Letters   

Current Letters

Whispered Footsteps
You've resurrected me with your lovely memoir or rather a collection of memories. I, too, have a long immigrant history and its importance to me and to this country is priceless. Thank you for taking us on this journey into the past with your beautiful writing. I look forward with tears and joy for the next journey.
Thelma Martinet

How America has changed. Everyone here is an immigrant or the descendant of an immigrant yet the grief at our borders and on our streets ignores that as the dominant group fights to keep its claim as to who and what is an American. Thank you for reminding us who we are and who we were.
Margo Schnee
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's article: Whispered Footsteps Part One

Howard Beale et al
Les Marcott writes with perception and gusto. His quick portayal of the decline of professional news journalism is disturbing and disheartening. As he says: "But the problem is that when everyone's a journalist, no one's a journalist." Very reminiscent of Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom where they go round and round fighting so-called citizen-jounalism. Mr. Marcott, Chayefsky and Lumet not only created a prophet they gave us a portrait of the future which is now, today.
Ben Arksley
Les Marcott's column: That's The Way It Is

Vladimir and Estragon
With machine guns instead of Pozzo and Lucky.  Altenir Silva is having fun with classics again. Well done!
George Vecsey
Altenir Silva's play: The War

Mervyn Taylor
Reviews of poetry by poets are essential. Alenier's commentaries are energetic understandings of a poet's texts and intent. This is a dimension we value in Karren's writing.
Grace Cavalieri

I enjoyed Karren Alenier's review of this new book of poetry. I like how she uses both the Trinidadian poet's words and the words he doesn't use to convey his heartfelt regard for human life.
Susan Absher

Karren Alenier's column: News Of The Living

Orphans Indeed
Another excellent review by Scene4's exceptional M. D. Moore. As Arthur always says: it's the writing. In this case, add perception. But I have to take a bit of umbrage with Mr. Moore for leaving out of his profile of Frank the 10-hour film (mini-series), Godless. For me, it is Scott Frank's most brilliant writer-director stint of his current brilliant career as a writer and director.
Lou Laird

Miles David Moore's review: Orphans of the Storm

Those Moments of Magic
There are moments, when the essence of an object
Is captured perfectly and with grace.
There are moments, when a highlighted shape formed by nature is elegantly held
by light.
Then there are moments of magic when a trained eye
Such as Jon Rendell's when the next level of beauty 
Is reached through the juxtaposition of several seperate
Shots to create a Moment of Magical association. Bravo.
Anne McGravie Wright
Jon Rendell's photography: Nature vs Man-Made

Itutu
The extensive use of heroin in jazz during the 1940's-50's has been analyzed by many people, to no reader's great satisfaction–and least not to this reader. In this piece, Brian George offers a truly creative point of entry from which to consider the phenomenon. I'm very grateful for his effort.
Stephen Provizer
Brian George's article: Itutu

Tempus Edax Rerum
That's all that art is isn't it, impressions? And those impressions remain, if the art remains or is an irreducible memory. I concur: step into the painting, dive into the music, forget about time and place and all the biographical philandering that scholars never seem to get enough of. Absorb the impression. I love Monet and Debussy and so many sensitives from the time. Nice thoughts.
Betel
Arthur Danin Adler's column: A Brief Toast For This New Year's Eve

The Road to Freedom
This is a fine article and Ms Verdino-Süllwold's writing is excellent as always. My only complaint is not with the author, rather with the magazine. This important subject warrants a complete issue devoted to it, from South to North. But I'm grateful for this issue.
Roald Gary
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's article: The Road to Freedom

By The Shores Of The Potomac
A splendid review, especially made rich by poems and visuals. Anytime we have a poet writing journalism, we are all the better for it!
Grace Cavalieri
Karren Alenier's column: By Broad Potomac's Shore

Babe Ruth Is Not Just a Candy Bar
Now you got me, Mr. Silva. This second play in your trilogy is wonderful (and I don't use that word very often, PR maven that I am). Its humor is straight out of Camus right into Robin Williams. I'd love to watch you write, it must be fun. I can't wait for the third one!
Lou Laird
Altenir Silva's play: 2. Babe Ruth & Jack

Kandinsky
I have to admit that I knew little about Kandinsky other than his paintings and their influence on other painters. Obviously there was so much more about him. Though he attained an international reputation from his art work, the rest of his amazing life and achievements seems to have been suppressed because of the times he lived in, other than scholars and academics who followed him and honored him. He was an unsung genius! I truly appreciate what Ms Renaud has done with her Kandinsky Anew series, especially this latest article which is so relevant today, so contemporary. I can understand why she has liked him so much for the past 30 years. I'm "woke" to him. Thank you for that.
Robert Gittelmann
Lissa Tyler Renaud's article: Towards International Unity:
Kandinsky's Inclusive Arts Aesthetic

