INVESTIGATIVE MAIL-ART: Deep Inside the DKULT with KDJ & Diane Keys (Orlando, Florida, USA)

[De Villo Sloan]

Cover: July 2011 issue of the DKULTNY (DKULT-New York) fanzine

 

November 25, 2011 - Posing as an adoring fan injured in the infamous D-Koder Ring Scandal, I infiltrated the D-KULT (a mail-art movement based on the enigmatic and charismatic mail-artist Diane Keys (Illinois, USA), following a slippery chain of command to its highest levels. My findings are deeply disturbing.

 

Once headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, DKULT "problems cases" are now routed to an address in Orlando, Florida (USA). This is managed under the iron hand of DK's current "Lieutenant": KDJ (aka DKDJ). DK now barely communicates with the growing throng of her international fans. Instead, insiders say her time is devoted to courting corporate sponsorship of her increasingly extravagant performance pieces. A shadowy character known as "Heath" has risen to a high position in the organization.

 

Most of the trash that drives her thriving industry, that she previously collected herself in the streets of Elgin, is now imported from the U.S. State of Maine where a regional DKULT operation has sprung up under the leadership of Nancy Bell Scott, known to have ties to the controversial and alleged cultist Trungpa Rinpoche. DK's trash cartel can be traced further to Hamburg, Germany, and probably beyond. An unidentified DKULT watcher claims a major partnership is in the works with Grigori Antonin of Minnesota.

 

In response to my request for a new D-Koder ring I received a baffling document, prefaced by this letter and followed with page upon page of forms to complete:

 

Now the second page:

 

 

I regret I cannot reproduce the voluminous reports I am requested to complete. Clearly, the average mail-artist is powerless against the D-KULT. Here is an example of some of the contents:

 

Exhibit H is alleged to be a psychological test designed by Grigori Antonin (Minnesota, USA).

I cannot imagine what Exhibit C has to do with a defective D-Koder Ring. The slick marketing that helped the D-KULT's rise to the top is still being used to its advantage. The bad news came to me in this wonderful envelope:

 

 

D-KULT marketing and recruitment is clearly as slick as ever. Has a once benevolent mail-art movement evolved in a dangerous kult of personality? I will leave that for readers to decide.

 

Mail-artists are encouraged to monitor the official Diane Keys blog and report any strange or unusual activities:

http://dianekeys.blogspot.com/

 

MAIL-ART PSYCHIC

 

Mink schnitzel

 

Don't take it out of the bag, Louise. It's not normal.

 

The proper remedy is catwalk maroon. waffles or waffling

 

Snooker's Mink Ranch.

 

Bifidus has found the key to the 13th dimension. The signs were always there.

 

37

 

You don't look that good in red anyway. Sleeve it alone.

 

Coffee cups & doughnut holes.

 

He asked for a white handkerchief & an orange. Max knew him in Queens. It was the noise of the chainsaw that bothered me the most. No, the other Max.

 

Harvey Brown. Yet another genius from Cleveland.

 

Ray says the Glimmer Twins are back.

[DKeys]

[De Villo Sloan]

pelted w/ yams back in the day glimmer dimmer? you got 1 headlight burned out thar

[De Villo Sloan]

how d kougar hunt? where d psychick? 

[De Villo Sloan]

The fruit pelting stories about the MO were related to me by someone who attended concerts probably in the early '70s in Boston. The meditation sessions might have been removed at some point. I saw a later line-up w/Michael Walden (?) as drummer. As I recall, there was an opening meditation but very short & people were respectful. Didn't George Harrison have similar problems when Ravi Shankar on his tour? Crowds grew bored with long sets of Indian music.

 

Yes, I think Carlos Santana paid dearly for his infatuation with McLaughlin & Chimnoy. I believe he lost a segment of his audience on those lengthy, ponderous guitar solos. Of course, he recovered well later in time. I  think Eric Clapton dabbled in that briefly, playing with Santana & McLaughlin.

 

[De Villo Sloan]

I am just thinking out loud. Perhaps the fan club should organize some events for you. 

[De Villo Sloan]

Here's a classic

Left to right: John McLaughlin, Sri Chimnoy, Carlos Santana

[De Villo Sloan]

Oh, and since it's "Name that Guru" day. Have I asked? Does anyone remember Sri Chimnoy? I don't think he was Buddhist.

 

Sri Chimnoy instructed John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra) and became fairly popular as a result.

 

McLaughlin insisted that every Mahavishnu Orchestra begin with group meditation. He would stand (or sit) on the stage meditating while the annoyed and perplexed audience pelted him with fruit, beer cans, and whatever else they had on hand - wanting the concert to begin.

[De Villo Sloan]

DK, there are fake editions of "Splattered" circulating.

 

Is it time for Erni to embark on a US tour? Last year I invited him to come over so we could hitch hike from NY to Detroit. He never showed up.

[Nancy Bell Scott]

Erni, my husband was chief roadie (or whatever), traveling with the karmapa and in charge of setting up the elaborate "throne" etc. for his appearances at that time.  I'm dying to see those videos, but youtube hasn't worked on my computer since google took it over. Drives me crazy, and nothing I read tells me how to fix it. Anyone have a hint? ^*())(*&^$@#$_)(***^#!!!!!!!!!

[DKeys]

My son's friend went to Walmart on Black Death Friday and what cracked me up was that in the midst of the pushing, pulling, shoving chaos, he found the time to text about it. 

Yes, Macy's would be more appropriate.

I found a used copy on Amazon, but they wanted $798.00 for it. I'm still trying to scrape that together. I need it for the family book burning we host on Sunday nights.