Elbow grass stains
Confident tulips
Rubber ball kicks through blueberry bushes
Clicking pens to postcard pals
A Sicilian volcano
Bluebird timelapse
May’s April openings
Yellow books in yellow beds
Smell-O-Radio:
Dance Dance Dance
I took a mighty long break from this interweb log. Maybe because it’s far from a tree log and lacks the grit and texture of old earth time, or most likely because I enjoy the quiet away from updating my website identities.
There can be ritual in charting meanderings, appreciations, and gratitudes, so perhaps I’ll try posting again more frequently. No promises.
Ten Happenings:
Over the last few months, I’ve been digging further into my multi-sensory awareness and mindfulness tech program - Periphery. Join me for a free in-person workshop if you happen to be in the Portland, Oregon area. We sniff. We taste. We watch closely. We listen. We play.
To get out of the chair more, I’ve been taking field notes while on aimless neighborhood walks. If you’re looking for a weather proof pad, I recommend this one in yellow.
This fall I took part in Granta’s nature writing workshop with the wisdoms of Jessica Lee and finished an essay about domesticated dust.
Last week I saw Pace Taylor’s newest show at my dear pal, May’s Nationale. Pace’s paintings are punchy, tender, alive with color, and timeless. Hugely inspiring and well worth a trip to Nationale to see them in person.
Every other Wednesday, I’ve been putting together Freeform Portland Radio shows about bovines, grandmothers, ghosts, reptiles, and more.
A few months ago, my pal, the intrepid artist, thinker, and writer, Sharyll Burroughs joined me in Freeform Portland Radio’s studio to talk about the life work and music of Swamini Turiyasangitananda (Alice Coltrane) and Howlin’ Wolf. You can listen to both of those shows here.
Due to a confrontational fishing experience with a brawny (unfortunately now deceased) trout, I’ve been eating 95% plants (I make an exception for free range eggs and backyard honey) for the last several months and concocting vegan recipes like carrot coconut kafir lime soup.
Tyler Dempsey - writer, podcaster, amiable human - was kind enough to invite me onto his writing podcast. We talked about tech addiction, community, travel, and the power of forced resets. Check out Tyler’s books here.
To clear up space in our house, I sold half of my books to the beloved Powell’s. Now, if I yearn for books, I peruse the library’s shelves or place a hold on something from my long to-read list. Currently enjoying this wondrous collection of essays by Akiko Busch called How to Disappear, Notes on Invisibility in a Time of Transparency. In the book, I learned about Hito Steyerl’s - How Not To Be Seen_ A Fucking Didactic Educational .MOV File video. Watch it in its entirety below.
To keep the heartbreak at bay (from consistent, droning, and dreadful oligarchy and warfare), I dance every day at home in the living room or in my studio/office/box. I dance on Thursdays with Mia Moves Me, and certain Saturdays at the Spare Room with friends and strangers. Sarah Baker (who also helps make the earth cool) recently brought back her Get Down to The Spare Room. I can’t thank her enough for bringing people together to dance, dance, dance.
Assembly at Nationale
Need something to stretch those eyeballs of yours? Well you’re in for a treat. Check out Assembly at Nationale, one of Portland’s finest art/book/shop spaces run by May Barruel. With work by Delaney Allen, Amy Bernstein, Michelle Blade, Francesca Capone, Emily Counts, Carson Ellis, Ty Ennis, Jaik Faulk, John Gnorski, Lilian Martinez, William Matheson, Nathan Paul Rice, Annie Swiderski, Shohei Takasaki, Kate Towers, and Lindsey Cuenca Walker.
This month, Nationale is celebrating and honoring the countless real life connections that its Division space has fostered over the past five years before they move back to East Burnside in September. Assembly showcases the work of 16 artists and offers a curated selection of some gallery favorites. Please join Nationale for a month of community and celebration as they usher in a new era of Nationale. As a valued community member, this is your opportunity to support Nationale as they make this exciting transition.
In honor of IRL connections, Nationale has selected my chapbook, User Not Found (Future Tense Books) for their monthly Book Club.
On view June 8–June 25, 2019
Opening reception Wednesday, June 12 (5–7 p.m.)
Book Club discussion with Felicity Fenton Tuesday, June 25 (6:30 p.m.)
Hope to see you there!
