John Sutherland, In Front Of His Home, 3704 35th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN. July 22, 2003, 11:05 AM
…The following passage from Robert M. Pirsig's novel "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", early along the ZMM Route, introduces us to John Sutherland, and his Wife Sylvia =>
…“ John Sutherland and his wife, Sylvia, have pulled into a roadside picnic area. It’s time to stretch. As I pull my machine beside them Sylvia is taking her helmet off and shaking her hair loose, while John puts his BMW up on the stand. Nothing is said. We have been on so many trips together we know from a glance how one another feels.
…The picnic benches are abandoned at this hour of the morning. We have the whole place to ourselves. John goes across the grass to a cast-iron pump and starts pumping water to drink. Chris wanders down through some trees beyond a grassy knoll to a small stream. I am just staring around.
…After a while Sylvia sits down on the wooden picnic bench and straightens out her legs, lifting one at a time slowly without looking up. Long silences mean gloom for her, and I comment on it. She looks up and then looks down again.
…"It was all those people in the cars coming the other way," .
. "The first one looked so sad. And then the next one looked exactly the same way, and then the next one and the next one, they were all the same.” ….
……."It’s just that they looked so lost," she says. "Like they were all dead. Like a funeral procession." Then she puts both feet down and leaves them there.

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John Sutherland, In Front Of His Home: A Slightly Different Photo. July 22, 2003, 11:05 AM.
…Henry Gurr phone called Mr. Sutherland May 21, 2003, and was able to reach him about a week later. Henry’s notes written at time of phone call follow =>
…When he answered, he said “Hellooooowwww”, in a musical sing-song voice, so Herny knew it was a good time to call.
…Henry explained his idea of an Interview with Mr. Sutherland, saying want to travel to Minneapolis, before summer got too hot. John replied, “I have two band concerts [playing his drums] in next two weeks.” And said “Also, I sell Cards and Stuff, and I need to get back to Santa Fe:” [Wants to get more photographs there, for his Note Cards. ]
…Mr. Sutherland, probably because Henry raised topic of his 1968 travel ZMM Route with Pirsig & Chris, went on to say
… “Camping? Poor decision. He wanted to go into a gully, I thought we ought to go higher. ….. Yes, Mosquitos ….. Yes, Problems with Chris …. I don’t remember the Fire Crackers. I had a kidding thing going with him [Chris]. We got along splendidly.”
….”Sylvia wrote to Bob [Robert Pirsig], two weeks ago, saying he should have been nicer to Chris. Bob wrote back, don’t worry.”
…”Neighbor kids [around our home] were nuts about Sylvia. Back then she wouldn’t boss them around. Kids really responded to mothering thing.”
…”I don’t remember the Hotel.” [in Miles City, MT.]
…… “I will see Sylvia and ask her about it, if you want me to “
…”Sylvia doesn’t like the ZMM Book … “
…… “Women and some guys I work with, don’t like Pirsig’s ideas on women …for example Lila.”
…”I just read a relevant review about book “LILA“,.[which said Pirsig] used women in an Anti-Woman way…. Used symbolically sort of bad.”
…”This “LILA“ review was Oct 13, 1991, by Richard Restak, in the New York Times Book Reviews.”

….”Pirsig’s first Wife? I’ve had no contact, since book [ZMM came out]. She was a newspaper [writer] Moved to Florida years ago, married a Newspaper Reporter.”
…Pirsig? Nell [their daughter], is~7 years old now. His other son is still around Ted Pirsig.
…. No Pirsig’s Minn Director St Paul. (The previous 6 words are as written in my notes. But the meaning is unclear.)
( END: Henry Gurr’s notes written at time of phone call. … Bing and Google searches for … John Sutherland Photography Note Cards … found no relevant results. )
July 22, 2003,
…NOTE: DVD Video Recordings, of above-mentioned John Sutherland Interview, ~80 minutes, are available for $20. Please Email HenryG__USCA.edu

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A Good Portrait Of John Sutherland, On A Perfect July 22nd Day. 11:04 AM
…John Sutherland, is standing by my car, after I, Henry Gurr, arrived.

