Just Kids

Just finished reading Just Kids by Patti Smith, a memoir which chronicles Smith’s growing up in the era of sex, drugs, and rock & roll in the late 1960s.  Smith is best known for her hit single, “Because the Night,” and was dubbed the Godmother of punk rock.  Smith’s story begins as a college student who leaves school to live in the “wild” of New York City where she meets the first love of her life, Robert Mapplethorpe, who later makes a huge name for himself as a controversial photographer best known for his “homoerotic” and “sadomasochistically” themed work.    Smith and Mapplethorpe struggle to do their “art work” in the bowels of the Bowery while residing in the seedy section of Chelsea, both areas pretty unsavory in the day – a far cry from the riches that exist in today’s NYC landscape.  Their physical attraction is immediate, but later wanes as Mapplethorpe explores his feelings for males.  The back and forth sexual attraction between the two finally comes to an end when Mapplethorpe meets his “patron” (as he terms it), Sam Wagstaff, who serves as his source of money to fund his art work.  Smith’s art work includes struggling to find her voice as an artist, though she acts in plays, writes poetry, and finally begins to play in a band, where she will eventually find her success.  As Mapplethorpe gets more reckless with his sexual escapades, Smith tries harder and harder to fight her own attraction to Mapplethorpe and does what she can to continue the friendship.  As the years move along, Mapplethorpe and Smith’s love turns to a deep respect and friendship, where Smith is enamored with Mapplethorpe’s photography and encourages him to show off at art shows.  While their careers begin to take off, it is learned that Mapplethorpe has developed AIDS, which at the time was running rampant in most urban cities around the US, though none more harder hit than NYC.  Mapplethorpe’s eventual demise tears Smith apart.  Smith, after a few decades, reflects on how hard it was to write the book of “coming of age” with her best friend.  For those who have a fondness for the rock ‘n roll area, this is for you.  Smith’s “down and dirty” life and struggle to express, experiment, and love across all boundaries is a great read.  It flows well and captures the artist’s life.  A mixture of sadness and exhilaration all wrapped in one.  This is a life far from my own, so it was an eye opener for me.