"Only the janitor is here" Connie tells me.
He says "This is my garden." We've come to
The Gates of Hell at Stanford's Rodin Garden
for Waverley Writers Full Moon Poetry Reading

Stanford Rodin Sculpture Garden Stanford University, Palo Alto

Gates of Hell by Rodin (1917)

Connie and I were ballroom dancing at Cubberley Pavilion, when I told her Waverley Writers is having their 2nd Annual Full Moon Poetry Reading at the Gates of Hell in the Stanford Rodin Garden. We arrived at 11 pm, and Connie says "Only the janitor is here", he says "This is my garden." Photo Sources: Stanford Rodin Sculpture Garden (reunion.stanford.edu); Gates of Hell (stanforddaily.com)

from 9 pm to midnight using flashlights, but looks like all the poets have gone home on this Saturday, August 15, 1992. I read "Çacountala" honoring Camille Claudel, 3rd Annual Gates of Hell Poetry Reading (8-28-1993) Çacountala by Camille Claudel (1888) Camille Claudel (1864-1943) Waverley Writers is a group of poets that meet the first Friday of the month (September-June) at 7:30 pm at the Friends' Meeting House, 957 Colorado Avenue, Palo Alto. Since there are no readings in July & August, one of the poets, Jacklyn Marderosian decided to have a poetry reading at Stanford's Rodin Garden on Saturday closest to the August Full Moon. Waverley Writers 1st Full Moon Poetry Reading at Stanford Rodin Garden was held on Saturday, August 24, 1991. Beside the usual Palo Alto poets, many Berkeley poets came, and the readings went to midnight. In 1992, the August Full Moon was on Thursday 13th August, so the Saturday Reading was on August 15. But nobody was here except the janitor. One of the poems I read was "Çacountala" honoring Camille Claudel. Other poems read that night: "Under the Apricot Tree I Learned Where We Came From" (1-1-1992), "How They Fall" (3-1-1992), "Study of Transformation" (3-31-1992), "Sacred Geometry" (4-24-1992), and "The M Showed Me" (6-4-1992). Photo Sources: 3rd Annual Gates of Hell Poetry Reading flyer (wisdomportal.com); Çacountala (wisdomportal.com); Camille Claudel (commons.wikimedia.org). Rodin's mistress, implying he had stolen ideas from her after seeing a recent film about them. The janitor protests "She was just a schoolgirl when Rodin sculpted The Kiss. I try to impress Camille Claudel film (1988) directed by Bruno Nuytten The Kiss by Rodin (1882) The Eternal Idol by Rodin (1891) Rodin is one of my favorite sculptors. However, after seeing the film Camille Claudel (1988), I felt he had stolen ideas from his mistress. When the janitor protested and asked which sculpture, I got the dates mixed up, and said The Kiss (1882) instead of The Eternal Idol (1891) done three years after Claudel's Çacountala (1888). Rodin sculpted The Kiss in 1882 when Camille Claude was just 18 years old. Photo Sources: Camille Claudel film (amazon.com); The Kiss (arsmundi.com); The Eternal Idol (musee-rodin.fr) him, saying "The Philadelphia Museum is second in Rodin's sculptures", but he tells me that "Stanford is now second in size after Paris." He asks me "Where did you learn art history?" Philadelphia Rodin Museum 150 pieces of Rodin's Sculptures Stanford Rodin Collection 170 pieces of Rodin's Sculptures I had read that Philadelphia Museum had the second largest collection of Rodin's sculptures after Paris, and brought this fact up to impress him. But the janitor corrected me, saying Stanford is now second in size after Paris (170 pieces of Rodin's Sculptures). Photo Sources: Philadelphis Rodin Museum (bsnscb.com); Stanford Rodin Collection (visionlearning.com) "At Columbia— Hibbard's 'Art 101', Howard Davis' 'Northern Renaissance Art' & Dustin Rice's 'Modern Art'." He asks "Did Rodin do anything else beside sculptures?" I reply "He drew watercolors on "Cambodian Dancers". Howard Hibbard Art 101 (1961) Howard Davis Renaissance Art (1962) Dustin Rice: Modern Art (1963) Columbia Daily Spectator, March 7, 1963 Meyer Schapiro Columbia (1928-1973) I told the janitor my background in art history at Columbia University. Took Art 101 with Professor Howard Hibbard (specialist in Italian Art), Northern Renaissancee Art with Professor Howard Davis, and Modern Art with Dustin Rice. When the janitor asked whether I've taken a class with Meyer Schapiro, I said he only taught graduate students, and I'm just an undergraduate in Chemical Engineering. To my surprise, the janitor claimed to have taken classes with Meyer Schapiro, one of the world's greatest art scholars. (Learned later, Elsen wrote his doctorate dissertation "Rodin's Gates of Hell" under Meyer Schapiro at Columbia University.) Photo Sources: Howard Hibbard (facebook.com); Howard Davis (columbia.edu); Dustin Rice (spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu); Meyer Schapiro (theartstory.org) "Good for you!" he smiles, as if throwing me a bone as brownie points after my poor debate performance. His lady friend says "We enjoyed your poetry, perhaps you'll come to his lecture on Matisse— Rodin drawing a Cambodian dancer in Marseille, 1906 "Cambodian Dancer" by Rodin (1906) "Cambodian Dancer with Snake" by Rodin I probably read about Rodin's watercolor drawings of Cambodian dancers in Bernard Champigneulle's book Rodin (1967) when I was at Cornell. Since I liked Rodin's sculptures, I read a lot about him. When Rodin said, "Compare me with Rembrandt? We should prostrate ourselves before Rembrandt and never compare anyone with him!", it brought me to tears. Brought my Dad to Musée Rodin when he visited me in Paris (August 1979). Composed "Rodin's 1906 Drawings of Cambodian Dancers" (9-8-2001) and typed Rodin's essay on "The Dancers of King Sisowath of Cambodia" (9-8-2001). Photo Sources: Rodin drawing Cambodian dancer (wisdomportal.com); "Cambodian Dancer" (wisdomportal.com); "Cambodian Dancer with Snake" (wisdomportal.com); Oh, let me introduce him— Professor Albert Elsen." I nearly fainted— the world's greatest scholar on Rodin— no wonder he knew so much when I thought he was just a janitor. Professor Albert Elsen Stanford University In Rodin's Studio by Albert Elsen (1980) Rodin Rediscovered by Albert Elsen (1981) The Gates of Hell by Albert Elsen (1985) When the janitor's lady friend introduced him as Professor Albert Elsen, it shocked me that I nearly fainted. Here is the world's greatest scholar on Rodin whom I'm debating. Photo Sources: Professor Albert Elsen (wisdomportal.com); In Rodin's Studio (amazon.com); Rodin Rediscovered (antiqbook.com); The Gates of Hell (amazon.com) I went to the Art History Department and picked up flyers on Elsen's lecture "Matisse: His Importance to Modern Art" at 5:30 pm, September 15, 1992. Cummings Art Building Stanford University Department of Art History Stanford University The Cummings Art Building is next to Stanford Green Library, where I visited often. I'd use the Mac Computers in the Classics Room and in the Art Library. The most memorable lecture at Anneberg Auditorium was "Michelangelo Rediscovered" by Walter Persegati, Secretary of the Vatican Museum. After his talk on the restoration of the Sistine Chapel Frescoes (10-7-1992), wrote a poem "The Distance of Creation" (10-24-1992). Went to the Art History Department for the $5 ticket, that was all sold out. Told them I realized Michelangelo painted the ceiling for the Pope, but also for the Neo-Platonic initiates "from the many to the one". The art person was impressed by my story, and gave me a free ticket. Photo Sources: Cummings Art Building (stanfordalphabetical.blogspot.com); Stanford Art History Department (itunes.apple.com); Felt I could do better— designed two flyers with Matisse's Polynesia, the Sea (1946) and France stamp of Matisse's Blue Nudes swirling in a kaleidoscopic spiral. Matisse Flyer for Elsen's 9-15-1992 