In 2010 Gary Lucas started presenting a series of symposia celebrating
Don's art and music. Following Don's death in December 2010 they
became an even greater celebration of his life.
These events were advertised as follows:
Gary Lucas will be presenting a Captain Beefheart Symposium where
he will will give a lecture and musical demonstration devoted
to his mentor and childhood hero Don Van Vliet aka Captain Beefheart.
This will involve Gary showing rare video footage of the man
and the band, delve into his complex artistic oeuvre as both a
composer -- by performing some of his fiendishly difficult solo
guitar compositions live -- and as a painter by showing slides
of his formidable paintings and drawings.
Gary explained his motives in an interview with the SF Weekly:
I began doing these symposiums because it was my firm belief
that many more people in the world today should know about this
man's consummate artistry, visionary genius, and profound impact
on the world of music, and that sadly he was in danger of falling
off the map, particularly to a younger genertation of music fans
... [snip] ... since Don's death I have received the full blessings
and support of his family to continue to present these symposiums.
Monday 13 September 2010 - 7pm until 9pm
The Stone, corner of Avenue C and 2nd Street on Manhattan's lower
east side
13 January 2011 - 8pm
The Echoplex, 1154 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles
Special guests: Terry Vliet, Robert Williams, Pamela des Barres,
Matt Groening, Stan Ridgway, Kristine McKenna, Bill Moseley, and
Weba Garretson.
11 February 2011
The Independent, San Francisco, CA
Special guests: Terry Vliet, Jerry Harrison, Francis McCarthy, Phil
Brown, Mark Blake, Marion Vale, Vic Vale and Ralph Carney
8 April 2011
Knitting Factory Williamsburg, NYC
Special guests: Genesis P. Orridge, Richard Pena, Hal Willner, Glenn
Kenny, Bradford Morrow, Byron Coley, Felice Rosser, and more
24 September 2011
Cinema L'Amour, Montreal Canda
Part of the Pop Montreal Festival
Special guests: Mary Margaret O'Hara, Don Levitin, Chris Burns and
Chloe Lum