"The Warhol Summer"
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Blair writes:
Warhol Summer 2006. I'm opening the hotel April to October for select artists to actually live here for a season or two similar to our original "Breathing Canvas" season, modeled partially after Warhol's Factory. If you see yourself in this adventure float through the virtual tour, pick a room, and contact me.
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Blair writes:
People have begun to approach me about moving in here. The weather has just broken and the hotel feels suddenly completely different than from winter. Some have begun to ask about the possibility for them:Theater actor and painter Dylan Fornoff, Photographer and paranormal investigator Adam Blai, Actor and filmmaker (and Baird Bryant's son) Pablo Bryant, Poet and beat fan Leah Hansen, Local painter (just for studio space) Andrew Turman, and a few others are also asking... Jed Birmingham just wrote and wanted the experience but couldn't escape for several months. At one point sculptor George Turner moved in for about a month, jut long enough for him to complete the beauty sculpture he was creating. Marshall Rubin was going to move in and escape New York just long enough to create his screenplay. So I'm open to that as well, more shorter stays. Maybe that will define part of the summer. I think Chicago DJ Steve Niketopoulos (who lived in Room #10) might come for about a week or two.
What you would need? Money to cover your own utilities. Also, enough additional food and play money to live on for as long as you're here (because jobs suck in the area and you can't come here expecting to support yourself from some temp job). On the flip side, it is far cheaper to live here than most all of the cities we are coming from.
You'll get a room and the run of the building (first floor communal) and the company of other artists 24/7 also on sabbatical into this adventure. Only looking for those in the arts or passionate about the arts...
(PS: must be cool with cats and ghosts)
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Adam Blai writes:
Glad on the short-stay flexibility...
If Bone Daddy can accommodate I'll use a room as I can. Shooting schedules this summer will be hectic and I have to keep the J.O.B. at bay...buuuuuut I would love to be able to come down when possible and have a place to stay and be able to keep some stuff there for weekend visits.
Maybe we can generate character studies for all of the participants (as well as finally hang the picture of Baird etc.)! Ooooo, getting excited about that...
-Adam
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Barbara Purbaugh writes:
Hey, are you open to weekend stays? I want to write a screenplay. Well, adapt a short story into a screenplay, and I have no clue how to do it. I thought there'd be some folks including you that could guide me. Cost?
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Blair writes:
Barb! How nice to hear from you. I never know who is out there checking into this site.
Barb, since you already have a local apartment just come and visit whenever you want. You know you are part of our tribe. As far as your project, I have the entire John Truby Story Structure screenwriting classes on tape as I used to know him. So you may borrow them if you'd like -they take hours!- and learn from someone who has done very well in Hollywood. Plus, we support you. (On an interesting side note, I actually was in discussions with John Truby about a year ago to have him come out here from LA and teach a weekend getaway class here at the hotel on Horror and Mythic Screenwriting. It's still on the back burner but he may even show up himself here one day.)
Barbara is a local writer who also attended Naropa Institute in Colorado. She's also been to all the Kerouac Fests. See her web site which offers writing / editing services.
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Adam Blai writes:
Note from a Hotel groupie...
It’s 8:26 p.m. and I’m sitting in the room next to the monkey room drinking wine from a mug and writing by candlelight. Blair is down the hall working on his book and Bowie is singing about the Diamond Dogs. The hotel is empty except us two, recently fed and enjoying each other and the creative energy of this night. I came on short notice, round two of some dissertation work I started last week here in the hotel.
This place is becoming a sort of retreat or sanctuary for me. It started with the burst of energy and acceptance that was the fest 05, and now it’s taking on a different energy. I really enjoy coming to the hotel. Blair has a way of stepping aside and fostering the energy that you bring – assuming it’s not destructive of course. The hotel has a very open, amorphous feel for me that way. Blair and this place seem to be open to however I am in the moment.
Night has fallen and it’s going to rain or storm…earlier I was walking from room to room reading a paper related to my work. I never saw some of the rooms here before today. They were always occupied or we were making art in only a few places. There are a LOT of cool rooms and spaces here. Mermaids give way to creepy-cool-metaphor zombie girls…
“Rebel rebel you’ve torn your dress…your face is a mess…”
One of the cool things that just struck me about this place is this: hang around here for any amount of time and you’re going to end up in a movie, a character in a book, or in someone’s art. We all become each other's canvas.
