May's Machete

Meet ED (aka My Eating Disorder)

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 19:33:00 +0000

Loving yourself sometimes looks weird, like how I had to process some very painful new self-awareness through being a bit silly. (It was too hard to confront otherwise.) Sharing because I know this issue affects many outlets and it's important to talk about it.

Pride, Cycles, Seattle and a Soundtrack

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 22:47:00 +0000

[Image via Instinct Magazine]

Since it's Pride Week here in KC, I thought I'd celebrate by sharing a bit about my lesbian coming-of-age drama/romance, Cycles.

Cycles is set in Seattle, where I lived from 2005-2007, getting my Master's Degree at the University of Washington. I did, actually, fall in love with a woman there, with tragic results. My experience there essentially informs much of the novel. Though it is filtered through a great deal of fiction, the story is, in some ways, true.

I used it as an opportunity to talk about a few of my favorite things in Seattle. Kris, the novel's heroine, frequents my favorite coffee shop (Sureshot); eats at several restaurants that I enjoyed in the University District, Green Lake, and on Capitol Hill; communes with my favorite painting in the Seattle Art Museum Museum (#10 by Mark Rothko); visits the museum I interned at for a semester (Bellevue Arts Museum) and sees a couple of exhibitions that I greatly enjoyed, and I could go on, but I'll stop there.

The novel opens as Kris bikes down The Ave, which is actually University Street, near the University of Washington. Here's an excerpt:

Kris pedaled down “the Ave” in Seattle’s University District on her still-shiny-like-new gloss white Simply City 8W bicycle. Her short blonde hair brushed her chin, and her wiry, boyish frame balanced delicately on her seat. A bus trundled along in front of her, stopping frequently to let passengers off and on. The morning rush to get to campus had passed and the lunch rush had yet to begin, so only a few people disembarked. Kris steered slowly down the street, weaving back and forth behind the bus until she reached Sureshot, her favorite coffee shop.

Sureshot was owned by a local couple who also owned a bakery. They’d turned the everyday business of the shop over to their twenty-something daughter whom Kris liked for her brusque friendliness. Besides offering the most imaginative and delicious drinks (the Pink Elephant was a particular favorite of hers), Sureshot had perfect lighting, comfortable sofas, and a back room full of pin-ball machines that she had never used, but enjoyed knowing they were there all the same. Good music was always playing, but not too loudly, so she could study, people watch, or read a book from their little lending library, if she wanted.

Just for fun, I put together a "soundtrack" for Cycles, using a YouTube playlist, that starts, appropriately with The Blue Scholars singing "The Ave."

The playlist follows along and compliments the story, featuring many bands from Seattle, songs about Seattle, and also bands and songs mentioned throughout the novel by the main characters.

Track listing:

"The Ave.", The Blue Scholars

"Learn to Fly," Foo Fighters

"Pike Street / Park Slope," Harvey Danger

"Welcome to Seattle," Boom Bap Project

"Every Shining Time You Arrive," Sunny Day Real Estate

"Sadness Is a Blessing," Lykke Li

"Queen of Apology," The Sounds

"Loyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken," Camera Obscura

"Living In America," The Sounds

"Aurora," Foo Fighters

"Head Down," Soundgarden

"Mass Pike," The Get-Up Kids

"Lunatic to Love," Presidents of the United States of America

"Ringway to SeaTac," The Wedding Present

"Where Does the Good Go?" Tegan and Sara

"Don't Take Me Home 'Til I'm Drunk," The Wedding Present

"Seattle," Jason Walker

"This Scene Is Dead," We Are Scientists

"Claiming the City," Macklemore

"My Maudlin Career," Camera Obscura

"Sirens," Pearl Jam

"Fell on Black Days," Soundgarden

"Forests and Sands," Camera Obscura

"Sunny in Seattle," Blake Shelton

You can listen to the playlist here, and find Cycles on Amazon or in the Kindle store.

If you listen, let me know what you think of it. And even better if you read along!

Related posts:

May's Summer Reading Sale

Megan Rose Gedris: Lesbian Comic Artist Extraordinaire!

2 Fantasy-Filled Web Comics

May's Summer Reading Sale

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 30 May 2017 23:31:00 +0000

Well it's only been just over a year since I last posted, so I won't pretend that I'll be good about updating at all anymore. But I wanted to share what I've been creating this year!

