There is speculation that the apparently mystical and overtly ornate objects from the mythical Chapel of Jimmy Ray began appearing in an around the end of the millenium. However, this evidence is purely up in the air because there is no sure proof due to the fact that no one has come forward to prove the authenticity of the said Chapel. The self styled artist known as Anado McLauchlin began parading these "relics" and presenting them to a sceptical audience in the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1990’s. Or was it the late 1980’s? Local gossip at that time (which is obviously second hand) reported that McLauchlin was working under an assumed name. It has been said in some circles that this name "Anado" was possibly pulled out of a "hat’". Sadly the "hat" is missing or quite possibly never existed so we are left holding a bag filled with thin air. What we do know is nothing and what could be a better place to start than nowhere. Does the Chapel of Jimmy Ray exist? What is the authenticity of these artifacts? No real research has been able to verify the location of the presumed Chapel. Absolutely no one has assumed responsibility that these are indeed artifacts. All this speculation ultimately leads us to a bigger question: Who is Jimmy Ray? In a presumed interview that was never published. McLauchlin was queried by an unknown interviewer about the existence of the Chapel and the comings and goings of Jimmy Ray. While his answers were purely not hogwash, no true light was shed and again we were left holding a bag. McLauchlin alluded to the possible existence of an individual known as Jimmy James Strange who was in his words was "the rearranged Son of Cain who was feeling the blame for inflicting the pain but was not ashamed because he was just part of the scenery" Further inquiry led to the possibility that Jimmy James Strange was the supposed mythical figure we now know as Jimmy Ray. Former teenagers who were part of an audience that used to frequent poetry events in lower Manhattan during the mid to late 70’s remember a young man who was also a cab driver who sometimes performed under the name of Jimmy James Strange. Strange reportedly had an epiphany and fled to India in search of a possible waking state known as "Samadhi". McLauchlin, under further questioning exclaimed that Strange also pulled a name out of an "hat" but no one is sure if that name was/is Jimmy Ray. So we are left with the Mystery of the artifacts and a quasi-mythical figure known as Jimmy Ray. Who created these objects? What sort of ritualistic nuance gave rise to this so called Chapel? Are we treading in cult territory? When finally cornered, Anado McLauchlin did offer this information. He met a man in India who was very wise. This man, in some circles, was considered a Buddha or a self realized Being. McLauchlin said this man was not your everyday Buddha, but more of a maverick Mystic if you will. This Mystic imparted to Anado the words of a long forgotten yogi: " Life is not a problem to be solved…but a Mystery to be lived". McLauchlin seems to believe that these words may lead him to the truth of Jimmy Ray’s existence. He promises to stay tuned in, properly turned on, and not drop out of the search….The previous copy was found in a pamphlet about an installation at El Museo de Ciudad de Queretaro in Mexico in February 2006
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