If this is at all the kind of thing you want in your life, or even if you’re not sure, you should consider spending time here. I’ll always be grateful to Sarah for introducing me!
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Andrew Turman writes:
Across the street from the Midway
Mid May is approaching...
Well, April is done...I am looking forward to spending time with fellow artists at the Midway (oh, Blair too!). I live just across the street, so I would be interested in knowing when any people are here. Something Blair and I talked about, how about setting up an art exchange? I am a painter and writer, and would be willing to part with some pieces of my work for some of your own. This would be a great idea for the Kerouac Fest, but let's get it started now.
Hopeful to see someone soon,
-WmAT
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Blair writes:
Professor Michael Dennison to move in...
This just in: poetry creative writing Professor Michael Dennison called and will be moving into the Midway hotel for a bit some time soon. And he will be bringing some of the infamous typewriter girls with him. So if you see them typing outside on the Midway lawn don't touch their typewriters or you might get zapped. Michael will be teaching abroad next semester so this might be one of his last big summer parties in the US for a bit. Who knows what poetry this week will summon. A Byron with the Shelley's weekend?
It seems something is growing around everyone's joint visit. Adam should be moving back in simultaneously with everyone else's stay. So lots of photography. Perhaps we'll finally get around to doing the long-overdue Weldon Kees seance too. http://www.danagioia.net/essays/ekees.htm Yes, its time. Mah-valous, as Dr. Dennison would say. Skot Jones, a former student, just wrote saying, "Now send that Great man across the Atlantic in highest style!"
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Blair writes:
Post subject: the revolving door swings
Well, what a whirlwind of a month it has been here lately in the hotel. So many artists came through in the last week or so it was amazing. Dr. Michael Dennison's troop of typewriter girls spent days here with him typing and exploring. One of them, Crystal who is one brave trooper, took off walking for the mountains and discovered an old train car graveyard. Lines and lines of forgotten train cars with the vines and brush growing over them, broken windows, long silent empty cars, old seats, ghosts. Eye candy galore. So we all went back and took wonderful photographs. Photographer Adam Blai was here, and upstairs creating his treasured signature photos. One of these pics captured Michael in the state he is leaving behind as he is about to launch into his big Beirut adventure. We are going to create a Dennsion Suite upstairs for all of Michael's things and a desk for his massive black typewriter Morticia while he is away. Joey and Stephanie, old hats now at the hotel from years of being here and even living here, gave tours with first hand ghost stories of the upstairs hotel for those new to the building. A real treat as Joey gives the tour much better than I. Webhost "Hades" Tom Leslie was here. Editor Barb Purbaugh was here. Actor Dylan Fornoff and Silent Cinema Bill and a host of many others all ended up staying here over the last week. We had big grand salmon and wine dinners in the California Room, brandy on desert, followed by cigarettes from Cairo, Egypt on the porch. Adam brought something the girls were referring to as simply "sex in a bowl." Groovy Shakespeare Wess and Bri even came in from San Francisco! Sculptor George Turner showed up. A lot of others. Ally Carter stopped by. It climaxed with a full house for Memorial Day weekend in the Midway Bar. We even got invaded by an additional twenty-five or so locals chanting their 3 AM one line poem, "Got free beer?" No sleep for days. A lot of sensual dancing. The sound of typing down the halls at all hours. We discussed a great deal, and even filmed part of the discussion, Yeats' poem Sailing to Byzantium (O sages standing in God's holy fire As in the gold mosaic of a wall, Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre, And be the singing-masters of my soul. Consume my heart away; sick with desire And fastened to a dying animal It knows not what it is; and gather me Into the artifice of eternity.) For the launching Michael Dennison, the sculpting of the film Coolsville, and even what we are all doing here at the hotel it felt pretty appropriate. Wonderful German coffee, wonderful conversations and ideas, wonderful guests. The hotel cats getting a lot of attention. A lot of magic, but somehow never did seem to get to that Weldon Kees seance...
The hotel is now closed again for a bit as I step back into editing. I'm just cleaning up after these last two roaring weeks to the ease of Rickie Lee Jones's music. I was able to introduce her precious voice to several who were here who fell in new love with her songs. Good times.
Young Blood:
"They say this city will make you dirty
But you look alright
You feel real pretty when he's holding you tight
City will make you mean
But that's the make up on your face
Love will wash you clean in the night's disgrace
Find a block where your people can find you
Keep a third eye watching behind you
You never know when you're making a memory
They will wish they were here together again, someday"
-RLJ
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Hades writes:
I will congratulate you on finding the old trolley dump... I will dig up the history on that graveyard here in the next few days.
