Ken Botto 



               

             

Artist's Statement


When I was an art student in the mid 1950's at C.C.A.C. in Oakland, we made it over to North Beach, hung out at City Lights Books, bars and clubs, listened to poets read their work. Everybody knew of Allen Ginsberg and Howl. The Beat Movement changed everything.

I never knew Allen Ginsberg personally, though we did meet briefly on different occasions. When he died last spring, the shock of his death hit me hard (as it did many people). Allen's life and work had a profound impact on me. He helped expand my growth and development as an artist. His public voice had a generous spiritual force -- a voice that cut through the big lies of the times.