In February I had another beautiful baby boy:

He's so precious!

And I have also brought into the world, three books, which are available as paperbacks or eBooks from Amazon/Kindle. From June 1-15, 2017 I'm having a Summer Reading Sale! All eBooks are just $2.99 or FREE with paperback purchase. And the paperbacks are on sale for either $4 or $5, depending on their length.

The Jewel's First Flight

On a world divided into Royals and Commoners, Young Lord Algíen is brilliant, petulant Prince. His obsession: The Jewel, a massive sky ship being built to colonize other planets. The Jewel's construction has loomed over his entire life, and when he finally sneaks aboard, he embarks on an adventure he'd never expected, with companions he would never have chosen. This steampunk/sci-fi story takes you to the stars and back, examines relationships between the Haves and Have-Nots, and is full of surprises for both the characters and the reader.

eBook
paperback

Sarah Jane and the Time Traveling Fairy

Sarah Jane expects to have a terrible summer staying with a grandmother she barely remembers. Instead, she is drawn into a magical mystery by a lonely fairy, who has spent hundreds of years imprisoned in a grandfather clock. Together the girl and the fairy piece together clues from across time and space, revealing the way fae beings responded to the spread of human settlements, a secret about Sarah Jane's family, and more. Sarah Jane learns the value of friendship, hard work, family, and nature in this modern-day fairy tale.

eBook
Paperback

Cycles

Kris is on the cusp of adulthood, and is just discovering herself. As she explores Seattle and attends the University of Washington, she is introduced to many people and aspects of herself that she never expected to uncover. Part romance, part coming-of-age story, part drama, this novel uncovers the painful awakening of becoming oneself.

eBook
Paperback

Related posts:
The Poetry of Spring
Fantastic Summer Reading
A Novel Accomplishment

Chalk Force Five at the Raymore Summer Scene

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 19:33:00 +0000

The Raymore Summer Scene was a neat festival! I'm glad we were invited to chalk there. The music was great, the community-decorated Adirondack chairs were lovely, and, best of all, we got to work in the shade all day, which made the heat much more bearable!! As a bonus, I got to see an artist friend who lives in Raymore, Heather Gambrell. She and her family painted the beautiful, oversized Adirondack chair that says "Raymore," pictured below.

I'll show you more chair pictures later, but first I want to get up pictures of our chalk mural. We based our image on this Lisa Frank drawing, which we found on Pinterest. (Forgive the poor quality, it's the only size available).

Image via Pinterest

We switched the type of chair pictured in order to keep with the festival theme, and otherwise altered the design to suit our whimsy, like each making a starfish.

Ta-DA!!

And now, as promised, here's more pictures of the other chairs, as well as the chalkboards available for the kiddos to draw on.

Chalking Awesomeness

2013 KC Chalk & Walk (Event Pics)

Tinkerbell in Chalk / Save the Date

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 18:29:00 +0000

Hello all!Here's a super fast chalk drawing I did at the North Kansas City Public Library's summer reading program kick-off this past Saturday:

I would've futzed over it more if I hadn't had a very impatient preschooler waiting on me to finish so he could get inside the library! (For instance, I later realized I misspelled "magic" and I didn't chalk white in the second wing, so I fixed that before I went home.)

Image Credit: City of Raymore

And don't forget to mark your calendar the upcoming Raymore Summer Scene, where I and my chalk crew - newly named Chalk Force Five - will be creating a Lisa Frank-inspired image. It's Saturday, June 11th; check out the details here. There will be enormous chalk boards for visitors to chalk on as well! See you there!

Florence + the Machines at the Venue Formerly Known as Sandstone

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 25 May 2016 18:49:00 +0000

Seeing Florence in 2011 (L) and 2016 (R) with Darcy Bloss
Image Credit: Darcy Bloss

TWO blog posts in one month -- WHA--??!!!!????!! Yes, indeed it is so. Be amazed!!

Last night I saw Florence + the Machine at the venue formerly known as Sandstone.* It was the first time I've seen a non-local artist perform in concert twice (I first saw them in 2011 at the Midland), and it replaced the RJD2 show I saw in 2006ish at Seattle, WA (during grad school) as my favorite live music show.