Lecture Matisse "Blue Nudes" Flyer for Elsen's 9-15-1992 Lecture France 1015: Matisse Blue Nudes (issued November 10, 1961) The flyer to Elsen's Matisse lecture was not impressive at all. After taking graphic design at Foothill College, felt I could do better. Browsed through several books on Matisse, and used Polynesia, The Sea (1946) as one of the flyers. Used the postage stamp, France 1015: Matisse, Blue Nudes as the second flyer. Having taken Advanced Adobe Illustator, learned how to arrange items in a kaleidoscopic spiral. Photo Sources: Matisse's Polynesia, the Sea flyer (wisdomportal.com); Matisse's Blue Nudes flyer (wisdomportal.com); France 1015: Matisse Blue Nudes (colnect.com); Sent them to Elsen along with a brochure of CPITS—teaching kids to write poetry. His handwritten September 11th letter is such a heart-warming treasure. California-Poets-In-The-Schools (CPITS) Flyer designed by Peter Y. Chou (1992) CPITS Flyer: Teaching Poetry Writing designed by Peter Y. Chou (1992) France B393: "Coco Writing" (12-13-1965) Sent a few copies of these Matisse Lecture flyers to Professor Elsen, along with a CPITS brochure on teaching kids to write poetry in school that I designed in QuarkXpress. Used France B393 stamp of "Coco Writing" by Renoir, imagining an unicorn and writing about this mythical creature. As I was teaching students to write poetry in the CPITS program, wished to share this activity with Professor Elsen. Photo Sources: CPITS brochure (wisdomportal.com); CPITS brochure (wisdomportal.com); France B393 "Coco Writing" by Renoir (colnect.com); Elsen like Jameel Din's poem in the CPITS brochure, saying "I wish I had been exposed to your program as a child. No question it would have made me a better writer, if not a poet." Jameel Din's poem "Life Is Preserved" from CPITS flyer Elsen's 9-11-1992 Letter liking Jameel Din's poem "The Life Is Preserved" Elsen's 9-11-1992 Letter on Camille's influence on Rodin's sculptures. There were four poems of students cited in my CPITS brochure. Professor Elsen liked Jameel Din's poem "The Life Is Preserved" for its "range and simplicity." Elsen was aware of a similar program in New York City. I didn't inform him that it was started by Kenneth Koch, my freshman English Professor at Columbia (1959-1960). His Wishes, Lies and Dreams (1970) became a classic in teaching children to write poetry. Elsen's closing remark touched me deeply— "It was good to meet someone who came out of the same intellectual cradle [Columbia]. I hope my Matisse Talk will repay what I owe you for the beautiful poetry reading in the Garden." Photo Sources: "Life Is Preserved" Poem (wisdomportal.com); Elsen's 9-11-1992 Letter & page 1 (wisdomportal.com); Elsen's Letter (page 2) (wisdomportal.com); Connie came to Elsen's "Matisse" lecture at the packed Anneberg Auditorium, saying "With suit and tie, he looks like a professor and not a janitor." I took 18 pages Annenberg Auditorium Stanford University Professor Albert Elsen Carleton College (1952-1958) Professor Albert Elsen Stanford University (1968-1995) Professor Elsen's lecture "Matisse: His Importance for Modern Art" on Sept. 15, 1992 filled Anneberg Auditorium to capacity (350 attendees). Seeing Elsen in suit and tie, Connie tells me "He looks more like a professor than a janitor." Photo Sources: Anneberg Auditorium (); Elsen at Carleton College (apps.carleton.edu); Elsen at Stanford University (waymarking.com); of notes with sketches of 120 slides— Picasso & Matisse were the greatest in 20th century— "Betweeen 1907 and 1912, they changed art more drastically than the previous five centuries." Elsen's 9-15-1992 Matisse Lecture Pages 1-2 of Peter's 1992 Journal Elsen's 9-15-1992 Matisse Lecture Pages 5-6 of Peter's 1992 Journal Elsen's 9-15-1992 Matisse Lecture Pages 17-18 of Peter's 1992 Journal I took 18 pages of Notes in my Journal of Elsen's Matisse lecture, sketching the 120 slides he showed. It dawned upon me that Picasso and Matisse were the Yang and Yin of 20th century art. While Picasso stressed the masculine tempo (bulls), Matisse focused on the feminine (women's clothing, curtains in the home). Elsen closed his lecture saying "Matisse liberated painting using poetry through color. He showed decorative painting could be made into serious art. He showed modern artists that there is nothing as finished art. The artist is a continuum that grows and changes— a sense of self, great reverence in the past. Who am I?