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bust of James Joyce in Dublin.
*****
A different underground approach is represented
by the unique and unpredictable "Masked
Professor," mad genius Frank Walsh, a long-time
Philadelphia character. His writing, not just his
acting, is theatrical: straight rave, psychedlic
pomp, or a combination of both. In person he's a
whirlwind of enthusiasm. Like a Rexroth or Pound,
Walsh is immensely well-read. His foundation is
the history of poetry, and his literary creations
are pushing the creative envelope.
Frank has done readings, shows, and chapbooks for
decades, experiencing-- as a typical
undergrounder-- years of neglect and hostility.
He warns of too-close association with the
machine-like institutions pervading the town:
orthodox university factories like U of
Pennsylvania, or tax-shelter foundations whose
purpose is funding art which appeals to the most
yuppified (often brain dead) segments of the
local population. When one walks through this
most walkable of major American cities, one
realizes that such elitist bulwarks are stark
islands amid the sea of a bustling urban
reality-- feeble attempts at safely-directed
expression, at orderly control. They overspread
genuine culture like a net made of tissue paper.
Walsh is realistic about the overwhelming odds we
face, yet optimistic about the changes
undergrounders united together can make.
-King Wenclas
Click here to read some poems!
Click below to email Frank:
nohbard@gmail.com
