Essay by Patti Smith: Art Rats in New York City
In 1967, I stepped out of the Port Authority Bus Terminal carrying a plaid suitcase, driven by the desire to become an artist. Though I may have lacked the skills at that time, I was determined to develop them because I believed in the truth of my calling. It came to me like an ecstatic vision, without any Faustian bargain or divine expectation. I knew I was on my own but hoped to find a companion, which Providence provided.
Meeting Robert Mapplethorpe
Robert Mapplethorpe was an American boy from a devout Catholic family. He played saxophone in the high-school band and earned an R.O.T.C. scholarship to study graphic arts at Pratt Institute. His mother wished he would join the priesthood, while his father hoped he’d advance in the military, with commercial art as a backup.
- Robert had pale skin, green eyes, and dark curly hair closely cropped.
- Following his father’s path, he received an apartment, knee-high leather riding boots, and an allowance.
- At Pratt, he was an exceptional draftsman and initially walked the expected path.
Yet inside, a different self was emerging. By age twenty, Robert gave up his saxophone, religious robes, and rifle. Looking in the mirror, he saw neither priest nor future R.O.T.C. captain.
“I knew I would be on my own, yet still hoped for a compatriot, and Providence led me to him.”
Author's summary: Patti Smith reflects on her early days in New York and her fateful meeting with Robert Mapplethorpe, highlighting how both rejected expected paths to forge their own artistic identities.
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