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Sarah Ireland writes:
Hello there cats and kittens. Man has it been a a glorious night. Finally its dropped to 75 down here. I am headed out to Frenchman Street near the French Quarter for some live jazz and cold drinks, but before I go I wanted to let everyone know I am throwing a party some time around the weekend of the Nine Inch Nails concert. I figured since I'm gonna be there why not celebrate. Oh yeah, everyone from the Rocky Horror Party is expected to attend. Not quite sure what the party is going to entail, but ya'll best be ready to get your drunk on. I plan on cooking some cajun cuisine so bring your appetites. Anyway more on that later. For now tah tah...
-Sarah
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Blair writes:
Tue Jun 20, 2006 6:13 pm
Post subject: Hosting a Nine Inch Nails / Warhol / Bauhaus Party?
I just logged on and see that Sarah (AKA Kennedy Lane) has posted that she is hosting a party here soon. Well(!), I guess then we are. Last we talked there was some discussion in the air of launching some kind of Nine Inch Nails / Andy Warhol / Bauhaus Party. (If you've never heard of the band Bauhaus watch the opening of The Hunger. We love them, and they are coming to the area!)
Anyway, the scoop is Sarah is moving in up here into the hotel from New Orleans for a little while. So I guess she is planning a welcoming party or big cajun dinner of some kind. Well, if she's hosting I sure wouldn't want to miss it. Her cajun cooking RAWKS! I'll let everyone know privately the details, dates and times after we catch up in case you'd like to attend.
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Hades writes:
Is that strange gorilla man going to be there again?
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Sarah Ireland writes:
Post subject: (A very edited post)
OK. Now I am coming up on- (edited by hotel ghosts) probably hit Johnstown shortly there after. I am so excited. I am throwing a shindig (edited) Andy Warhol styled. Anyway.. (edited) are expected to attend. Dress to kill, cats and kittens. I figure I'll whip up some cajun cuisine and get completely smashed as per usual. Stephanie and Joey, I'm counting on you two. Oh yeah as well as Andrew and Adam and that gorilla, if anyone can find him. It should be exciting. I will have nothing less. Lets see... The partys main night will be (edited) though for those coming along there will be some things brewing that night. Like cocktails in an after (edited) ho-down. if you can, bring some beers or liquor. I think Im getting (edited) fer all yall beer drinkers.
I think I'll be in town for a few weeks, but I should be in and out all summer. New Orleans is hot hot hot. And I am trying not to be here for the heat. I have a few ideas for photo shoots with my favorite photographer and close personal friend Adam Blai. a girl with cute feet would be helpful. especially if she wears a size nine or has tiny feet. I am excited. Oh yeah and a boy...(Dylan, you gonna be around?)
I think I have a few of my LA friends are coming out to the Kerouac event as well as some of my boys from this here neighborhood. Blair says its the last one so I think we should pack the house.
Oh and Blair... I want to know if I could install a pole in the hotel to practice tricks on so I dont get rusty. Entertainers need to maintain. That and drunken pole tricks are the bestest fun. Maybe on the 2nd or 3rd floor I could get something together.
See ya'll soonBack to top
-KennedyLayne
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Sarah Ireland writes:
Post subject: Stoves a cooking y"all
Hey Ya'll....
stoves hot.... pans are simmering... Jambalaya is brewing. bring your bellies my way. It smells so good in here that I'm almost home sick. Theres gonna be so much food. heck's yah!
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Blair writes:
If there was ever a random moment in history in this place, tonight SO MANY of the legendary regulars have travelled here from afar... and it's only 9pm on Friday! My God, 48 hours more to go, what is brewing here?
To anyone out there reading this, everyone says, "Hi!"
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Silent Cinema Bill writes:
WJAC-TV NEWS BRIEF:
Saturday, July 1, 2006
Noted madman & serial killer who has taken on the identity of immortal German /Hollywood character actor Peter Lorre was last seen staggering out of the Grand Midway Hotel this morning around 10:40AM.
According to witness Michael Dennison, Beruit-bound poetry professor, the Peter Lorre doppleganger said to him in that seedy, raspy voice: "If you would please be so kind as to tell Blair in the words of General MacArthur: "I shall return..."" Dr. Dennison said with that, the strange man stumbled down the railroad tracks until he disappeared into the horizon, muttering "Kenneth, what is the frequency..." and "...light painting babes..."
