Portrait of a Writer, Reading by Chipka
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Description
I was not wearing purple on the day that I first met Corey. This isn’t really important, but it’s one of those odd little bits of informational lint that sticks in the brain. I’d intended to wear something purple, but I’d left it at a friend’s apartment along with the abandoned promise to return for it. That, I suppose, is why I wasn’t wearing purple. But the important thing is: I met Corey.
Jump ahead.
I was not wearing purple on the evening that Corey read one of his pieces at HomoLatte: one of Chicago’s creative venues. I’ve read there. Corey has read there. Famous, local writers have read there, including teachers/mentors of mine: the sorts of teacher/mentors who lead by example and encourage rather than condition. Ah, but the best teachers never teach so much as they encourage learning. Those particular teachers/mentors were not present at Corey’s reading, but I was there, as were a number of Chicago’s younger, energetic, plugged-in, unexpectedly polite (and cute) artsy types. You know the kind: smart kids who make their own music from scratch, or write their stories (at least partially) by hand, because there’s a particular sort of sensual rightness involved in feeling a word or a sentence before pecking it into a keyboard. They were members of that sort of crowd, their café chic artifice bore the unexpected patina of un-chic, earnest authenticity. They friendly and tech-savvy in a way that means something in this part of the 21st Century: they knew when not to use their iPhones.
Corey was not wearing purple on the evening of his featured reading. He wore red in such a way as to not appear flashy. He wore comfortable clothing, ate fish-and-chips, drank beer…and then:
—when the time came—
—took his place at the microphone, sat comfortably, and filled the room with an excursion into humor, wit, observation, and a pronounced sense of time, place, and character. In short, he did what writers do when they read aloud. He evoked and entertained: imparted his observations, and drew emotional responses from people who suddenly recognized themselves, trapped in the process of being teenagers. Corey, like writers do when stories are their interest, held a mirror to the audience and invited them to look into it and to marvel at what reflections danced and shimmered in the close confines of a comfortable space.
Music followed, as is the manner in which HomoLatte presents itself, but even with a musical follow-up it was, most definitely, Corey’s Night. And the beer was pretty good too.
This is one of the many photos I was able to nab of Corey while reading and it’s my favorite because it’s the one that actually shows some small, subjective, red fragment of what his writing is like.
You can see Corey’s other stuff HERE : well, some of it, and if you’re really nice, he might show you his collection of model cars. At some point. Later.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (17)
durleybeachbum
How good to have this peep into your lives, and see Corey in performance.
beachzz
I love this; it's just so cool. Reminds me of the old beatniks!!
prutzworks
tth thought: poetry & jazz
blinkings
Good to see the old bloke, even though he isn't wearing purple!
Faemike55
Great capture and wonderful narrative
Meisiekind
Awww - hello Corey! Gosh I miss you guys and reading your narrative did not help any! Wonderful image and prose Chip!
helanker
What a great portrait of Corey and hiis performance. I like the story about it too :) Pity I couldnt hear the story Corey told :)
auntietk
Oh dear. You make me wish with all my heart that I'd been there! As I read this I AM wearing purple, which means nothing except that I was paying attention to what you said. :P Give Corey my love, and keep some for yourself as well. I'm glad it was Corey's Night. His brilliance deserves to be experienced.
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God bless.
MrsRatbag
He looks so comfortable, and so masterful behind that microphone; a portrait of a word bard by a word bard-picture bard hybrid! I wish I'd been there too. Well captured, Chip!
CoreyBlack
Gee, I look so INTENSE. Must have been trying to read around the type-0s and last minute additions scribbled in the margins. I also seem to have managed the trick of not actually LOOKING nervous when I read...I think. Must have been the beer! Anyway, it was a lot of fun, and very gratifying. And this great picture and all the nice comments make it that much better. Thank you! P.S. I don't actually remember exactly what we where wearing on that fateful day 14 years ago when Chip and I met. I know it wasn't purple.
NefariousDrO
I love the timing on this shot, you can see from his facial expression that he's not just reading a story, he's living it out for the audience and allowing them to see something inside him. That's the coolest, and scariest, part of good storytelling, you open a vulnerability to the audience, and take the chance that it might hurt. Wow.
mbz2662
I felt like I was just there in a little bit of your lives. Love the shot and the narrative. Purple is my favorite ;)
Cyve
Wonderful shot !!!
KatesFriend
I still don't know how to use my iPhone (with no phone, it won't stop reminding me that I have no SIM card) but then I'm old. Not much a fan of beer alas (I know, '...and I call myself Canadian') but the fish and chips sounds wonderful right about now. I wouldn't even say no to beer battered fish if you want to know. Sounds like a great environment to spend an evening. I love environments. Such places gave me shelter during the darkest times of my life. My favourite place in the world is an independent cinema that was once a furniture store and before that a pizzarria. I like places that have evolved from their original purpose and become something different. Sometimes it is due to "gentrifying" other times its due to economic decline. A decline which permits a new social investment that could not enter the area when it was wealthy. I think of this while looking at the mercury dial thermostat in the background. The good folks of HomoLatte no doubt adopted this place after it endured a long period of regression where the utility hardware enjoyed no upgrade. The phone service may still be rotary dial. And yet it is now frequented by cute artsie types with iPhones and serves no doubt tasty fish and chips. Young people listening to new music and fresh ideas in a place long neglected but which still has much to offer. Such as the thoughts of a relaxed red (it's part of purple) clad author whose expressions are juxtaposed by the philosophic outlook of one Stewie Griffin. Dubbed the "95th greatest villain of all time". Thought I wouldn't catch that eh? BTW: A wonderful tribute to Corey, I wish I could have been there to hear him.
tennesseecowgirl
Nice work, I am sure the was entertaining the crowd. :)
danapommet
A super shot of Cory and put me down for the Fish 'n Chips!!!