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AUGUST 2017
This August, Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) walked the streets of Amherst, MA, and mingled with members of the Emily Dickinson International Society during the
annual meeting of the EDIS. Did this signal the onset of a world-wide zombie apocalypse? Or did a steel-drum band play "Day-O" to mark the start of the coming zombie apo-calypso? Daylight come and you'll wan' recite Dickinson! |
PRESS ABOUT MR. ASHER'S TRIP TO AMHERST
Scroll down to read the press about Mr. Asher's trip to Amherst. Scroll further down the page for details and pictures of the trip.
Click images below to enlarge.
IN THE NEWS: Dickinson Scholar
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IN THE NEWS: "Psychlets" Popping Up All Over AmherstAugust 1, 2017
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IN THE NEWS: Port-a-Potties Needed for Scholar's VisitAugust 4, 2017
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IN THE NEWS: Dickinson Journal Found in AmherstAugust 5, 2017
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Note: In the article above right, Historical Commission Chairwoman Jane Wald referred to an online exhibit on the cow poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). To see that exhibit, click HERE.
IN THE NEWS:
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IN THE NEWS: Internet & Phone Outages in AmherstAugust 7, 2017
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IN THE NEWS: Internet/Phone
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IN THE NEWS: Governor Issues
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IN THE NEWS: Dickinson Scholar Arrives in the Tri-City AreaAugust 10, 2017
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IN THE NEWS: Tent City Pops Up On Amherst Town CommonAugust 12, 2017
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NOTICES ABOUT THE TRIP
Scroll below for notice/graphics about the trip; scroll further below for details about and pics from the trip.
Afraid? Of whom am I afraid?
Not Emmett Lee Dickinson -- for who is he?
Not Emmett Lee Dickinson -- for who is he?
CLASH OF THE TITANS:Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) and ex-officio board member of the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts, will attend the 2017 annual meeting of the Emily Dickinson International Society.
Will Amherst survive the clash? |
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IT'S GOING TO GET PSYCHOAugust 11 & 12, one DOPE* will take on the EDIS** in Amherst, Massachusetts. FORECAST: SHOWERS
The wind begins to rock the town With threatening tunes and low, He'll fling a menace at the mirth – A menace is this guy. We all go a little mad sometimes! * Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts ** Emily Dickinson International Society |
Silence is all we dread.
There's reason in his voice But Silence is Infinity. Himself have not a face. The poetry of the faceless Emmett Lee Dickinson shall not be silenced -- not his iambs, trochees, spondees, anapests, dactyls, amphibrachs, or pyrrhics! THE WORLD IS MORE INTERESTING WITH HIM IN IT.
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THE BARDS: EDIS & DOPE"If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm me I know that is poetry. If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. These are the only way I know it. Is there any other way?"
~ Emily Dickinson
"Does it rhyme? Then that's poetry."
~ Emmett Lee Dickinson
(Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) |
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"I dwell in possibilities." ~ Emily Dickinson
"I dwell on past abilities." ~ Emmett Lee Dickinson 
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Below left: JIm Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request), is always quick to correct people, "I don't look like George Clooney. George Clooney looks like me." Jim is taking some days off mid-August to attend the annual meeting of the EDIS, so watch this space for pics and info related to his trip. Below center and right: He'll be sure to visit Amherst Coffee for a delicious mocha and a sticky bun! : )
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CAN YOU HANDLE THE TRUTH?
Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson will be in Amherst for the 2017 annual meeting of the Emily Dickinson International Society, and he's going to tell the truth -- and he'll tell it slant!
"Truth is so rare that it will be delightful to tell it," said Asher, "and everything I have to report about Emmett Lee Dickinson is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." The question is -- can you handle the truth? |
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INFO & PICS FROM THE TRIP
Below far left: My chariot awaits: "How frugal is te chariot that bears the human soul?" Well, it wasn't too expensive -- though I wouldn't call it "frugal."
Below left: The sun just touched the morning / The morning, happy thing / Supposed that he had come to dwell / And life would be all spring.
