The Henry Miller Library – Where Nothing Happens

WELCOME! Choose your language, English or Spanish, in the upper right corner.
¡BIENVENIDOS! Elige tu idioma, Ingles o Español, en la esquina superior derecha.

2021 Year End Fundraising Campaign has ended.
THANK YOU for your support!
We did very well along with many other
Arts organizations in our neighborhood!

Did you know that a 2016 study published in the journal Public Health found that seeing live music can reduce stress hormones released by the body’s adrenal glands? It’s true. In fact, there’s a growing body of research suggesting that seeing live music helps improve brain development and boosts mental health. Support live music venues!

Celebrating our 41st year!

It was in the summer of 1981 that Emil White, with the help of the
Big Sur Land Trust, opened the door to the “Henry Miller Memorial Library, Founded by Emil White.”

Father John Misty at the Henry Miller Library…
Thank you to all who helped to make this 40th anniversary concert happen. The Library shone bright thanks to participants Britt Govea, Jonathan Wilson, Father John Misty and all who were here: Working, serving, listening, drinking and dancing!

Good News: Three Big Sur authors with new books!
Magnus had a conversation with each author. Listen below….

The Gazebo Learning Project
by Jasmine Star Horan.
www.silverpeakpress.com

Interview over the phone…

Quest for Eternal Sunshine
by Myra Goodman. https://questforeternalsunshine.com/

Interview via Zoom…

Gordon by Jim Hunolt.
The long awaited book on
Gordon Newell!

Interview in person…

Good News 2:
Tropic of Cancer clocks in at # 4 of Bob Dylan’s all time favorite books.
Read about it here!

Quote from Carly Taylor’s article:
Miller is a powerful author to turn to in our periods of hopelessness, for he can breed joy where others find only nihilism. He sees “a world without hope but no despair.”

Interview with Stefan White
(son of Library Founder Emil White) April 2020.
Interview with Katy Masuga at Fontainebleau (near Paris).
Ellis Paul at the Library (the last concert before the Corona Closure)
Video of One man, One mic & One JS Bach! Edwin Huizinga plays!
HM Library friend Al Rose just wrote a song. Listen HERE!
Living artistically with Tropic of Cancer by Carly Taylor HERE!
New book of poetry by Peter Serchuk!

Master Sculptor and life-long Big Sur resident Jim Hunolt recently published the long awaited book on Gordon Newell titled GORDON.

Magnus spoke with Jim about his friendship and admiration of Gordon and of course the long labor of love that resulted in this beautiful book!

Also by Jim Hunolt:
Elena’s Messages
Jim Hunolt Sculpture w/ Gary Koeppel

Music at the Library

Visit the archive site for some videos and stills from the last several years of shows. Please share your memories! (audio clip above, Father John Misty)

Big Sur Short Film Festival

After 595 films from 58 countries, 12 years of film, we have decided to turn off the projector. Thanks to our jury, selection committee, sponsors and audience. We’ve had a wonderful adventure of film and international relations!

Stefan White and Magnus Torén sat down for a wonderful conversation (and a reunification after 31 years!)

You will hear Stefan’s beautiful voice telling stories about family, Australia, Big Sur, Austria and much more. Some of the White family we speak of are in photographs that Stefan provided to the right: Stefan, Dan, Pat, Emil.
We also touch on:
The Morgenrath family.
Robert Redford and Sonia Braga
A mail-order bride Mother
Living close to where Hitler grew up
Biking in central Europe
Sleeping with headhunters
Being better than Giacometti!
Dr Zeus….and, very important for Stefan, we spoke of his dedication and love for Prem Rawat.

Stefan White Interview

Ellis Paul came to visit and play on March 1st. Dinner courtesy Dana Carnazzo, wine, beer, conversation, music, poetry, politics and lots of laughter. This was also pre-Corona awareness so a lot of aerosol, fluids and skin exchanged unapologetically! It was a good night.

Before Ellis started the show he and Magnus spoke on the microphone. It was probably in 1995 they first met. Ellis Paul was one of the very first performers in the history of the Library!

Songwriting, life on the road, family, technology, getting older…we cover it.

Here’s Ellis’ website.

Edwin Huizinga

One man, one microphone, one violin. The inanimate become animate. Edwin is taming his unruly violin only to presently let it free onto, and into, a wild spin on Bach!

At a respectful distance away we are lucky to have this happen in the midst of our sheltering regime. Please click below for a link to a short sample of
Bach for Cello on Violin!

Edwin is doing a musical event for Mother’s Day!
https://bit.ly/2YArDWy

Here’s Edwin’s website

From Edwin:

Ever since I was five years old, I have been playing the violin. I grew up in the forest, on a little farm, about twenty minutes outside of a small city called Guelph.

What I think the current global fermata has done for many, is letting us reshape the way we think of many things, and to look back into our lives, and find that which truly gives comfort and solace. For me two of those things are music and nature. Now, when I think about playing music, and more than that – when I think about playing violin by myself, I inevitably turn to Bach at some point. Johann is my favorite composer of old. I truly believe he has much to offer to anyones imagination.

So, I end up in the Redwoods, with my violin, playing violin, in one of the most special building I know, full of books, and memories, called the Henry Miller Memorial Library.

I hope you enjoy.

Said And Done by Al Rose

When all is said and done

Now that common sense is numb

This story will be written in a cave

The present and the future are just bastards of the past

And the calendar just takes it day to day

When the gravy boat delivers all the gravy to the port

We celebrate by dancing in the rain

We take a bit for us and then put some in a bowl

We send it down the line by gravy train

But the way this story goes, there are gamblers flashing gold

With warmth that turns the water into ice

The bakers shine the light, but the cowards cut the pie

And those assholes always want another slice

Chorus: The memories stand tall enough

Tall enough to reach ‘em

We’ll remember every lesson

But not enough to teach ‘em

So remember every touch

And remember every smell

And remember every shame

And remember fare thee well

Your decisive indecision is a ramble through the haze

As you bring a nation gasping to its knees

With clusterfuck precision you cut another maze

Then you locked it up and threw away the keys

Your fiction proved you right

But the truth is much too bright

Like a ribbon that has faded in the sun

So you tried to take a turn and the friction made you burn

Now you’re flaming like a dumpster on the run

Chorus

The scenario’s best case is we slip into the cracks

But things are looking up, boys, by and by

We’re looking at blue sky cuz we landed on our backs

And the rules say to play ‘em where they lie

Al Rose at home in Chicago in the first video and then, a more ‘produced’ video of his song “Spin Spin Dizzy”

HERE IS AL ONLINE

WE NOW HAVE A BEAUTIFULLY SOUNDING PIANO!

A Steinway upright is now installed, tuned and ready for you to play, perform and record! (Acoustics in this room is legendary!)

The piano was donated to us by a generous family north of us and delivered by Howard Piano Moving.

Tuning by Nicholas Fettis.
Listen to him play the piano post tuning HERE!

Henry Miller loved playing the piano and his first wife Beatrice Sylvas Wickens was an accomplished pianist.

Friend, poet and neighbor Peter Serchuk has published a book of poetry: The Purpose of Things. See and hear Peter read from his book in the video to the right!