Meetup at Stampland (Knoxville TN)

[Jayne Barket Lyons]

June 17, 2019:  

Above photo: Picasso Gaglione and Jayne B. Lyons

My family and I set off earlier this week for a road trip to Florida. The main purpose was to deliver an old van to a daughter who lives in the Winter Park area, and to visit with her for a few days.  (We head back to Minnesota via air travel.)

As plans were being made, I got thinking about the possibility of stopping off in Knoxville. We’d been curious about that area of Tennessee as a possible future retirement destination (Asheville NC is another contender). I also knew that Picasso Gaglione and Darling Darlene Domel lived there. So I contacted Picasso a week before the trip, and was thrilled that they were open to meeting with us.

Above Photo (L to R): Darling Darlene Domel, Picasso Gaglione, Jayn...

As soon as we arrived at their home, Darlene and Picasso greeted us with hugs. They are fun, friendly, warm and kind. In just a short time you get the feeling that you’ve known them forever. It was exciting to get a tour of their home. Original artwork adorns every wall and shelf, it seems. Many fascinating pieces! 

Picasso and Darlene showed us their art studios. Picasso’s studio houses his ever growing FLUX BOX collection. Darlene demonstrated some rubber stamping techniques in her charming studio. There is no doubt that art is a part of their everyday lives.

Above Photo (L to R): Ed Lyons, Picasso Gaglione, Jayne B. Lyons an...

Our visit included a tour of the headquarters for STAMPLAND, the STAMP ART MUSEUM and STAMPZINE. It’s where all the magic happens! 

Four hours later, and it was time to say goodbye. It was a great pleasure to meet the Gagliones - to learn about their family, and hear stories about their involvement with Fluxus, Dada and the Eternal Network.

[Jayne Barket Lyons]

Well, this (not so) young upstart also has a patron from the “Not-so-old school.” - I’m referring to the dude from Auburn! I mean, he is an okay guy to impersonate. Some people are typewriter, concrete poetry, vispo people - I guess!

[De Villo Sloan]

All you young upstarts seem to have to have a patron from the "Old School." Diane Keys had Rain Rein Nevermind until he got mad at her. Then she and Lucy Pierre went to visit Richard C. I guess it's OK. Picasso is a stamp person. Some people are stamp people, I guess.

Getting people to convert to DKult was a stroke of brilliance.

It's better than Michael Orlovsky becoming a Jonathan Stangroom impersonator. Where is that going to go?

But my question is, if there is Tiny Whisk, who is Viny Whish?

[Jayne Barket Lyons]

De Villo Sloan, don’t misunderstand me. I think Richard C. is ‘Da Bomb.’ Lots of legends to admire! :)

[De Villo Sloan]

I like Richard C better.

[Jayne Barket Lyons]

Yes...Prophecy fulfilled, and a crisis adverted!!  Picasso Gaglione was and still IS the man!!

[De Villo Sloan]

Here's a pic I have of Picasso Gaglione from a Bay Area 80s zine called So & So. My understanding is that PG pretty much was San Francisco DaDa.

The secret texts of DKult say, "And the DaDaists & Neoists shall relent their errors & embrace Trashpo brought to them by the mildest lamb among them & thus mail art will be spared from the machinations of the TOXIS Lords & the remainder of the 13 Secret Masters of the World & mail art shall continue in a Gold Age for 1,000 years."

The prophecy is fulfilled.