The Albertfine

Today, according to Butler’s Lives of the Saints, is the feast of the founder of the Albertines. Albert was canonized by John Paul II; he also wrote a play about St Albert. In the late Seventies, when John Paul became Pope, Unmuzzled OX published The Poets’ Encyclopedia. Ray Johnson wrote a piece about Albert M. Fine called The Albertfine. As part of a collage, Ray defined “the Albertfine” as “a soft, plumpy, decorative throw pillow perfect for throwing onto chairs and sofas.” As for the real Albert Fine, he invented his own alphabet for the Encyclopedia. He defined many strange things. Albert resembled a street person; he inspired that nervousness. The Albertines work with the homeless.