Thank you to the VERY LARGE crowd that met me at the car rental area of Logan Airport! There were no incidents in that it was a very well-behaved crowd -- so much so that everyone even seemed to be in line!
Below left: The sun just touched the morning / The morning, happy thing / Supposed that he had come to dwell / And life would be all spring.
Thank you to the VERY LARGE crowd that met me at the car rental area of Logan Airport! There were no incidents in that it was a very well-behaved crowd -- so much so that everyone even seemed to be in line!
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Above right: A wonderful "Welcome" at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Above far right: A grilled chicken wrap (delicious), a Pinot Grigio, and a Chihuly in the New American Cafe at the Museum of Fine Arts. Shout out to Lenora and Yanet in the cafe!
Also, a shout out to the museum hosts at the information desk outside the New American Cafe (tell them that it's from "the Hopper dude"). Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, and all of their recommendations were great!
THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
BOSTON
Pictured below left: As noted above, the Museum of Fine Arts had a very welcoming display of welcome at the entrance to the museum, and we had a wonderful time touring the galleries and exhibits. Pictured below right: Touching was permitted -- but flashing was not; therefore, the excitement afforded all museum-goers was completely permissible.
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We enjoyed seeing various works of art related to Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed --at her request).
Below left: The museum included an impressive number of O'Keeffe's paintings -- and Georgia O'Keeffe always said that there was no greater influence on her work as an artist than Emmett Lee Dickinson. We wrote extensively on Dickinson's influence on O'Keeffe HERE.
Below left: The museum included an impressive number of O'Keeffe's paintings -- and Georgia O'Keeffe always said that there was no greater influence on her work as an artist than Emmett Lee Dickinson. We wrote extensively on Dickinson's influence on O'Keeffe HERE.
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Another artist who was significantly influenced by Emmett Lee Dickinson was Edward Hopper (information is HERE -- about half-way down the page).
Below left: Foreshadowing "Nighthawks" (a painting where Hopper included himself in the classic Emmett Lee Dickinson pose), "Drug Store" is a depiction of Silber's Pharmacy in Washerst, PA -- the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson. Below right: In Hoppers "Room in Brooklyn," the figure in the chair is said to be a likeness of Dickinson's daughter, Qwerty Jean Dickinson.
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Another artist completely inspired by the life and poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson was Andy Warhol. Information about Warhol's fascination with Dickinson is HERE.
Right: Warhol's classic "Tomato Soup" does not hang at the MFA Boston; however... Far right: ...his follow-up masterpiece, "Tomato Soup II" hangs in the MFA's contemporary art wing. Warhol's first exercise in painting soup was in 1961 when he painted Campbell's "Corn Chowder," inspired by his love of corn chowder, the classic soup invented by Emmett Lee Dickinson. |
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As an on-going tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request), the Museum of Fine Arts has interspersed cow art throughout the museum. We recently sponsored a special exhibit about styles of art and famous artworks that can all be traced to the cow poetry of Emmett Lee Dickinson. That exhibit can be seen HERE. Pictured at the left: Alexander Calder's "Cow Vane." |
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Left: Various works at the MFA Boston. Right: Pictured in the slide show: George, Martha, Alexander, John, and John Quincey. |
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MORE SIGNS OF EMMETT LEE DICKINSON AT THE MFA BOSTON:
Below left: A painting of Emmett Lee Dickinson's niece Forsythia Dickinson (the daughter of Dickinson's brother Muttley Jeff) holding a first edition book of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poetry. Although Forsythia suffered from brachium promissus -- a Latin term for having long arms -- that did not stop her from joining the Washerst, PA, Police Department later in life. It is through her work with the WPD that the English language gained the phrase, "the long arm of the law.."
Below center: Emmett Lee Dickinson's three-key cornet. Dickinson invented the marching band! Information is HERE.(at the bottom of the page).
Below right: A stained glass window by Louis Comfort Tiffany. When Tiffany was a young boy, Dickinson cured him of PTPZS (Post-Traumatic Petting Zoo Syndrome), and that allowed Tiffany to work as an adult depicting images of nature with his stained glass. Dickinson's work with Tiffany is documented in Volume 2 of Great American Poems, REPOEMED.
