Meet Daniel Yaryan | Publisher, event producer and author.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniel Yaryan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, why did you pursue a creative career?
It all started as a passionate drive to build a creative literary movement with my event series Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts (SWBG) on August 23, 2008. I wanted to bring together storytellers, poets, multimedia artists, independent filmmakers and musicians into a roving multimedia super-show that embraced the old tribal custom of sharing by the campfire and connecting to fellow human beings — something I felt was lacking in the American culture. I was also prompted to tap into the excitement galvanized by previous counter-culture generations and felt we were resting on the laurels of the bygone bohemian artistic movements instead of creating something new. So, I set out to do that, while at the same time building a household name in spoken word throughout California. Most importantly, I connected people together with the shared love of meaningful words and the art of sound. I created a friendly “mystic boxing match” with the bygone Beat poets who came before us. This eventually led to the Mystic Boxing Commission, an umbrella banner for live events, published poetry anthologies and an interactive museum called the Kamstra Sparring Archive (aka “Sparchive”).

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets Mystic Boxing Commission (MBC) projects apart is the inherent enthusiasm and energy of the work that is divergent from the pack and presents people with an extraordinary experience. Whether it be the popular Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts event series, the published books or Mystic Boxing Commission’s interactive museum and art installation known as the Sparchive. I never copy the blueprint for how other organizations present their creations. I’m always mindful to initiate things differently to the point of exceeding all expectations, while aiming for innovative ways to showcase works. Every project that becomes part of MBC has my fingerprints on it — for instance, most of the books are designed by me with input from the authors/artists. One of my proudest creative achievements is the ekphrastic collaboration with fantasy visual artist Mat Fitzsimmons (aka “Fitz”) on Sorcerers: Through Dimensions Infinite, a collection of poetry and art by Yaryan and Fitz. “It is considered the first full volume of Cosmic Pulp,” says Nelson Gary, author of Pharmacy Psalms and Half-Life Hymns —for Nothing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to the Valley Relics Museum located on the outskirts of the Van Nuys Airport because its a great introduction to Los Angeles history (not to mention play pinball and vintage video games in their arcade). Then I’d take them to Little Tokyo for the food and unusual shops full of robots, kaiju and other fascinating imports. The movie theatres in town are incredible, you know the ones with the classic architecture and neon-festooned marquees: The Chinese Theatre, El Capitan, The Egyptian Theatre, The Aero, The Million Dollar Theatre (if there’s a rare showing or tour), The Vista, Nuart, New Beverly Theatre or the long-awaited return of the Cinerama Dome (my personal favorite). They would have to see the movie theatres even if we don’t go inside each of them as I’m fascinated with old movie palaces. A tiki bar would be in order and I’d say Tiki No in the NoHo Arts District. A concert at the legendary Hollywood Bowl would be a must. What trip to Hollywood would be complete without stopping in a Amoeba Records. For a taste of nostalgia on Fairfax, I’d bring them to Farmers Market at The Grove. Above all, I would organize a Sparring Artists expression forum event at a private residence and invite all of the best spoken word performers, visual artists and musicians that I know in L.A. to come share their work in one place and make a party out of it.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Some of the heroes I’ve met who’ve had a profound impact on my writing and overall creative output include San Francisco Renaissance poet William Everson (aka Brother Antoninus), Beat novelist Jerry Kamstra, and Los Angeles performance poet Michael C Ford. A new poetic writing genre “Cosmic Pulp” and the poet who coined the term, Nelson Gary, are also profoundly influential to me.

Website: https://www.sparringartists.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielyaryan/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-yaryan-1548159a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.yaryan

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfm19R7Tti7wFo2QtyoHFRw/videos

Image Credits
Color bio photo of Daniel Yaryan by Margot Chereau.

Photo of Jerry Kamstra and Daniel Yaryan (orange backdrop) in Santa Cruz, CA by Robert Fischer.

Book graphics courtesy Daniel Yaryan.

Black and white photo of the late poet/publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Daniel Yaryan by Christopher Felver.

Black and white photo of Neeli Cherkovski, Daniel Yaryan, ruth weiss, Jerry Kamstra and A.D. Winans at the Beat Museum, San Francisco by Christopher Felver.

Mystic Boxing Commission logo (R) Daniel Yaryan — courtesy of Daniel Yaryan.