Because of a scheduling conflict, I wasn't able to catch the opening act. My friend Darcy and I arrived just in time to claim a patch of grass in the front of the lawn area and chat for a bit before Florence et al took the stage. The band has grown significantly since the last time I saw them, now including people playing a baby grand piano, trombones, a harp, and two backup singers (in 2011 she was the sole singer). She said she would've liked to have a chorus touring with her, but it wasn't logistically feasible. Instead, she invited the crowd to be her choir, and we were happy to oblige.

As with last time, I continue to be happily surprised by the diversity of Florence + the Machine fans. Teenagers, middle aged couples, dudebros, and all other sorts mingled and danced and sang at the show. Which, by the way, was technically gorgeous and perfect. Florence wore a sheer gown, which showed off her slim figure in the bright stage lights, and made the most of the sweeping pink fabric as she swooped, swirled, danced, bounced, leaped and completely owned the stage.. and the audience. As Darcy said, "she seemed more herself somehow" than when we last saw her.

The contrast between her speaking and singing voices also seemed more dramatic than I'd remembered. Of course, she sounds 1000% more amazing when she sings (we couldn't stand to listen to her CD on the ride home because it paled in comparison). I do not know how she is physically capable of belting out songs like that with all the awesome moves she was doing. But when she spoke to us between the songs, her voice was so soft and gentle, it seemed even more magical that this woman had just been making such large, lovely sounds mere moments before.

She sang all the songs I wanted to hear (some during the intermission), including "What the Water Gave Me," "Shake It Off," "Rabbit Heart [Raise It Up]," "Dog Days Are Over," "Sweet Nothing," and "How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful." The last one, Florence called "her big blue sky" over her, keeping her safe and happy, and she said she wanted that song to also be our blue sky that we could carry over us.

Around then, she asked everyone to put away their cellphones and just BE with each other, and afterwards she said we were probably the only crowd that didn't have one or two people pulling devices back out before the song was over. The amphitheater was noticeably darker without all the screens lighting it up! Later on, Florence told us that she felt so much love present, and so much love in the crowd. She encouraged us to take that love out and spread it in the world, because the world needs love.

Such a sweet, powerful, impressive, beautiful show! So glad I was able to be there.

*A note for the non-local readers: this venue keeps being re-sold and gettings it's name changed and I literally didn't even know it's real name until this week.

Related posts:
Concert Review: Florence + the Machine
Concert Review: Celtic Soul Experience
MU Music at the Kaufman Performing Arts Center

Chalking Awesomeness

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 16 May 2016 19:21:00 +0000

Image Credit: Beth Bogenreider Hall

A couple weekends ago, my friend and fellow chalk artist, Nicole, drove with me to Topeka where another member of our chalk alliance, Beth, lives, to participate in the Two Block Chalk Walk in the NOTO Arts District. They were going for a record-breaking event, and it was fun to be part of it. You can watch a video interview with Beth and Nicole:

My drawing

Nicole's drawing

Beth's drawing

We, and another chalk alliance member, will be drawing a Lisa Frank-inspired image at the upcoming Raymore Summer Scene: Arts, Music, Food, Saturday, June 11, 2016. Another attraction on display will be community-decorated adirondack chairs from the Raymore Arts Commission's first Pop-Up Art Project.

Finally, I'll leave you with this awesome interactive CandyLand board that my chalk alliance gal pals and I created during the 2015 KC Chalk & Walk Festival (that I was a bad blogger and never posted before). Enjoy! And don't forget to save the date for this year's event: Saturday 10-11!

Image Credit: Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

Doodling with ChalkOla Pens & Markers

Event Pics: 2014 Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

2013 KC Chalk & Walk (Event Pics)

Reflecting Class in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Nelson-Atkins

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sat, 26 Mar 2016 15:56:00 +0000

Photo op at the end of the exhibit

Recently my Dad and I went to see “Reflecting Class in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer” at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Honestly, I went because he asked me to; I probably wouldn’t have gone of my own accord. And for the same reason, I went on my first guided museum tour, which would have made me feel very grown up, if I hadn’t been the youngest person on the tour.

The exhibit is broken into several groups of painting types, showing the highest, middle, and working classes, as well as spaces in which all three intersected in 1800s society in the Dutch Republic. The most impressive and stunning works were those commissioned by the aristocracy, including the only Vermeer painting ever to be exhibited in Kansas City.