Police continue to drag the Stoneycreek for his remains. They fear he could be lost in cyber-space indefinitely....
Film at Eleven....
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SIlent Cinema Bill writes:
Peter Lorre has been found!!! Film at Eleven....
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Blair writes:
August full moon
Dylan Fornoff moved into the hotel. He's staying up the hall in the Mermaid Room. He has been reading and studying the Russian writers and thinkers nonstop, currently in particular in love with Belinsky. To walk by his open door is to get an earful of history and passion. Sometimes he stops and comes out into the hall asking if he could read something aloud of his own. I filmed some of his discussions they were stamped with such conviction, determination and love for these writers.
A lot of friends have been visiting for mini-short term visits. An hour here. A half hour there. Staying over night for just one night. Everything is geared and pointed toward September. Phone calls galore. Lots of coffee. Every hour brings some new beauty and magic. A drawing of Kerouac just arrived in the mail by my little sister which I'm going to put on this year's commemorative coffee mugs. She'll be so surprised. New neighbors have moved in next door. Two magazines currently are calling, they want to do stories on the hotel. Potential abounds.
One night I took Sarah and Adam down to the local Abruzzi Club. As we came through the door local artists Jon Beard and his friends began applauding us. For people who aren't from here, stepping into their clapping and cheering, their gesture had to be the neatest most enchanting moment we'd received from people in the town yet.
So yesterday I was editing the film Coolsville in my office, all the footage is of my friends and people that have come here to the hotel. I was cutting a scene where John Cassady was downstairs in the Beat Room with Chris Yambar/Mr.Beat discussing how Bob Dylan had influenced John Lennon to step up to the plate and write something deeper and it changed the Beatles. My friend Jaime had shot the footage. I was changing it to black and white. And Dylan was in his room, and had begun reading my novel Wintergrave, which also takes place here in the hotel. I began playing some Damien Youth CDs. It was great to be listening to Damien's music echo through the hotel halls as he used to live here and his memories are soaked in everything we still do here. Damien was one of the original partners with me, and he is a great songwriter as well. Not that this hadn't happened before, but in that hour I realized once again how so much of the artwork around us was saturated with the expression of our own friends, not store-bought, but manifested from within our own circles, and how proud I was of that.
At one point, I think Damien's song Blackbird and the Widow was playing, I looked up to see that Dylan had stopped working in his room and had wandered down the hall looking out the front window far off into the distance. He looked kind of hypnotized by the moment, caught in the music and soaked in the swirl of art and memories and music all around us as well. What's up, I asked. "I think this must be my favorite Damien Youth song," he replied.
So much had happened here in the hotel and was created among artists and between friends. It was great to just be still for a moment and enjoy the expressions of those we've personally known. To revel in it. So, to anyone out there that's ever been here, know that your expressions and creative extensions sometimes still throb on these walls as if being appreciated and pumped inside a massive three story beating heart. Kind of sad too. That line from the Counting Crows CD Recovering the Satellites came to mind, "I can't remember all the times I've tried to tell myself to hold onto these memories as they pass."
Last night for the full moon we took some friends up on the hotel roof and filmed romantic 3 AM footage from high above the little town of Windber. Keri's feet hung from the edge.
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Andrew Turman writes:
Last Saturday, not only was I was a witness to the magic of Adam Blai's artistic photgraphy, I was also a participant. He took a phenomenal photograph of me with one of my paintings that hangs in Blair's bar. Wow! I was, and am still, floored. I also served as propmeister for another work, if holding a dangling key counts. I continue to be impressed by the caliber of people Blair brings together as the glue for us all. Thanks Adam, and thank you to Blair.
-Andrew Turman
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Adam Blai writes:
Happy
You are too kind, truly. It's a pleasure working with other artists. That is only the second time I have done a light painting of an artist with their painting, it's a cool task!
Hopefully there will be more to do with you and your paintings, I have some ideas starting at where we are at with the first one...
-Adam Blai
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Blair writes:
the Warhol Summer
This past summer of '06 with all the photography and filming going on in house, with all the artists in residence, worked like a kind of machine, thus our reference to a Warhol Summer. To round it up, on the last day of summer the typewriter girls came in from Pittsburgh and wall-papered the hotel bar stage area with aluminum foil Factory-like, making everything shimmer and fabulous.