Bean Gilsdorf Speaks

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter on behalf of Michelle Levy, to strongly recommend that she appear in an episode of Twin Peaks. The reasons for endorsing this appearance are strange, coincidental, and compelling–and as such are consistent with the show itself. On July 12, 2013, I received the following email from Cassandra Thornton [1]:

“This email is an introduction for two forces that must meet. Bean, Michelle has some questions for you about palms. Michelle is the director of the project space at Elizabeth Foundation and a dear dear friend of very magical portent. More than a director, she is a wild creative thing who is working on a mystical project that takes place on Sunday. I so hope that you two can have a conversation between now and then, or at least in the future, where you might realize how amazing you both are and how much magical and intellectual and human traits you have up for discussion.”

After such an introduction, who could refuse? I set a date to Skype with Michelle, and in advance of our talk she sent me the following image files: (I am a palmist, and Michelle asked me to analyze the images so that she might learn more about how Agent Cooper’s hands reflected aspects of his general personality, as well as his past and future). In the course of our subsequent conversation, we discussed her upcoming performance, which involved looking at the hands of audience members and searching for similar markings to those that are found on Agent Cooper’s hands. While we chatted, I noted that many of the main traits of Cooper’s hands could be found on Michelle’s own hands, and wondered about a mystical connection between them. Surely this was no coincidence, as the same traits would be necessary for both their chosen professions. [2]

Michelle and I have kept in touch since then, and I would suggest to you that casting her on the show, even in a small role, would have a profound impact on her practice as an artist, a very relevant effect on her ongoing inquiry into the nature of Agent Cooper’s life, and a potentially orphic result on the show itself. Let me make it plain that Michelle is no mere groupie, nor is she a knife-wielding stalker; she has spend countless hours intellectually absorbed in the issues of Twin Peaks and its main character, reflecting on some of David Lynch’s concerns with fiction and reality in her well-received performances. Bringing her onto the show would be like bringing two far-flung but related bodies into orbit–magical things could happen, and I believe they would.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. On behalf of Michelle, I thank you for considering this proposal.

With all sincerity,
Bean Gilsdorf

artist, arts writer, palmist
Warsaw, Poland

[1] I bring to your attention the fact that our mutual acquaintance is named Cassandra, after the Greek Κασσάνδρα, bringer of prophesies–certainly a portentous beginning.
[2] In particular: Evident in images 2, 29, and 35, Cooper’s middle finger is significantly longer than his index or ring fingers, indicating an adherence to the law and self-governance by rules; the shape of his knuckles (images 21 and 23) show a keen, analytical mind that enjoys mulling over ideas, bouncing them around and testing their strength; images 20 and 15 show a slight disconnection of the pinkie from the rest of the hand, implying an energetic communicator; and images 2 and 8 (note the relative length of the thumb) suggest an abundance of willpower.