That painting, “A Lady Writing,” which I’ve seen repeatedly pop up in my FB feed to advertise the exhibit, is actually the reason why I wasn’t interested in going. The pictures of it simply do not do it justice, and I thought the image rather boring. Until, that is, I saw it in person. I was absolutely stunned. It seemed to glow from within, like a stained glass window or an LED screen, and it was so perfectly executed that there was a 3D holographic effect. The lady seemed to rise towards me from the past, perfectly shining with contentment. I’ve never seen any representative painting that came close to affecting me that way. It alone is worth a visit to the exhibit!

The other paintings for the aristocracy were also beautiful, with lush detail and exquisite rendering. The upwardly mobile middle class paintings were also well done, although without the impressive scale of the aristocratic paintings, and with less extravagant costuming. Both the aristocracy and the rich commoners’ faces were portrayed with loving treatments. (It was exciting to see, "Street Musicians at the Door" in the middle class section. It was a painting I'd seen and liked [extremely attractive color scheme!] at the St. Louis Art Museum last year, and it was like running into an old friend.)

However, the next section, featuring the poor working class was a striking difference. These paintings were also commissioned by the rich, and to elevate the viewer above the rabble, the poor were depicted roughly, with ugly, almost inhuman faces, rough clothing, and sometimes gremlin-like characteristics. It was astonishing. The contrast was especially striking in paintings that showed the classes mingling in spaces like the market, etc.

It was refreshing to see an examination of class in a museum setting, and also to have a new lens through which to view older, representative paintings. This exhibit certainly increased my appreciation for them, as well as the symbolic language they use, and helped me become more imaginatively and mentally engaged in a style of painting that I have tended to discount as less interesting than others.

You can see “Reflecting Class in the Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer” through May 9, 2016, and I may just go back again myself. It’s that good.

Related posts:
Trash or Treasure? at the Toy and Miniature Museum (Event Pics)
My Visit to Lawrence (Photo Blog)
Read My Latest Arts America Post

The Poetry of Spring

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:26:00 +0000

Spring is officially here and today is World Poetry Day, so let's celebrate with a couple poems about spring... with a side of social commentary.

O sweet spontaneous
earth how often have
the
doting

           fingers of
prurient philosophers pinched
and
poked

thee
, has the naughty thumb
of science prodded
thy

      beauty           , how
often have religions taken
thee upon their scraggy knees
squeezing and

buffering thee that thou mightest conceive
gods
         (but
true

to the incomparable
couch of death thy
rhythmic
lover

          thou answerest

them only with

                           spring)

- e.e. cummings

Cave Spring

Against the drought of each day's demented scramble
across our slapstick, sold-out, barricaded-in, death-
obsessed, ball-busting uncivil-ization,

I uphold the sound of this rain-swollen creek purling
over jumbled rock; how it plashes and murmurs so
serenely, hidden away in the solitude of its own telling.

Against the smog of interminable lies variously twisting,
cajoling, promoting, deceiving, uprooting, betraying,
attacking, destroying, seducing, defiling,

I uphold how wind can sometimes suddenly swell from
nowhere and rush like a great, cleansing breath as it
swoops coldly through these bare winter trees.

Against the dread dark infesting our human hearts,
the fanatical blindness of slammed-shut minds,
the casual, everyday cruelties of a soulless age,

I uphold this simple patch of sunlight on wet bark,
draw from its well a refreshment beyond mere buying a
and selling, getting and sending, profit or loss.

Against the boldest technological breakthroughs in
gene transplantation, the latest corporate patents
showcasing cloning eperiments and sterilized grain

I uphold this primal earth turning under my feet,
these weather-stained stones of ancient dwellings,
the whispers of long-dead lovers still haunting the air.

- Bob Savino

What did you think of these poems as companion pieces? How are they similar or different?

Do you have a favorite poet or poem? Tell me about it in the comments :)

Doodling with ChalkOla Pens & Markers

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 01:39:00 +0000

I was recently sent some spiffy new markers and labels to try out from ChalkOla, a brand I hadn't tried before. Henry and I were impressed with their vivid colors and have had lots of fun doodling on his white board and chalk board (two of the suggested surfaces for these markers, which have to be used on nonporous surfaces).

