In 'Just Kids,' Patti Smith chronicles her unconventional upbringing and her passionate relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe in the vibrant 1970s New York City. Through a tapestry of love, art, and ambition, she explores the deep bonds that shape her pursuit of creativity. The narrative captures the essence of youth, creativity, and the artistic spirit, as the duo navigates the bohemian landscape of their dreams. Smith's lyrical prose invites readers into a world where friendship and artistry collide, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape. This memoir is a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the adventures of living life unapologetically.
By Patti Smith
Published: 2010
""We were all young and we're all going to die; it was like a magic elixir, the knowledge that we were in this for a short time, together.""
It was the summer Coltrane died, the summer of love and riots, and the summer when a chance encounter in Brooklyn led two young people on a path of art, devotion, and initiation. Patti Smith would evolve as a poet and performer, and Robert Mapplethorpe would direct his highly provocative style toward photography. Bound in innocence and enthusiasm, they traversed the city from Coney Island to Forty-second Street, and eventually to the celebrated round table of Max's Kansas City, where the Andy Warhol contingent held court. In 1969, the pair set up camp at the Hotel Chelsea and soon entered a community of the famous and infamous—the influential artists of the day and the colorful fringe. It was a time of heightened awareness, when the worlds of poetry, rock and roll, art, and sexual politics were colliding and exploding. In this milieu, two kids made a pact to take care of each other. Scrappy, romantic, committed to create, and fueled by their mutual dreams and drives, they would prod and provide for one another during the hungry years. Just Kids begins as a love story and ends as an elegy. It serves as a salute to New York City during the late sixties and seventies and to its rich and poor, its hustlers and hellions. A true fable, it is a portrait of two young artists' ascent, a prelude to fame.
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“"We were all young and we're all going to die; it was like a magic elixir, the knowledge that we were in this for a short time, together."”
Just Kids
By Patti Smith
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Patti Smith is an influential American singer-songwriter, poet, and visual artist, renowned for her impactful contributions to the punk rock movement and literary world. Born on December 30, 1946, in Chicago, Smith rose to fame in the 1970s with her groundbreaking debut album, 'Horses,' which combined rock music with profound poetic lyrics. She is also acclaimed for her literary works, including the memoir 'Just Kids,' which won the National Book Award and chronicles her artistic relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Smith's writing style is characterized by its lyrical intensity, blending elements of prose and poetry, often reflecting themes of nostalgia, love, and the transformative power of art. Her works, both musical and literary, continue to inspire generations of artists and writers.
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