EXPLANATION
…When I, Henry Gurr, arrived in Minneapolis (to my great distress), I reversed “Avenue” & “Street”, of the street locations, and consequently was badly lost in the hills of Western Minneapolis!! I called to get better directions: Thus, when I pulled up, John was in front of his house, looking for me.

…Next, I went with Mr. Sutherland into his home, and we had a good time getting acquainted. …. Henry’s notes written at the time follow =>
…Henry said: A year ago, on my ZMM Book Research trip, I was able to find your Home, at “ Twenty-six-forty-nine Colfax Avenue “ [as stated in Pirsig’s ZMM Book]
…John replied: “We moved to Watertown Minnesota, rural one and a half acres, [and lived there for] three years. We found it while motorcycling. Now suburbs, a great little town, two bars, two grocery stores. Before moving there, we were going there on weekends. In our car, nice!! A hill picnic area, overlooking a farm countryside. Nancy there with Bob and Sylvia, when all of a sudden, a Sheriff’s car shows up. [We have to explain to him] We thought this was a whole public park.
…. We were never part of the community. You had to have accessed property, and it took a long time to do it. … [Partly due to] We did not have TV, because we had the countryside!
…. And there were camouflaged cameras in the treetops, because there was a prison break, We wanted out, sold for $13,000. But now the neighborhood has come way back up. Now worth $300,000.
… We lived downtown, 54th Street & 3rd Avenue. Heavy duty gambling back then. Time of … Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphery, Click Here.. …. This guy Kid Cann, Was going to work a deal with the Mayor. That was the way it was always done!! The Mayor asked Kid Cann, why was it he is working for Pilsbury, because [such a mill job, was obviously] No Fun.

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Concerning The ”Beer Can Metal Shim” To Fix John’s Cycle, And Concerning “ John Is A Musician, A Drummer.“ The ZMM Narrator Says =>
… “ What emerged in vague form at first and then in sharper outline was the explanation that I had been seeing that shim in a kind of intellectual, rational, cerebral way in which the scientific properties of the metal were all that counted. John was going at it immediately and intuitively, grooving on it. I was going at it in terms of underlying form. He was going at it in terms of immediate appearance. I was seeing what the shim meant. He was seeing what the shim was. That’s how I arrived at that distinction. And when you see what the shim is, in this case, it’s depressing. Who likes to think of a beautiful precision machine fixed with an old hunk of junk?
….I guess I forgot to mention John is a musician, a drummer, who works with groups all over town and makes a pretty fair income from it. …. I suppose he just thinks about everything the way he thinks about drumming—which is to say he doesn’t really think about it at all. He just does it. Is with it. He just responded to fixing his motorcycle with a beer can the way he would respond to someone dragging the beat while he was playing. It just did a big thud with him and that was it. He didn’t want any part of it. “

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A Closer View Of John Sutherland’s Drums. 11:06 AM.

…While getting acquainted, I Henry Gurr, raised the topic of Robert Pirsig’s 1968 Photos taken along the ZMM Route.
…John replied: “I never saw these pictures. But I remember Pirsig had these Goofy Sunglasses, that made him look like an actor, and with his crazy, White Rubber Rain Suit, made it look kike he was from outer space. Pirsig had his… Rollei Camera made in Germany, with Twin Lens Click Here. [which was from his father.] … Bob’s dad had many cameras, but Bob said “His dad did not know what he was doing with them.”
… “I was seeing these … Ansel Adams Pictures, Click Here, and took up photography at that point. I was doing my own photo developing and everything’ [Did I have a] 360 Camera? No. I would not have known anything about them.”
“I don’t think Bpb had the book in mind, at the time of our 1968 trip. I can’t remember him taking notes. He might have done that later.
… I hang out with a bunch of great photographers, Movie Producers, …. Great time
s and I learn much photography.
… On a later trip, in Wyoming, I was in the Snake River Valley, and took my photo of what Ansel Adams had taken there.
…Next, John shows Henry two photos of landscapes Black & White, and Color, for A Horse Scene. Bright Sun, Very Angry Dark Clouds, at Taos, New Mexico. These were [on] his walls as his “Abstract” on-wall display.
…John said he had: “Gone to Japanese Gardens in San Francisco, and the newer J. P Getty Museum, and was overwhelmed by San Simeon.
… “I was sent to Japan, as part of occupation in 1946. This was the start of my Military Service, to New Proper [Behavior]. I was intrigued by the Rocks & Lights in their Japanese Gardens, and somewhat later, experienced Oriental Art.”
…NOTE: Robert Pirsig & John Sutherland both shared a keen interest in things Oriental & Zen. And, we see above, that this interest started for John, when he was in Japan.