Below center: Emmett Lee Dickinson's three-key cornet. Dickinson invented the marching band! Information is HERE.(at the bottom of the page).
Below right: A stained glass window by Louis Comfort Tiffany. When Tiffany was a young boy, Dickinson cured him of PTPZS (Post-Traumatic Petting Zoo Syndrome), and that allowed Tiffany to work as an adult depicting images of nature with his stained glass. Dickinson's work with Tiffany is documented in Volume 2 of Great American Poems, REPOEMED.
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At the left: Also in the contemporary wing, there is a larger-than-life model of the cheese grater invented by Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). The work, by Mona Hatoum, is NOT called "Make America Grate Again," but rather "Grater Divide." At the right: Marsden Hartley painting of Emmett Lee Dickinson's best friend, Abraham Lincoln. Dickinson always called Lincoln "a great good man," so that is what Hartley titled his painting. For more information on Lincoln's friendship with Dickinson, click HERE. |
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AMHERST
After touring the MFA in Boston, I hit the road for Amherst where I stayed at the lovely Lord Jeffery Inn.
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Signs of Dickinson at the Lord Jeffry: Left: Emily Dickinson's nickname "the Belle of Amherst" came from another, earlier nickname -- the Belle of the Ballroom; Center: A parlor in the hotel is named for Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request); Right: The Graves Meeting Room spotlight's Emily's many poems about death.
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DAY 1 of the EDIS Annual Meeting: EDENIC POSSIBILITIES
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Of this is day composed
1:30: Opening Remarks by Martha Nell Smith, EDIS President, and Jane Wald, Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum
1:45 - 4:30: Reading/Discussion Groups: * Dickinson's Soundscapes (Dickinson's world of sound) * Eco Emily (Dickinson's expereinces w/the natural world) * Dickinson on Screen (Feature Films & Documentaries) 5:00 - 6:00: EDIS Congregation: Reports from Institute Groups & Reading Groups 8:00 - 10:30: Jane Ira Bloom presents "Wild Lines": "Award winning soprano saxophonist/composer Jane Ira Bloom presents the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Bloom's reimagining of Dickinson was ignited when she learned that the poet was a pianist and improviser, reaffirming Bloom's intuitive connection to the jazz-like quality of Dickinson's writing. |
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I attended the discussion group on "Dickinson on Screen" which mainly focused on Terence Davies' feature-film on Emily Dickinson, "A Quiet Passion." The group was led by Martha Nell Smith (EDIS President), Barbara Dana (an actor who has portrayed Dickinson), Jonnie Guerra (who wrote the EDIS review of the film), and Jane Wald (Executive Director of the Dickinson Museum).
Most opinions in the room were anything but quiet but completely passionate -- and most did not like the film (only a few of us in the discussion seemed to support or at least appreciate the movie). That's all for now, as I will write move about the discussion in a future plog post (poetry blog). Watch for it! : ) |
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Below: Jane Ira Bloom -- and her quartet and actress Deborah Rush -- offered "Wild Lines: Improvising Emily Dickinson"
I was COMPLETELY blown away by this presentation. I'm not a huge jazz fan, but I enjoyed "Wild Lines" immensely! Every time I thought that the group had exhausted innovative ways to construct images through sound, they would surprise me! The music was WONDERFUL, and Deborah Rush's interpreations of Dickinson's poetry was PERFECT.
I was COMPLETELY blown away by this presentation. I'm not a huge jazz fan, but I enjoyed "Wild Lines" immensely! Every time I thought that the group had exhausted innovative ways to construct images through sound, they would surprise me! The music was WONDERFUL, and Deborah Rush's interpreations of Dickinson's poetry was PERFECT.
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In & Around Amherst: Signs of Emmett Lee Dickinson
Below: Amherst's tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson's cow poetry. We recently hosted a special exhibit dedicated to Dickinson's cow poetry -- HERE (more info is HERE). The display included Dickinson's famous words to live by: "Ride the cow at your own risk."
