The psychedelic bus and merriment consisting of bubbles and music outside the EMU yesterday was only a forecast of today’s events. For those who were amused — and even confused — by yesterday’s happenings, it was the bus of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters.
Today’s festivities are dedicated to Kesey, intending to reveal more about the man most famous for his world-renowned book, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Cinema Pacific film series and University libraries have collaborated to offer a unique opportunity to learn about and see Kesey’s published and unpublished works on campus.
The museum has on exhibit pages from Kesey’s “Jail Journals” that entail a mix of graphic and textual writings from his time spent at San Mateo County Honor Camp after getting arrested for marijuana possession. The exhibit reveals Kesey was more than just a wordsmith.
“Growing up, he was a fan of comic books and wanted to be a cartoonist,” said Lawrence Fong, curator of American and regional art at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. “Thank goodness he didn’t become a comic cartoonist. He became a novelist, but he’s also interested in film and music.”
Ed McClanahan, one of Kesey’s Stanford University classmates and fellow Pranksters, provided art supplies for Kesey during his time at the honor camp.
“He was the sort of person that everything he touched turned to art,” McClanahan said.
Adding to the psychedelic festivities, the five-day Cinema Pacific film festival is premiering “Magic Trip,” a documentary produced by Alex Gibney that features footage, audio and photographs from Kesey and the Merry Pranksters’ cross-country road trip.
The documentary will premiere at the McDonald Theatre at 7 p.m., with an after party to follow that includes appearances from several Merry Pranksters and readings of Kesey’s work. Director of Cinema Pacific Richard Herskowitz said the movie reveals how much of an influence Kesey had — and continues to have — on American culture.
“It shows that he is the crucial link between the beat generation and the ’60s counterculture,” Herskowitz said. “There’s an amazing scene in the middle of the film where you see them inventing tie-dye.”
The library is hosting an open house displaying the Ken Kesey Collection, an archive containing Kesey’s writings, including his diaries and journals.
“Students are going to see first-hand Ken’s creative process — not just the finished novel, but all the steps that led up to it,” said James Fox, head of special collections and University archives at the University libraries.
The collection, which is on display through June 26, is designed for anyone on campus, Fox said.
“What we want to make sure is that faculty, graduate students and undergraduate students will actively use this in their research and in their teaching,” Fox said.
The festivities also include talks from McClanahan and Robert Faggen, author of the forthcoming book, “Ken Kesey: An American Life.” Kesey’s fans and friends hope the community will take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about Kesey’s personality and celebrate his works.
“He was a wonderfully generous person, a large-spirited person,” McClanahan said.
When reflecting back on Merry Prankster memories, McClanahan recalled a quote from Kesey: “If it doesn’t uplift the human heart, piss on it.”
McClanahan hopes today’s events will bring joy just as Kesey would have intended.
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Ken Kesey’s life, work celebrated with day of festivities
Daily Emerald
April 7, 2011
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