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A Satellite View, Showing John Sutherland’s Minneapolis Sights & Scenes Tour, The Route Of Which, Is Shown As Blue Lines.
… On the /\Above/\ Satellite View: Click several times, for a largest map. You then will see the Tour Route along the Blue Line, with the Tour Stops, indicated by the following words, in White + White Dot.
..Starting lower left =>
…[35]th Avenue South: The location of Mr Sutherland’s home.
…485 Otis Avenue: The location of Robert Pirsig’s former home, a bit upper left of center.
…Pratt Community School: Location of Robert Pirsig’s Elementary School, upper left.
…Witche’s Hat Water Tower: ONLY White Dot. See White Dot to right of School Dot..
…The Malcolm Willey House: Below Pratt School, an interesting Frank Lloyd Wright designed house.
…85 Clarence Avenue Southeast. Location of Robert Pirsig’s Father’s House.
…Café Latte: . At Right Below Center. …. Location of the Cafeteria Style Restaurant, where John & Henry enjoyed a late lunch

NOTE: Please well remember these Locations, since you will see photos taken at each of these “Tour Stops“, as you view successively the following Photos, in this Gallery Album.

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John Sutherland & His Car, In Front Of Robert Pirsig’s St Paul Home, While Pirsig Was Writing ZMM Book.

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Robert Pirsig’s St Paul Home, While Pirsig Was Writing ZMM Book.

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The Garage, In Back Of Robert Pirsig’s St Paul Home.
…John pointed to this garage and said, “That’s where Pirsig broke my bike!!!” John did not go on to offer any details.

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Pratt Community School, 66 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
…This Was Robert Pirsig’s Elementary School,
…..This school is about 2 blocks from his home, shown 12th next photo.

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Exuberant John Sutherland! This Kind OF Behavior Entertained Chris, As Described In The ZMM Book.

The ZMM Narrator Tell Us =>
“ then I look over and there is John, all decked out in a full-length set of pale-blue long underwear. He is smirking from ear to ear at how silly he looks. I stare at his glasses lying on the table for a moment and then say to Sylvia:
…"You know, just a moment ago we were sitting here talking to Clark Kent . . . see, there’s his glasses . . . and now all of a sudden . . . Lois, do you suppose? . . . "
John howls. "CHICKENMAN!"
…He glides over the varnished lobby floor like a skater, does a handspring, then glides back. He raises one arm over his head and then crouches as if starting for the sky. "I’m ready, here I go!" He shakes his head sadly. "Jeez, I hate to bust through that nice ceiling, but my X-ray vision tells me somebody’s in trouble."
…Chris is giggling. “

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The Prospect Park Water Tower, Called “The Witch's Hat”, 55 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

From Wikipedia, With 6 More Photos, Click Here.
… The Prospect Park Water Tower – sometimes referred to as the Witch's Hat – is a historic water tower in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Southeast Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1913-1914 on Tower Hill Park, a hilltop park established in 1906. The water tower has become the neighborhood's architectural mascot for its singular design by Frederick William Cappelen.
…The tower is purported to be the inspiration for Bob Dylan's song "All Along the Watchtower," as the tower was clearly visible from Dylan's home in nearby Dinkytown.
…Standing at nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, the tower has the distinction of occupying one of the highest spots in the Twin Cities. With its thick concrete shaft, open-air belvedere, and steeply pitched, green-tile roof, the water tower looms over a small pump house on the northwest edge of the park, a set of tennis courts on the southwest side of the park, and the curvilinear streets of the adjacent neighborhood.

