Black
and
White and
Color
AN INTERVIEW WITH
PHOTOGRAPHER DIANA ADAMS
1.
Tangier
DRIFT:
You
were attending the American School in Tangier at a time when many
American expatriates--some of whom would later become literary icons--were
making the city their destination. Some of them lived or stayed near
your family. There is,of course, William S. Burroughs,Tennessee Williams,
Allen Ginsberg--and at least a few other notable figures. Although
you were only a teenager then, were you aware of any of them? And
if so, do you have any memories or lasting impressions?
ADAMS:
Well,
I vaguely remember Burroughs walking in the street and sitting in
cafes. He wore a skull-cap then--not the type of hat everyone associates
with him. I was kid then--I went to school with his son, Billy, who
was, already at sixteen, a fairly heavy drug user.
DRIFT:
According to Burrough's biographer, Ted Morgan, his son was most likely
born addicted to drugs, because his mother had been so involved with
them while she was pregnant.
ADAMS:
He was very handsome, had a beautiful face...
DRIFT:
Perhaps, he had talent as well. At least one book he wrote was published.
ADAMS:
I know. I'm impressed that he was able to complete anything.
DRIFT:
So, Williams Burroughs remains a shadowy figure...
ADAMS:
Yes, he was lurking around (laughter). However, I'm now aware he wrote
some of his most experimental work there--I think Naked Lunch or the
one after.
DRIFT:
Anyone else?
...Ted
Joans...and Ahmed Yacoubi... They called us "Lo and Lita" and tried
to get us to go to hashish parties with them.
ADAMS:
The American Poet, Ted Joans used to go to the same beach cafi as
my sister and I with his good friend Ahmed Yacoubi, the Moroccan painter.
They called us "Lo and Lita" and tried to get us to go to hashish
parties with them. Ted painted and always included a rhinoceros in
each painting-and he had a little house in Timbuctu. My English teacher,
Joe McPhillips, took me over to Jane Bowles house for tea one evening--that's
the kind of thing one did there, you had tea. I had read her novel,
Two Serious Ladies, and she signed a copy for me which was
really sweet of her. She was a warm person, the best smile in the
world. She wore an orange wig because her hair wasn't in good shape.
She had been through a lot--a couple of strokes--and had difficulty
walking. Despite all this, she was quite a lot of fun. She had this
big parrot in the apartment. Every so often this bird, which only
spoke Arabic, would say, "Allah...Allah"--translating to "Oh God,
Oh God". Also, I can't forget Cherifa who was Jane's girlfriend...lover.
She was always jealous, moving about and giving Jane's female guests
the evil eye. She made me feel very uncomfortable. Cherifa was probably
afraid her meal ticket was going to go in a different direction. I
heard she made very blunt advances to several other young girls who
visited there.
DRIFT:
Did Cherifa take that approach when Paul Bowles was around?
ADAMS:
I never saw Cherifa when Paul Bowles was present. Paul and Jane Bowles
were very sociable and fun when they were out. Paul was a good friend
to a couple of my teachers, Joe McPhillips, and John Hopkins, who
is also a fine writer.
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