Whitney Biennial gets AWAKE!

Hello Bloggers,

Want to raise your culture quotient? Then check in tomorrow at the Whitney Museum where I (or at least the virtual me) will be reading a story from the insomnia anthology "AWAKE! A Reader for the Sleepless."

The story is by superbad guitarist Gary Lucas, who I can't rave enough about, and it deals with his experiences performing a live soundtrack to the silent film "Der Golem." For those of you unfamiliar with Jewish lore, the Golem is a mythological (or so they claim) clay statue brought to life through the mystical powers of Kaballah (no wonder Madonna's so intent in her studies). They say that the Frankenstein story was inspired by this legend and they just may be right, though in my opinion The Golem is far better-looking (and, funny, he doesn't look Jewish).

So here's what you do. Tomorrow between 5 and 6 PM, EST either get your ass down to the Whitney or check out the event via the internet and you'll hear me reading backed-up by Gary playing -- in other words, you'll hear a sort of live performance by Gary in front of his story about a live performance in front of The Golem. Very post-modern, huh?

Info on Whitney event -- http://whitney.org/www/2008biennial/www/?section=artists&page=artist_npr

Live stream from Neighborhood Public Radio -- http://freeradiosaic.org/program/shows/117/

A couple of things to keep in mind. There will only be an excerpt from the story available at this "performance" since the exhibit in which it's involved is a sort of sound collage about reverie, sleep and insomnia. There will be a bank of radios provided by Neighborhood Public Radio, an experimental station out of the Art institute of Chicago that is making sure that, like Iggy Pop, you've had it in the ear at least once before you die.

If you can't check out the performance tomorrow, there will be a podcast, complete with arty (read "weird") images available about a week after. And while the Art Institute of Chicago will be keeping the whole shebang in its archives, I'll be doing them even one better. As soon as I figure out how to do so on my computer, I'm going to post the whole damn story, complete with music, right here for you. And I'll do so for free.

Such a deal. And it makes you look cultured. Who knew the Whitney Biennial could be so fun.

Till next time,

s