Love Letters/In the Pocket

from the Groupie Feminism art series

Attributions

Rolling Pocket door from the Chelsea Hotel, painted white

Lot 0047 from Guernsey's at Live Auctioneers, 4.12.18

96'' (8') tall, 2 3/4" side 

Assembled 2018 - 2020

The door can slide into the wall and out of sight, with two rollers on the bottom of the door. There is an opening for a pane of glass.

The pocket door might have separated two rooms of a single unit, or been a door to a lounge, or possibly it was a door to a communal eating space.

I’m intrigued by hotels.  One of my favorites is the Hotel Chelsea, especially before its recent renovation.  Built around 1883-1885 of red brick and iron, its 12 stories were designed by Hubert, Pirrson & and Company, with J.B. and J.M. Cornell constructing the iron balconies.  Its tall form seems both basic and decorative; its uncluttered brick rise appears ribboned with black lace. Hotel Chelsea seems sexy and cool! Its exterior is a streetwise introduction to New York City, like an all-knowing friend  whose jacket you want to borrow. And its interior is filled with art, all heart, sometimes breaking. Rooms could be daunting with their broken locks. When I stayed there in 2011, my door’s lock was broken. But I felt safe. I love the Chelsea Hotel.

I purchased two Chelsea doors through an online auction in 2018. It was thrilling. I recognized the doors! I spent all my rent money on them.

All the love letters on the Chelsea door are unopened except for the double-sided collage of Leon Russell.


On 8.31.18, I posted an open call on Facebook for love letters to a rock star.

On 4.29.20, I posted a second open call for love letters to a rock star, a musician, a groupie, an album, a song, or a radio station.

On 5.15.20, I asked all those who'd sent or were about to send love letters to also record themselves reading their love letter or discussing it.

Love letters from:


Michelle Baptiste, a photographer whom I met on one of the rock 'n' roll tours given by SuperGroupie and bestselling author, Pamela Des Barres, 2018.

Received letter 9.8.18

Natalie Jaeger (with audio), a Virgo who writes a groupie blog.

Received letter 9.18.18, received audio in a text 5.18.20

Lucretia Tye Jasmine, Pisces Fire Horse.

Wrote card 5.14.20

Sharon Lee Levine (with audio), actress, writer, artist. She's vegan, practices yoga, and loves to jump in the waves.

Received letter 10.27.18, received audio as mp4 in email, 8.9.20

Miss Mercy from the GTO's, one of the first (if not the first!) performance art rock all-girl bands. Miss Mercy named their sole album, "Permanent Damage" (1969). GTO's were known as a "groupie" group.

Received via messenger 10.29.19

Solvej Schou (with audio), writer and musician.

Received scroll in person 11.3.18, received audio as m4a in email, 8.8.20

Lucretia Baldwin "Teka" Ward, Aries Metal Monkey.

Received collage 9.11.18

Morgana Welch (with audio), an original LA Queen. LA Queens were known as "baby groupies" in the early 1970s.

Received letter 9.27.18, received audio in a text 5.14.20

Dee Wes, a video editor who, during the 70s and 80s in Los Angeles, befriended the groupies and musicians who became legends.

Received email with word document 5.15.20, and Dee revised and I received email with word document 5.18.20 

Dawn Wirth, photographer who documented the LA Punk scene 1976-78.

Received collage 9.25.18

Mary Helen Yates, Scorpio, visual artist, iconoclast - friends since childhood.

Received letter 10.13.18

Artist Statement

The love letters are the artist statement.