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Quote by Patti Smith

“With the death of Robert Mapplethorpe, I had lost my main collaborator in taking photographs. So I didn't know who to work with.”

Quote by Patti Smith

Author

Patti Smith is an influential American singer-songwriter, born on December 30, 1946. Known for her unique musical style and poetic lyrics, she is considered one of the pioneers of post-punk and punk rock. Smith's music career began in the 1970s, and she quickly became a star in the underground music scene. Her debut album 'Horses' was released in 1975 and is considered a landmark in punk rock. more

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“I wanted to remember the original energy; strip away all the glamour and limousines and tons of drugs. I wanted to get back to the revolutionary ideas, merging poetry and rhythm and rock and roll.”

Ideas Wanted Remember Energy Rocks Drug Originals Rhythm Revolutionary Get Back Rock And Roll Glamour Merging Revolutionary Ideas Limousines

Author:Patti Smith

“I had met Michael Stipe, and he was such a kind person, and extremely understanding, so I asked him if he knew a photographer who would come to Detroit, where I lived, who would be child friendly and who would respect my home. Michael suggested Steven [ Sebring]. One day a knock came at my door, and when I opened it, there was Steven. He's been like a brother ever since.”

Ifs Kind Children Persons Home Would Be Understanding Doors Brother Mets One Day Photographer Friendly Detroit Kind Person

Author:Patti Smith

“Steven [Sebring] just fell in with my family life. He helped me wash the dishes and play with the kids. I could tell that he was a person who understood families.”

Persons Play Kids Understood My Family Dishes Family Life

Author:Patti Smith

“[Steven Sebring] presence was also nice for my children, who, having just lost their father, quite naturally craved warm male attention. They gravitated to him right away.”

Children Father Lost Attention Nice Males Warm My Children

Author:Patti Smith

“If someone didn't want to be filmed, or my children said, "Don't film me anymore," [Steven Sebring] didn't try to sneak a shot or cajole them; he just respected their wishes.”

Ifs Want Trying Children Said Film Wish Shots My Children Sneak

Author:Patti Smith

“I actually had another motivation for letting Steven [Sebring] film us. After I'd been out of the public eye for 16 years, lost my friends and lost my husband, some of my confidence had been undermined. Steven made the process of filming fun; I could pretend that we were in something like Don't Look Back.”

Years Looks Made Eye Film Motivation Lost Fun Process Husband My Friends My Husband Public Eye

Author:Patti Smith

“Steven's [Sebring] presence was not threatening; he told me that if I never wanted the footage to be seen by anyone, he would give it to me. So I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, and what I gained was his supportive energy and the supportive energy of his wife, who was sometimes the one schlepping the equipment or doing the sound.”

Ifs Giving Sometimes Wanted Energy Sound Loses Wife Gains Threatening Equipment Supportive Nothing To Lose

Author:Patti Smith

“The whole process of working with Steven [Sebring] and being filmed by him helped me psychologically to get my feet back on the ground.”

Whole Process Feet

Author:Patti Smith

“I was at one of the lowest points of my life when we started this film [Dream of Life], except, of course, that I had two great children. But the film is not documenting a decline; it's documenting a rise up - first baby steps and then big steps up. The worst that could have ever happened to me had already happened. And so the film is on the ascent. And I think that gives it a nice spirit.”

Thinking Giving Firsts Children Two Dream Bigs Film Spirit Courses Steps Nice Happened Worst Baby Decline Lowest Step Up Ascent Baby Steps Lowest Point First Baby

Author:Patti Smith

“You can't work on that scale without trust. I learned that from working with Robert Mapplethorpe.”

Scales Without Trust

Author:Patti Smith