I had a chance to get a sneak peak last week of the Allen Ginsberg photography 
exhibit at the National Gallery of Art (open through Sept. 6th).
What’s more, I had the chance to talk with the curator of the exhibit for 10 minutes or so understanding how she conceived of, pitched, and then implemented the idea.
I also asked her about the nature of the design of the exhibit (mostly chronological) and her use of the gallery.
Anyway, I had heard of Ginsberg, but frankly…he hadn’t impacted my life very much.
As many of you know, he was friends with Jack Kerouac, among others, and the curator suggested that people can get an insight into Ginsberg’s poetry through the types of photos he took.
Well, I haven’t read his poetry, but I did find his photos captivating, particularly as the chronological layout gave me a chance to see how Ginsberg and his friends of the “Beat” generation evolved and then aged.
This is a picture of Kerouac as a young man, but there’s a picture of Kerouac at the end of his life…and the guy just looks beaten down and worn out.
It’s a startling contrast and gives you some perspective that even the eternal, all-powerful, energetic people of the Beat generation are, well, human…and age and die.
If you have a chance, swing by.
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