Daniel Johnston: IS ALWAYS, the new photobook about Austin’s shattered poet. The book gets its New York launch tonight. Credit: Image courtesy of Analog New York

A lot of Austinites are thinking about Daniel Johnston with discussion of the preservation of the “Hi, How Are You” mural. Tonight, the late musician and artist will also be celebrated in New York.

It’s the beginning of a four-day event celebrating the publication of Daniel Johnston: IS ALWAYS. Taking its name from Johnston’s 2009 album Is and Always Was, the new book by photographer Jung Kim brings together 85 images of the life and creativity of Johnston, with those visuals amplified and complimented by personal essays by producer and Shimmy-Disc founder Kramer, filmmaker Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Boyhood), and Chronicle and SXSW cofounder Louis Black.

Starting at 5pm tonight at a popup gallery at 2 Rivington on the Lower East Side, there’ll be a special opening night event hosted by Black with a special performance by Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio.

The tributes to Austin’s shattered poet continues tomorrow, April 21, 6:30pm at the same venue. Black will be in conversation with Lee Foster of Electric Lady Studios and Marie Javins, editor-in-chief of DC Comics and the very first Austin Chronicle intern.

After that, the exhibition runs through April 23, but it you don’t find yourself in the Big Apple before Sunday, the book is available from publisher Analog New York. Copies of the hand-numbered first edition of 300 are still available.

This article appears in April 14 • 2023.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.