Dougherty Arts Center
Bryant's Loving, Excited Thanks
RECEIVED Fri., Aug. 19, 2005
Dear Austin,
I love you. Thanks for the nice “tribute” piece [“The Utter Daveness of Dave,” Visual Arts, Aug. 19]. I was wondering if that would ever happen. My first trip here I went into Magnolia and saw Ethan Hawke there. How do you like that? I worked at the Arbor theatre for a year and lived way too far north. Did some classes at various ACC campuses – UT didn't accept me (maybe one day, though, they'll give me an honorary doctorate), but I started painting a lot. Probably because of the Cy Twombly museum in Houston. People never understand me at first. Everyone thinks I'm trying to get something from them. But here's the deal: I just talk a lot, I want to hear you talk a lot, I don't like to be bored. I really am excited. I'm excited about you, I'm excited about me, I'm excited about fruit, someone's new drawing style, Jandek playing his first U.S. show in Austin. I'm excited about the Church of the Friendly Ghost, the Totally Wreck kids, Barton Springs, the Miranda July movie, Thailand, Baltimore. I'm excited that I play music now and hope you all check out Diamond Caverns, John Fahey's Bluegrass Ruined My Life, and BioWillie. Now I think I want an iPod. Maybe I'll buy a car one day, and maybe will even start Black Mountain College 2. I'm excited about all these things and my parting words to you, my loving Austin, are "be excited, be be excited." We will all be old, we will all die, we will all become ultra conservatives one day. Until then do everything you are not supposed to do. Explode your mind. Think one thing and then another the next day. Don't trust routines. But above all, follow love. Love is the answer. From me, the 25-year-old hippie. Love will give you wings. Seriously. Fall in love, love your family, love your hateful neighbor, love the heat, love the cold, love yourself. You can't take it with you, but it won't hurt to try. Thanks for all the memories, to all of you I owe my beating heart. If I fail, or if I take over the world, know that you will be here with me every step of the way. Fresh Up Club forever.
I love you. Thanks for the nice “tribute” piece [“The Utter Daveness of Dave,” Visual Arts, Aug. 19]. I was wondering if that would ever happen. My first trip here I went into Magnolia and saw Ethan Hawke there. How do you like that? I worked at the Arbor theatre for a year and lived way too far north. Did some classes at various ACC campuses – UT didn't accept me (maybe one day, though, they'll give me an honorary doctorate), but I started painting a lot. Probably because of the Cy Twombly museum in Houston. People never understand me at first. Everyone thinks I'm trying to get something from them. But here's the deal: I just talk a lot, I want to hear you talk a lot, I don't like to be bored. I really am excited. I'm excited about you, I'm excited about me, I'm excited about fruit, someone's new drawing style, Jandek playing his first U.S. show in Austin. I'm excited about the Church of the Friendly Ghost, the Totally Wreck kids, Barton Springs, the Miranda July movie, Thailand, Baltimore. I'm excited that I play music now and hope you all check out Diamond Caverns, John Fahey's Bluegrass Ruined My Life, and BioWillie. Now I think I want an iPod. Maybe I'll buy a car one day, and maybe will even start Black Mountain College 2. I'm excited about all these things and my parting words to you, my loving Austin, are "be excited, be be excited." We will all be old, we will all die, we will all become ultra conservatives one day. Until then do everything you are not supposed to do. Explode your mind. Think one thing and then another the next day. Don't trust routines. But above all, follow love. Love is the answer. From me, the 25-year-old hippie. Love will give you wings. Seriously. Fall in love, love your family, love your hateful neighbor, love the heat, love the cold, love yourself. You can't take it with you, but it won't hurt to try. Thanks for all the memories, to all of you I owe my beating heart. If I fail, or if I take over the world, know that you will be here with me every step of the way. Fresh Up Club forever.
Love,
Dave Bryant
Dave Bryant
P.S. p.s. If anyone knows how I could spend the day with Roky Erickson and/or Willie Nelson, please let me know.
