Patti Smith: Art Distills Thirst, Fuels Inner Fire

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "Just Kids" by Patti Smith - A memoir of Smith's early life in New York and her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe, which won the National Book Award.
• "Bread of Angels" by Patti Smith - Smith's latest memoir, spanning a wider and more personal range of her life experiences.
• "Pan's Labyrinth" (film referenced in discussion about childhood imagination) - The main character of the film reminded Patti Smith of her own childhood, where she freely spoke to nature and whimsical characters.
• "Fox's Book of Martyrs" (John Foxe) - Patti Smith's grandfather's book with a red silk binding and gold stamping, which she hid under her pillow as a child.
• "Mother Goose" - A common children's book mentioned as an early reading experience for Patti Smith.
• "Uncle Wiggly" - A children's book series Patti Smith read as a child.
• "The Bobbsey Twins" - A children's book series Patti Smith read as a child.
• "Pinocchio" - A formative book for Patti Smith, who related to the main character's desire to explore and appreciated its redemptive story. She considers it a perfect book she aspires to emulate.
• "Alice in Wonderland" - A classic children's book Patti Smith read.
• "Peter Pan" - A book Patti Smith loved as a child because she didn't want to grow up, offering her the hope of Neverland.
• "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott - Joe March from this book was an early hero for Patti Smith, inspiring her desire to be a writer.
• "Grimm's Fairy Tales" (German versions) - Mentioned as being very grim and dark, yet understood by children as fantasy.
• "Book of Irish Fairy Tales" - Contains a passage about the desire for wisdom lasting forever, which deeply resonated with Patti Smith since childhood.
• "Journey to the East" by Hermann Hesse - Referenced as a type of moment where many people converged, relating to the artistic scene in New York.
• "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley - Recommended by Patti Smith as a masterpiece, representing a different take on creating life from "Pinocchio."
• "2666" by Roberto Bolaño - Recommended by Patti Smith as a brilliant 21st-century masterpiece.

Albums

• "Horses" by Patti Smith - Smith's iconic album, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a tour.

People Mentioned

• Robert Mapplethorpe - Artist and central figure in Patti Smith's early life, discussed in "Just Kids."
• Bob Dylan - Musician and one of Patti Smith's greatest influences, mentioned in the context of the New York art scene and an encounter at the Bitter End.
• Allen Ginsberg - Poet mentioned as part of the vibrant New York art scene of the 60s and 70s.
• Janis Joplin - Singer, mentioned as part of the New York art scene and someone who stayed at the Chelsea Hotel around the same time as Patti Smith.
• Jimi Hendrix - Musician, mentioned as part of the New York art scene, whose studio was across from where Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock painted.
• Andy Warhol - Artist, mentioned as part of the New York art scene and someone who commingled with other artists in the same restaurants.
• William S. Burroughs - Author, with whom Patti Smith discussed shamanistic channeling and the impact of childhood fevers on consciousness.
• Karen Rose - Music journalist who wrote a book about Patti Smith and used the term "shamanistic" to describe her.
• Bruce Springsteen - Musician, mentioned in the context of potentially having used the term "shamanistic" about Patti Smith.
• John Coltrane - Jazz saxophonist, referenced for his long, improvisational solos likened to Patti Smith's performance style.
• John Singer Sargent - Artist whose work Patti Smith appreciated at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
• Amedeo Modigliani - Artist whose work Patti Smith appreciated at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
• Pablo Picasso - Artist whose cubist paintings profoundly struck Patti Smith at age 12, inspiring her to become an artist. His painting "Guernica" is also discussed.
• David (from the Old Testament) - Figure from the Old Testament whose actions confused and disturbed Patti Smith as a child.
• Robert Burns - Scottish poet, quoted by Patti Smith's father: "Man's inhumanity to man."
• Aggie - An old Irish woman and neighbor's great-grandmother who read Patti Smith the passage about wisdom from the "Book of Irish Fairy Tales."
• Arthur Rimbaud - French poet, mentioned as an example of a great poet who writes exceptional works.
• Sylvia Plath - American poet, mentioned as an example of a great poet and recommended for her poetry.
• Dylan Thomas - Welsh poet, mentioned as an example of a great poet.
• Larry Rivers - Artist, whom Patti Smith waited on at Scribners.
• Robert Rauschenberg - Artist, whom Patti Smith waited on at Scribners.
• Mark Rothko - Artist, whom Patti Smith saw on an elevator when delivering books to his building.
• Lee Krasner - Artist, who painted across the street from Jimi Hendrix's studio.
• Jackson Pollock - Artist, who painted across the street from Jimi Hendrix's studio.
• John F. Kennedy - Former U.S. President, whose era, along with Jacqueline Kennedy, elevated the idea of culture in the American consciousness.
• Jacqueline Kennedy - Former First Lady, who was very connected with the arts and helped elevate culture in the American consciousness.
• J.D. Daugherty - Drummer for Patti Smith's band, whose debut performance at the Bitter End is recounted.
• Lenny Kaye - Founding member of Patti Smith's band.
• Fred Sonic Smith - Patti Smith's late husband.
• Sam Shepard - American playwright and actor, mentioned as a friend Patti Smith has lost.
• Roberto Bolaño - Chilean novelist, author of "2666."
• Jim Morrison - American singer-songwriter, quoted by Patti Smith: "you can't petition the lord with prayer."

Organizations & Institutions

• Philadelphia Museum of Art - The museum where Patti Smith had a transformative experience seeing Picasso's work at age 12.
• Scribner's - Bookstore where Patti Smith worked, serving artists like Larry Rivers and Robert Rauschenberg.
• CBGB's - Iconic New York music club where Patti Smith's band performed.
• The Bitter End - Music club where Patti Smith's band had their debut performance with a drummer, attended by Bob Dylan.
• Chelsea Hotel - Historic New York hotel where Patti Smith lived and encountered other artists like Janis Joplin.
• Elizabeth Street Garden - A community garden in New York City that Patti Smith and her daughter are trying to save.

Websites & Online Resources

• Patti Smith's Substack - Patti Smith writes a Substack, which is mentioned as one of her current writing endeavors.

Other Resources

• Old Testament - A book that disturbed and confused Patti Smith as a child due to its literal interpretation and the moral complexities of its stories.