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A Closer View Of The Prospect Park Water Tower, 55 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
…It looks like, there is an Observation Deck, with Edge Banisters, under the roof.

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When Ever John Sutherland Finds People, Even Strangers, He Stops To Talk To Them!!

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A Close Up Of John Sutherland, With His Camera.
…As fully discussed in a previous photo, John has had a lifelong avocation in Photography. And, as we see above, this continues to the present day.

…John’s photography practice is also mentioned in Mr. Pirsig’s ZMM Book. Below are two relevant passages: The first is in the Prairie, just before Hague, ND. The second is in The High Mountains of Montana. =>

…“Where there is a slight rise in the road the drone of the motor becomes heavier. We top the rise, see a new spread of land before us, the road descends and the drone of the engine falls away again. Prairie. Tranquil and detached.
Later, when we stop, Sylvia has tears in her eyes from the wind, and she stretches out her arms and says, "It’s so beautiful. It’s so empty."
…I show Chris how to spread his jacket on the ground and use an extra shirt for a pillow. He is not at all sleepy but I tell him to lie down anyway, he’ll need the rest. I open up my own jacket to soak up more heat. John gets his camera out.
After a while he says, "This is the hardest stuff in the world to photograph. You need a three-hundred-and-sixty degree lens, or something. You see it, and then you look down in the ground glass and it’s just nothing. As soon as you put a border on it, it’s gone." “

**********

“ Beyond is another country. Mountain lakes and pines and snowfields are below. Above and beyond them as far as we can see are farther mountain ranges covered with snow. The high country.
…We stop and park at a turnoff where a number of tourists take pictures and look around at the view and at one other. At the back of his cycle John removes his camera from the saddlebag. From my own machine I remove the tool kit “

NOTE: While I Henry Gurr, was taking these photos you are looking at, John was also photographing. Six months later, he sent me 23 photographs, which you will see at the end of this Album.

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The Malcolm Willey House, An Interesting Frank Lloyd Wright Designed House. 2:22 PM
…The Frank Lloyd Wright Minneapolis House Affected by Interstate Construction.
…Specifically about Minneapolis and an Interstate highway, points to The Malcolm Willey House. Click Here.
…This house, built in 1934 in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, is famous for being the architectural bridge to Wright's Usonian style. It originally featured a panoramic, unobstructed view of the Mississippi River gorge.
… During the 1960s, the construction of Interstate 94 plowed right alongside the property. While the highway did not destroy the home itself, the massive construction forever blocked its historic river views and isolated the property. The house remained on-site, was later beautifully restored, and stands in Minneapolis today. … A Short but good discussion of The Malcolm Willey House + One Good Photo. Click Here.
A visitor to the Malcolm Willey House, Bubba Jerry Stueber, Made This Report =>
…”I once had an amazing Wrightian experience there. Years ago, long before the current owners, a young architecture student was living in the house and doing some restoration work. He invited me to come and see the interior. I arrived on a crystal clear, bitterly cold Minnesota winter evening. As I stood under the low ceiling of the compressed entryway, shuffling back and forth in the 5 degree temperatures, the front door opened and I was greeted by a welcome gust of warm air and an unexpected sight. Unbeknownst to me, Mr Wright had placed a triangular window on the other side of the living room just under the vaulted ceiling that looked out into the star-studded night sky.” To Read The Above “Report On Facebook + Several Other Comments About This House + See 12 Photos, Click Here, and AFTER Comes Up > Do 4 Each > Edit Find > Bubba

… Click Here For Seventeen Very Nice Photos, Inside & Out.

… Click Here, For A Satellite View Of This Location, Marked By A Red PinPoint.

… Click Here For A Google Street View, Of This Malcolm Willey House.

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A Closer View Of Garage Entrance Of The Malcolm Willey House.

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From Th Previous Photo, Turning Camera To The Right, A View Of The Malcolm Willey House, & Front Entrance Steps.

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