The Arts Laboratory

Back to fast and loose (my dead gallery)

28th Oct 1969

ARTS LABORATORY,
182 Drury Lane,
Covent Garden,
London, W.C.2.
28th October, 1969

Dear Friends,

Please accept this duplicated newsletter from me with some news which should interest you. The Arts Laboratory Located on Drury Lane for the past two and a half years is closed. The Arts Lab was many things to many people: a vision frustrated by an indifferent, fearful, and secure society; an experiment with such intangibles as people, ideas, feelings, and communications; a restaurant; a cinema; a theatre (Moving Being, Freehold, Poeple Show, Human Family, etc); underground television (Rolling Stones at Hyde Park, Isle of Wight, Dick Gregory All-Night Event); a gallery (past exhibitions include Yoko Ono & Lennon, Takis, et al); free notice boards (buy/sell, rides to Paris); a tea room; astrological readings; an information bank (tape,video, &live-Dick Gregory, Lennie Bruce, Michael X, Michael McClure…); happenings (verbal and otherwise); music (live and tape including The Fugs, Donovan, Leonard Cohen, Third Bar Band, Shawn Phillips, Kylastron, etc.) ; books, magazines. and newspapers (Time Out, IT, SUCK, OZ, Rolling Stone); information.

People flowed through — young,old, fashionable unfashionable, beautiful, bored,ugly,sad,agressive, friendly–five bob if you can afford it, less if you can’t. A few people in a position to help financially took but nover gave. They asked, “What’s the product? What’s its name?” The real answer was Humanity: you can’t weigh it, you can’t market it, you can’t label it, and you can’t destroy it. You can touch it and it will respond, you can free it and it will fly, you can create it and it will grow, if you kill it — it’s murder. The kids here don’t believe it’s the end and they’re right for it will reappear in another form.”We are the seeds of the tenacious plant, and it is in our ripeness and our fullness of heart that we are given to tho wind and are scattered,”

Some facts: The Arts Council gives £13,5OO per annum to the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh which I founded and directed and which is only one third the size and scope of the Lab. The kitchens of the Royal Opera House are given some £37,OOO per annum by the Arts Council. The Arts Lab received no support from the Arts Council. I have been asked to join the Arts Council. I am £8,OO0. in debt.

The future: My future plans and the future plans for the Lab are clouded. I might move to Paris or to Amsterdam or to both cities. I have been invited to lecture at the new University of Paris at Vincennes. The Lab has been invited to present a season of London theatre, film, music, experimental television, etc at La Lucernaire, a theatre in Paris, in December.

The loss does not diminish the scope of the experience, I have learned. The fullness and unpredictability of the future out-distances the past. Perspective brings understanding – a property of future and past. The future has a delightful habit of turning into the present.

Blessings and regards,

Jim Haynes

Future address:
Post Office Box 2080,
Amsterdam

To visit Jim Haynes’ website please click here