The Boogeyman
I only wonder what happens if you marry one, or your boss is one, or you find out that all the time it's your mother under the bed. Mr. Marcott asks: "Did you really think the Boogeyman would get you if you didn't eat your breakfast cereal?" I did, and that's why I skip breakfast for brunch.
Andy Clayton
Les Marcott's column: The Boogeyman

Widsanupong Noonan
His work looks beautiful especially the beautiful way it is presented on the pages. I especially love the portrait of the King's back with the sweat marks. I don't think his work is too "provincial", too Thai. Good paintings and good sculpture are universal in their appeal.
Somchai Thanarat
Janine Yasovant's article: Everything is an Illusion

Kandinsky and de Hartmann
How wonderful to read this article, from Renaud's meaningful introduction, to 'touching' the real Kandinsky via his own feelings and words! It is – or should be – really amazing that Kandinsky's complete letters have not been published, or it seems even contemplated!... while so many have had that coverage... . In a way, we really do not know him, this private Kandinsky. I'm sure he put effort and thoroughness into his correspondence, as he did with all he had put his name to, so even a good-size selection of his letters would be revelatory, judging by this sample here! Kudos to the author and the two collaborators!... and please do not stop there...
Philip Gerstein
Jelena Hahl-Fontaine's and Lissa Tyler Renaud's article:
Kandinsky and His Closest Friend, Thomas de Hartmann

Summers in Saratoga
Ah, such a lovely reminiscence. Born and raised nearby and spent many a season at the Springs. Many happy memories: the weather, the scenery, the people and of course -- the racing. Something ethereal about the racing, unlike any other in the country. Thank you Ms Verdino-Süllwold, you are a merchant of dreams.
George Nierbasch
Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold's Article: Summers at the "Spa"

Calling All Builders
This Gerstein painting is an "architectural" work. Can you imagine an entire wall with this painting stretching across it. Or the side of a windowless building. His colors alone are that constructionist. He never ceases to amaze me.
Sidney Siegal
Philip Gerstein's painting: The Glorious Union of Greenland with Iceland

Jack Kerouac Trilogy
Kerouac, Clarise Lispector, Edward Hopper all in one play! Silva is an ingenious playwright with a wicked sense of humor. This is the kernel of a future film or maybe as a trilogy, a tasty mini- series. As the Orange Cuckoo says: We'll wait and see.
Lou Laird

Jack Kerouac? Clarise Lispector? Edward Hopper? What kind of mind would put these three people in the same play, a Jack Kerouac trilogy? Altenir Silva's mind. He's Brazilian, like Lispector, and he's a NY Yankees fan, so he knows his Americana. Imagine what he might do in a longer form. Nós estamos esperando.
George Vecsey

Altenir Silva's play: 1. Clarice & Jack

How To Poem
Nicely stated. I'd only add: there are no rules, only good and bad choices, and if after all this, you find yourself unhappily having to force yourself to write poetry, quit! There's no shame in not writing poetry though the Creative Writing Industry would have you believe otherwise. However, becoming a sensitive and perceptive reader of poetry is a noble and worthwhile endeavor.
Jefferson Carter

Delightful. It reads as if Dorothy Parker and Robert Benchley had put their heads together at the request of Harold Ross. And yes, poeming while driving or operating heavy machinery can be hazardous to your health!
Miles David Moore

I love what Greg Luce is doing in How to Poem. We need poetry now more than ever. So many good suggestions.
Karren Alenier

Gregory Luce's column: How To Poem

The Fire Next Time
Many thanks to Michael Bettencourt for reminding us that James Baldwin was a "trumpet on the mountain" of his time and still today as Frederick Douglass was in his time, and still today. Their voices can't be drowned out, as Mr. Bettencourt says: "Not at all ".
Berk Redmond
Michael Bettencourt's column: The Fire Next Time

Faeries et al
Here, dear Arthur, are a few thoughts from better minds than mine and I'm sure part of your Faeries' creed:
There are no facts, only interpretations.
There are no answers, only choices.
We are predetermined to repeat the past.
It took me a while and several read-throughs to realize that this essay is an undisguised sub-text with many interesting metaphors and shadowed similes. Clever, a trifle insidious, blandly provocative. It's a good read.
Betel Hershowitz

Sadly, I don't think there are any faeries left in the Americas. They were driven out by the Scots-Irish-British-German-Spanish invasions which replaced them with goblins, trolls and social medianiks. And that includes my ancestors who couldn't even spell the word correctly, uh... who couldn't even spell.
Michael Aptrow

Arthur Danin Adler's column: The Last of My Faeries

 

Prior Letters

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