It takes a few minutes to get all of the markers primed, so if you plan on having impatient kiddos use them, I suggest you do that before you let the kids know you have them, like I wasn't smart enough to do.

You have to use a glass cleaner and a rag to clean off the surface when you're finished. A few of the lighter colors left stains behind on the chalkboard, but since ours already had acrylic paint permenantly decorating it, that wasn't a big deal for me.

As you can see, the color is extremely vivid, far brighter than most chalks or whiteboard markers. That makes them a lot more fun to play with, I think.

I've only used a few of the labels, but I like the way they look. You have to be careful not to smear them when they're wet though.

The above was a note I left for Matt on the whiteboard in our bedroom. As you can see, I have way too much fun playing with these markers. ;) I wonder what I should draw on our giant glass sliding door...?

If you're interested in purchasing some for yourself, here are some limited-time codes that should give you a discount of 20 percent: 15 mm markers - CHK20OFF, and 6 mm pens - CHALK20A.

Related posts:
Event Pics: 2014 Kansas City Chalk Walk Festival
2013 KC Chalk Walk Festival (Event Pics)
Event Pics: KC Chalk Walk Festival (2012)

The Amazons: A Celebration of Archetypal and Actual Women

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 02:18:00 +0000

I'm actually writing a blog post! Are you amazed?

Recently I finished a series of mixed media pieces that have been in the works for, literally, years, so I wanted to share them with you!

The Amazons: A Celebration of Archetypal and Actual Women

Feminist female heroines mean the world to me. Without them in my life (actual or mythical), I would not be the person I am today. This series is a celebration of female power. I call it “The Amazons” because my basic idea when I began the project many moons ago, was to create breastplates of different women and incorporate them into pieces of art. The Amazons, wild warrior women of legend, seemed a perfect touchstone for the idea. It took several years for the concept to germinate within me, but I am pleased to have finally breathed life into them. I hope you enjoy them as well.

A Brief Visual History of the Legendary Golden Micro-Mechanicon
Fashion-Function Corporeal Enhancements

(sorry this isn't a great picture)

This is probably one of the most esoteric of the pieces. It’s also the first one I made. The idea behind it is an alternate reality in which Ada Lovelace, who created the first computer language in the 1800s, leaves her husband and children in England (something she dreamed of doing in order to dedicate herself to her work), and moves to America, taking up a young lover. After her death, her one-time lover meets up with Nikola Tesla, who uses her notes to create the first “robots,” which he programs to reproduce themselves at a smaller scale, as those smaller robots also are programmed to do, eventually creating nanobot-like machines. The nanobots could then be embedded in malleable gold and worn by people and placed in specific locations, creating interactive experiences of all sorts.

This is a tribute to the brilliant women of the past who were not allowed to thrive because of cultural limitations, and to all the things they might have been/created had those limitations been released.

Mulan

This piece is inspired by the tale of Mulan, as recounted by Maxine Hong Kingston in The Woman Warrior, a book that I read as a young teen that deeply impacted me. In Kingston’s version, Mulan rallies an army of commoners to dethrone the emperor who has lost all compassion for his people. She marries, bears a child, and sends it away to be cared for in the midst of her many battles, never putting down her sword for a single fight. This is my meditation on the way a woman’s heart can bleed for her home, family, and country, leading her to make mighty changes, righting wrongs and changing the system, and the sacrifices made along the way.

Joan

In honor of Joan of Arc, a childhood hero, this piece celebrates women who listen to their deep spiritual wisdom and inner knowing. Although Joan was a peasant without any education, she changed the fate of two nations because of her bravery, passion, and her willingness to listen to her inner voice of wisdom. Like Mulan, Joan was also a literal warrior, with physical intrepidness to match her fierce spirituality. This piece celebrates the women who, like Joan, and moder n day artist Nike Okundaye (a Nigerian artist who has had no formal education but has given talks world-wide and opened her own art center) have changed and are changing the world we live in, because of their inner light.

The Continuing Transformation Journey of Darcy B.

This piece is the only commissioned one of the group. It is also the only one with two chest pieces – one was made about years before the other – so that it is both a literal and figurative celebration of Darcy’s transformative journey. Throughout our friendship, I’ve witnessed dramatic shifts in Darcy’s inner and outer life, as she has claimed her personal, spiritual power. She is an artist, healer, feminist, and self-made woman who embraces who she is an a beautiful way that I attempted to capture here. The Buddhist hand and lotus is in honor of the way her spiritual journey began at the local Rime Buddhist Center, and the dragon is a symbol of her past-life and inner wisdom emerging. She is a beautiful role model to both myself and others, and I am grateful to call her my friend.

