In the early 60's Corridor artists, musicians and writers organized
into a collective dedicated
to co-operative advancement of the arts in Detroit.
Founding members
included Poet Douglas Larkins, Robin Eichele, Nancy Madison, Alister MacKenzie, Billy Reid,
the MC 5, Stephen Ligosky, George Tysh, Richard "Toby" Tobias, Ken
"Jumbo" Schooner, Jim Siemark, Charles Moore, Ellen
Phelan, John Sinclair and others. (Does
anyone have a list?) The Artist's Workshop was successful in
providing public venues for member concerts, poetry readings,
gallery shows, publishing and other cultural events. During the
middle 60's, the Workshop morphed into Trans Love Energies, then the
White Panthers after Sinclair's move to Ann Arbor.
Richard
Tobias
ARTISTS WORKSHOP WEST: THE FAMILY
DOG
A substantial group of Workshop founders and regulars migrated to
San Francisco during the 60s and, as a group, founded the Family Dog
for purposes of creating concert venues for member bands and
musicians. Among them were James Gurley (founder of Big Brother
& the Holding Company), Jim Moilanen, Nancy Madison, David
Homicz (David's dog "Sancho" was the original family dog),
Robert Dries, Stanley Mouse, Alan Stone, Martin Gorak and Rita
Phelan. The Dog Tribe rented the Avalon, Fillmore and other
ballrooms, effectively sparking the "Psychedelic" music
and art movement in San Francisco.
-r.t.-
|
