The scene was Shalom Neuman’s exhibit at Art Expo on Pier 36 last month. Anyone aware of the ongoing art history that began in the East Village in the 1980s knows that Shalom is a major figure, an artistic visionary with the drive to explore and realize that vision while generously sharing the bounty that […]
A Memorable Meeting and the Merry Month of May In The Bohemian Continuum Read More »
“April is the cruelest month,” is the famous first line of T.S. Eliot’s 434-line poem The Wasteland. Poetry hasn’t been the same since it first appeared in print in 1922. Thirty years ago, in 1996, the Academy of American Poets used Eliot’s line as part of their justification for seeking and receiving official recognition for
POETRY AND CRUELTY IN THE BOHEMIAN CONTINUUM Read More »
Before anyone takes umbrage at the linking of Catholics and bohemians, please allow me to do a bit of historical explication: Early in the 20th century, at a time when all newspapermen were called bohemians, GK Chesterton was one of England’s most prominent journalists and writers. He was also a devout Catholic. He created Father
Feeling Violated, Authors? “Move fast and break things” has been a recurring motif in the rise of tech moguls. In the case of artificial intelligence, this philosophy, if one can call it that, may have hit a wall. The result could be the same as a car doing 90 miles an hour hitting a wall—not
IN THE BOHEMIAN CONTINUUM – February Read More »
Sometimes a bohemian has to jump right in with both feet and enjoy the splash. Something tells me that 2026 could well be one of those times. So, without further ado, here is a curated selection of some possibilities, happenings, and acknowledgements that prove bohemianism is alive and well, and perhaps susceptible to pursuing healthy
JANUARY IN THE BOHEMIAN CONTINUUM Read More »
I used to be half of a musical act named Working Class Bohemians. The name choice was mine. I got it from a line in Judith Thurman’s excellent biography of the French writer Colette. Whenever I did a gig as part of a duet, it was as Working Class Bohemians. Often it would be with
BOHEMIAN VIBES IN THE DOWNTOWN CONTINUUM, by Stephen DiLauro Read More »
Recently, in Holley Plaza on the west side of Washington Square Park in Manhattan, a crowd gathered around a robot and his attentive security guard. The robot was named Rizzbot and it wore a cowboy hat. Was the hat meant to make one feel at ease? If so, the attempt fell flat – for me
In July I set out to discover what exactly is the state of poetry in downtown Manhattan. NY Poetry Fest was taking place, and several interesting invitations to book launch events landed in my inbox. It appeared I was in for a total immersion. The first event that caught my attention was a book launch
Poetry and books in the downtown continuum, by Stephen DiLauro Read More »
Living downtown, one must be open to a steady stream of surprising new events, people, spaces, energy, vibrations, delights, and possibilities. For example, last month I learned that Washington Square Park, a block from my front door, has an official artist in residence. Also, I was introduced to a tiny room in the upper reaches
TIMES AND SPACES IN THE DOWNTOWN CONTINUUM, by Stephen DiLauro Read More »
It’s a carnival of performance art. It’s wilder than any drug-induced hallucinations. It surpasses any cinematic version of Carnival in Venice you may have seen, and it live. It’s been called the “Burning Man of galas.” It is the annual Chashama Gala, brainchild of Anita Durst, beloved as the Chashama Mama, and this is its
Chashama celebrates 30 extraordinary year,s by Stephen DiLauro Read More »