Water Warrior

This piece is also fairly esoteric, celebrating Mother Earth, as she is mostly made of water, as well as the mythical mermaids that protect the seas. As a victim of childhood sexual assault, mermaids capture my imagination for many reasons, but especially because of the way they are said to be deadly to men and also are literally not physically capable of being raped. We need women to stand up for our planet and for themselves, so that neither are being treated in a toxic manner. I can think of no better symbol for that than the mermaid. Each of the words on this piece are a term for mermaid from cultures around the world, symbolizing that we are all parts of each other in both the dream-world and in our physical world.

And that's my Amazons! What do you think of them?

Related posts:
Exhibit Pics: Bits and Bobs
Event Pics: 2014 Chalk Walk Festival
Event Pics: The Art of Discovery

Exhibit Pics: Bits and Bobs

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 23:41:00 +0000

Hello again! I'm finally back to post pictures from the Bits and Bobs steampunk exhibit opening. (I swear, once I have internet at home again I'll be a better blogger.)

My mom, Henry and I left NKC at 7 a.m., but still managed to miss the storytime at the library. (It was a loooong drive!) But we saw a fencing demonstration that cracked Henry up, and the exhibit itself was absolutely astounding. We also met a member of the world's largest owl species!

The only picture Henry held still for the entire time.

Posing with one of Kat Kaufman's creations!

Fencing demo

You can see the shiny new goggle strap I sewed onto my goggles!

What the bottom half of my outfit looked like. I was an airship pirate!

Henry didn't hold still for this picture....

..or this one.

Thanks to Kat Kaufman for organizing another wonderful steampunk exhibit!

If you missed the exhibit, you can see GREAT images of the entire thing on Facebook. You should really take a look, because I barely took pictures and there are lots of great pieces on display! Like my mixed media piece which I didn't manage to get a good photo of...and so many more!

Related posts:
"The Art of Discovery" at Johnson County Library (Event Pics)
Steampunk Art Exhibit Opening Reception (Event Pics)
Sewing for a Steampunk Soiree

Bits and Bobs: A Steampunk Exhibit Opens This Saturday!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:49:00 +0000

I had great intentions of posting about this sooner, but clearly that didn't happen.

Regardless, Bits and Bobs: A Steampunk Exhibit will be opening up this Saturday (7/18) at Mustard Seed (214 N Main St.) in Buhler, Kansas. I have the honor of being one of the many artists whose work will be on display. In addition to a visual piece, I'll also have a steampunk/sci-fi story I wrote on display, which I'm excited to share.

Cover I designed for my story,
based on the original cover design from
when I gave the story to Matt for his birthday
earlier this year.

For those of you who aren't on Facebook, here is the event info:

The art will be on display from July 18 through October 17th

Opening ceremonies will be on July 18. We will have live music, fencing demos, a tea tasting, a fundraiser, and of course art. Also, we will have Roger Toliver Photography at the event, photographing you holding a rare Eurasian Eagle Owl! We will have a library kids' story time and a workshop, sales at local vendors, and more.

Artists and presenters include: Beverly Holman, mixed media sculpture; Ruth Cohen, fiber art – crochet; Jenna Tomlin, copper artist; Katie Kaufman, costumer and jeweler; Bob Spangler, mixed media prop maker; Mikael Clear, costumer and prop maker; Pake McNally, metalsmith; Anney Day, accessories; Ana Heaton, illustrator; Julia Deniss, jeweler; Dusty Howlett, hand made pens; Brandon Schnur, ceramist; Gary Pendergrass, mixed media sculpture; May Evans, painter and author; Bill Knechtal, photographer; Tom Krekow, photographer; Mark Wickersham, fencing demonstrator; Denise Donnelly, tea maker; plus musical guests A Ship Called Revenge!

I will be at the opening from 11 am until whenever Henry gets overstimulated, and I'll be wearing my most risque Steampunk costume ever, so that will be fun. See you there!

