Patti Smith – Artist in Residence at Sarasota’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Patti Smith made her fourth appearance at Selby Gardens last week, where she performed an encore dedicated to the artist, Georgia O’Keefe. Smith, who has been named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, is one of our greatest renaissance women! Being a poet, musician, songwriter, and photographer are just a few of her many talents. O’Keefe, a world-renowned artist, was known for her paintings of flowers and desert landscapes. Selby is a perfect setting for this combination.
The beautiful Selby Gardens on Sarasota Bay is such an exquisite setting for an evening of music and poetry. The audience of approximately 500 was welcomed by Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of the Botanical Gardens, who introduced Patti to a rousing applause from Selby patrons and fans of Ms. Smith. Patti opened her show with a poem honoring Valentine’s Day and her hit tune “Because The Night,” which she co-wrote with Bruce Springsteen. She performed the song with Springsteen at New York City’s rock club CBGB’s in 1977. Patti was a big part of the 70’s New York punk and rock scenes.
Her daughter, Jesse Paris Smith, joined her on keyboards, and Tony Shanahan from her band accompanied her on guitar and keys as well. Patti dedicated her song “Ghost Dance” to the Hopi Indian Tribe and actress Lily Gladstone, whom she met and said, “She is awesome!” Next, she talked about it being the 1st anniversary on January 28th of the passing of Tom Verlaine of the cutting edge 70’s band “Television.” They were the first band to ever play CBGB’s in 1974. The tribute included a song by Verlaine from Television’s first album “Marquee Moon” and she intro’d it with a poem from Georgia O’Keefe to Alfred Stieglitz.
The show was not without its funny moments of Patti forgetting lyrics or looking for her notes. She took it in stride with humor and fun. Patti talked of being a young artist of 23 writing a poem to Georgia O’Keefe, who passed away in 1986. The poem made its way to O’Keefe through a mutual friend and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. O’Keefe read it and said, “That’s about right,” which got Smith a big laugh and applause. She then reads her poem to the audience which was a fun, humorous writing of a young Smith. Patti concluded the show with a poem and a beautiful musical tribute to O’Keefe with the Hoagy Carmichael written “Georgia.” With a laugh, she said, “Perfection is just not my bag!” Thanking Selby Gardens, nature, and everyone for coming, she led the audience into a hand-clapping version of her 1988 song “People Have the Power.” Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has chosen a perfect “Artist in Residence” in Patti Smith. Everything Patti is at www.pattismith.net, and for all events and visiting Selby Gardens is www.selby.org
Vicky Sullivan Photos