Last night's Dreaming Dirt was a tremendous success. A perfect balance of words, images, body, motion, sound, humor, noise, heart and absurdity. Mary Edwards opened up with a virtual performance of her song Time and I . Stevyn Llewellyn made some rather beautiful discordance as microscopic details of waves and blooming flowers flickered behind. Gabriel Liston did live sketches (see below) of both the audience and the performers while sitting in a chair at the corner of the stage. Juliet Gagnon read a stunning prose piece all the way from Eindhoven. Lindsey Allgood considered feminine intimacy with the squeeze-pop of balloons and hand painted eggs. Shane Paulson screened an autobiographical animated video/sound work. Arielle Adkin discussed a new work in process in relation to post-breakup dreams. Stephanie Lavon Trotter looped and weaved operatic vocals through microphones and distortion pedals. Jay Ponteri read from Robert Walser, Mary Ruefle and Jay Ponteri. Gary Wiseman and Hannah Mickunas harmonized with a makeshift capo, eyes closed. Justin Oswald lubed up his body with lotion then climbed in and then out of a giant balloon. Jason Hughes went acoustic with a beautifully quiet folk/pop tune. My co-host, Stephanie Brachmann read two hilarious flash fiction pieces. And my wife, Felicity Fenton with the help of several whirling vacuums, read a list poem about dust.

Several years ago I attended this incredible weekly event in NYC called Surf Reality where artists, writers, performers and experimental others (comedians, cab drivers, opera singers, activists, dancers, zookeepers, pizza tossers, etc.) would get together and share their work. There was no critiquing aspect to this sharing, just applause and gentle nudgings, which helped shape many of the artist/writers/others into the brave beings they are today.

Thanks to The Waypost and the illustrious artist/performer Stephanie Brachmann, a similar event is happening in Portland beginning next weekend.

Here are the details:

The Dreaming Dirt is a multidisciplinary forum for works in process.
This event is served open mic style beginning TONIGHT- August 7th at the Waypost (3120 N Williams Ave, Portland) from 7-10 pm.

A sign up sheet will be posted at 6 pm. Each participant will have 5 minutes to share their work. As this is an open-hearted event, we ask that you please bring pom poms or other cheering accoutrements.

This is an open space for creativity. You can perform anything, wild or mundane. You can read something you've written or something someone else has written. You can make a declaration about the state of the world. You can give a lecture on mud. You can sing an aria. You can play the spoons with your elbows. You can knit a tiny sweater. You can show up as the UPS driver delivering packages filled with dust. Come as your cousin. Come with your cousin. All human mammals and their various disciplines are welcome.