— constant reminder to the artist. How do we know that a dead artist is alive? When his art challenges us when we are most awake!" (page 18 of Notes) (7:30 pm). Photo Sources: Pages 1-2 of Notes on Elsen's Lecture (wisdomportal.com); Pages 5-6 of Notes on Elsen's Lecture (wisdomportal.com); Pages 17-18 of Notes on Elsen's Lecture (wisdomportal.com). After his talk, I brought Elsen's first book Auguste Rodin: Readings on His Life & Work for him to sign. This $2.95 paperback bought at Book Sales Gallery in Ithaca (9-21-1969) Elsen's first book Auguste Rodin (1965) Book Sales Gallery East State Street, Ithaca, NY Can't find photo of Book Sales Gallery, since it was 51 years ago (9-21-1969) when I bought Elsen's "Rodin" book. Found photo of Autumn Leaves Used Books at 115 East State Street, Ithaca, that resembles the bookstore when I made the purchase. Photo Sources: Elsen's Auguste Rodin (wisdomportal.com); Autumn Leaves Used Books (onthegrid.city/ithaca/downtown-ithaca) was marked down to 89¢ since 1/3 of the back cover & last page was torn off. I bargained it down to 50¢. Elsen signed "For Peter from an admirer of his poetry— Al Elsen." 1/3 of Backcover of book torn bargained down to 50¢ Albert Elsen signing 50¢ torn copy of his first book Albert Elsen Memorial Celebration Program (2-19-1995) honored by former students Poem for Albert Elsen on learning he died (2-2-1995) Albert Elsen's first book Auguste Rodin: Readings on his life and work was published in 1965 when he was a professor at Indiana University. Used copies sell from $15.00 to $35.43. New copy sells for $952.95. My 50¢ torn copy with Elsen's autograph is priceless. Photo Sources: Torn backcover of Rodin book (wisdomportal.com); Elsen signing his first book (wisdomportal.com); Elsen's Memorial Celebration Brochure (wisdomportal.com); Poem on Rodin's Burgher for Albert Elsen after he died (wisdomportal.com) Afterword: Professor Albert Elsen died on February 2, 1995 at age 67 (Stanford Obituary 2-3-1995; NY Times Obituary, 2-8-1995). When I saw the news on Stanford Daily, went to Rodin's Burghers of Calais at Stanford's Main Quad, and wrote the poem "The Morning After You Died I Touch a Rodin's Burgher Who Shares My Name". (2-3-1995). Elsen had written a book with Mary Jo McNamara on Rodin's Burghers of Calais (1977). Went to Elsen's Memorial Celebration at the Gates of Hell on February 19, 1995, at 2:00 pm. Tributes by his former students include Kirk Varnedoe, Chief Curator at Museum of Modern Art and William Rubin, Director Emeritus at MOMA. His wife Sharon McClenahan Elsen said had I written earlier, she would have included me on the program, and suggested I read my poem at the Faculty Club reception after the jazz band procession. However, it was too noisy at the reception, so I didn't want to disturb the crowd to read my poem. — Peter Y. Chou     Mountain View, 1-22-2020 | Top | Poem "Janitor Crushed Me" | Poems 2020 | Poems 2019 | Poems 2018 | Poems 2017 | Poems 2016 | Poems 2015 | | Poems 2014 | Poems 2013 | Poems 2012 | Poems 2011 | Haikus 2019 | Haikus 2018 | Haikus 2017 | Haikus 2016 | | Haikus 2015 | Haikus 2014 | Haikus 2013 | Haikus 2012 | Walks 2019 | News | CPITS | Books | A-Z Portals | Home | © Peter Y. Chou, Wisdom Portal P.O. Box 390707, Mountain View, CA 94039 email: (1-22-2020)