June 2010

Beat Memories: Allen Ginsberg’s photos of the beats

I became taken with the beat writers when I was 16. I decided I wanted to travel around the country after high school taking a gap year before college to have crazy experiences. My parents said I could not do it that I had to go to college! Glad I did. Still I got lost in their writing starting with Kerouac and moving on to Burroughs and Ginsberg. I loved them all. I even explored the writing of the women beat writers. They were all so intertwined. They got me into journaling and sketching my thoughts during my travels which was really wonderful to do.

Ginsberg shows the beats through his lens in this amazing exhibit at the National Gallery of Art with scribbled anecdotes that give the photos real context. I’m totally fascinated.

July 4th: A day in the park

1. APC striped tee shirt from Bird
2. Burmuda jean shorts from the Gap
3. Alkemie whistle necklace from Shopbop
4. J.W Hulme Co. Legacy mini cross body bag from Shopbop
5. The Sunset sandal from Madewell

We’re going to our friend’s backyard for a July 4th get-together. It should be really fun. We were planning on a picnic in the park like we did last year but the backyard is preferable to the crowds and crowds of people who all had the same idea as us to find a shady tree to sit under. So lucky us, we will get to sit under a Japanese maple and eat ice cream sandwiches. Still I think this park outfit could go anywhere!