuli's raucous, anarchic spirit alive in the room. Another
Warhol actor, octogenarian Taylor Mead read and reflected on some of
Kupferberg's poetry.
Judith Malina of The Living Theater was out of town, though she
dispatched her best wishes. Longtime Living Theater veteran Steven
Ben Israel added his words and voice to the festivities.
Clayton Patterson provided the audience with a lesson in Lower East
Side history and Kupferberg's place within it, in his own inimitable
style. In addition to his son Noah, Kupferberg's wife Sylvia and
daughter Samara looked on proudly throughout the show, which was
streamed live on the Internet.
Be on the lookout for future events featuring those who were unable
to be there and want to continue the celebration.
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