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Left top: Emmett Lee Dickinosn's Uncle Hobart was known around the world as "Gurgles the Clown," and his one-man show was an extravaganza called "Circus Schmirkus." Others now to replicate his performances in shows called "Circus Smirkus." Left bottom: Emmett Lee Dickinson was the first peron to combine cookies and milk. Right: Insomnia Cookies' delivery poster included a creative take on the "you are here" feature of a map (circled in red). Emmett Lee Dickinson invented the use of "you are here" on maps -- originally noted as "You are in this location." Information is HERE. |
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Below: I had a delicious dinner at Judie's on Pleasant Street, and I took a Creme Brulee cheescake back to my hotel room for a late-night dessert.
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Below: Earlier in the evening, a planning committee met at Emmett Lee Dickinson Hall to plan the October meeting of the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts. Info HERE.
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DAY 2 of the EDIS Annual Meeting: EDENIC POSSIBILITIES
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9:30 - 10:30: EDIS Annual Members Meeting
10:45 - 12:00: "Dickinson's Interiors: A Theory of Authorship in the Todd Correspondence," by Institute Alum Grant Rosson 12:00 - 1:30: Lunch (provided) 2:00 - 3:30: "Not to Discover Weakness Is the Artifice of Strength," by Institute Alum Clare Mullaney 4:00 - 5:30: Emily Dickinson Museum Open House -- with highlights of recent restoration projects (presented by Jane Wald) 5:30: Picnic Dinner on the Dickinson Homestead Lawn -- with Red Skies Musical Ensemble's presentation "Dickinson's Musical Eden: Emily & Lavinia: Making Musice in the Homestead." |
Below left: My one big disappointment during my trip was that Amherst Coffee was closed for renovation. Below center: Since Amherst Coffee was closed, I did get to experience and enjoy Glazed for iced coffee and a delicious donut. Below right: Right outside the Lord Jeffery Inn on Saturday morning, there was a wonderful Farmers' Market.
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Far left: From Grant Rosson's presentation Left: Our box lunch. Right: Clare Mullaney's presentation Far right: A frozen mocha from the Works during a break
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Below left & right: During the Open House, Jane Wald gave updates on restoration projects, including the conservatory.
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Left: Wallpaper found between two walls -- from the time of Emily Dickinson's youth. NOTE: Restoration projects in the house focus on restoring the house to a time when Dickinson was an adult.
Below center and right: Remnants from a wallpaper border (center) that was recreated and now hangs in the library (right).
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Below left: The soul should always stand ajar -- but the door should not! : )
Below center: Another restoration project involves the re-establishment of the Homestead's orchard with fruit trees. Right: A recorder (attached to a tree between the Homestead and the Evergreens) for the coming Dickinson "sound map."
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COMING SOON: The program for the Red Skies Musical Ensemble's presentation "Dickinson's Musical Eden: Emily & Lavinia: Making Musice in the Homestead" (shown at the right). |
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Left: Some of the plants and flowers from gardens at the Homestead. Right: A likeness of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request) was in a garden at the Homestead -- appropriately so, it was near some stalks of corn (Emmett Lee Dickinson invented the recipe for corn chowder). |
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Left: A delicious picnic dinner on the lawn at the Homestead (overheard: "Oh they have wine! And it's good wine!). Center: In a nod to Emmett Lee Dickinson, all of the utensils for the buffet (spoons, forks, tongs, etc.) were set for left-handers. Right: Two souvenirs purchased in the gift shop: The Heart Has Many Doors, a novel of Dickinson by Susan Snively and a print of the Homestead as it would have looked in the 1800s by artisit Victoria Dickson.
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"I Know of People in the Grave":
Before I departed Amherst for home, I visited the gravesite of Emily Dickinson in Amherst's West Cemetery --
and I also visited the burial sites of many other members of the Dickinson family. For details, click HERE.
and I also visited the burial sites of many other members of the Dickinson family. For details, click HERE.