Related posts:
"The Art of Discovery" at Johnson County Library (Event Pics)
Steampunk Art Exhibit Opening Reception (Event Pics)
Sewing for a Steampunk Soiree
Steampunk Magazine Cranks My Cogs
2 Steampunk Web Comics You Should Read

Ask the Oracle / The Skin that Binds Us / Maker Faire KC (Event Pics)

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:17:00 +0000

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting again!

Since the pastels I used on my arms for the last Oracle performance got all rubbed off, I painted my arms for my latest performance. It was fun, but people kept wanting to take away my oracle cards, so I think next time I will have making little personal take-aways a part of the experience. I don't quite feel like I've gotten it quite right yet, so I'll keep tweaking. Right now I'm still in brainstorm mode for how I want to do it next time, so I'm not sure when it will be ready.

Self-painting before the costume went on

At the gallery

Betsy making final touches!

Betsy's artwork was amazing as always!

I loved seeing her smaller pieces and the spooky skulls too!

This past weekend was Maker Faire Kansas City, and I helped at the Create Your Own Reality table with Darcy. We invited people to make Artist Trading Cards (to take with them or trade for ones others had left behind) and to add to our Creating Reality tree (by writing what they want to grow in their lives on a piece of fabric and tying it to the tree). I had a great time and was especially excited to meet and observe a woman making prophetic art for people as it's very similar to what I'm attempting to do with my "Ask the Oracle" performance!

Fun with Jesus-themed packing tape!

With Create Your Own Reality founder, Darcy, at the Creating Reality Tree

Our messy craft table :)

Artist Trading Cards I made.

"Ask the Oracle" at Grimm & Barrett Art Gallery this Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 17:03:00 +0000

If you'd like to experience my performance art with a psychic twist, I'll be at the Grimm and Barrett Art Gallery (3915 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64111) this First Friday, performing "Ask the Oracle" from approximately 7-9 PM.

"The Skin That Binds Us," an exhibit of new, large-scale paintings from local artist Betsy Barrett will also be on display. "Using the imagery of conjoined twins as a metaphor for self, and the dualities found in all of us. Barratt depicts the internal conflicts of the psyche, to overcome, embrace, and let go, aspects of the self less desired." (Source)

Live bands will be performing and light refreshments will be provided, and the gallery will be open until midnight. Find out more details on the Facebook event page.

You can check out images of my previous "Ask the Oracle" performance here. (This Friday's will be similar, but a bit different.)

Related posts:
"Ask the Oracle" at the Pop Up Gallery
"Swarm" A Collaborative Performance (with Betsy Barrett, et al.)
"Our Lady of Perpetual Beginnings" at the Slap-N-Tickle
Starry Night (Performance Pics)

Ask the Oracle @ the Pop Up Art Gallery (Event Pics)

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:14:00 +0000

Here are some pictures from the "Ask the Oracle" performance I did earlier this month. I had a lot of fun and plan to have a repeat performance of it at another location for next First Friday. Stay tuned :)

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Pop Up Gallery! And a special thanks for those who were brave enough to ask a question of the oracle ;)

Related posts:
Our Lady of Perpetual Beginnings at the Slap-N-Tickle
My Part in the HyperKewl Relics Project
Swarm: A Collaborative Performance (Event Pics & Videos)
Starry Night! (Performance Pics)
Event Pics: SlutWalk / Chalk Drawing Demo

"Ask the Oracle" Performance at the Pop Up Gallery TONIGHT!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 01 May 2015 15:12:00 +0000

Nothing like last-minute news, huh?

Tonight I'll be performing as an oracle at the Pop-Up Gallery (2100 Grand Blvd.) as part of the activities going on for First Friday. Plus, for those of you who didn't see my exhibit there last month, there's have another chance to look at it!

The Pop Up Gallery is open tonight from 5-11 PM. I will be doing "Ask the Oracle" from 8-10. The Pop Up will feature over 10 artists and several live performers. From their event listing:

*10+ local emerging and established artists showcasing original artwork throughout 6,500 square feet of gallery & event space.

*Live Music by NICKI SCRUGGS (vocals & instruments) exciting, emerging locally based singer/songwriter, and former American Idol contestant showcasing

*Live African Drumming with ZANZIBAR emerging local world music ensemble showcasing Djembe & Dunun traditions of the Malinké people.

*Live acoustic set by Jasper Alford of The Leisure Boys, a group based out of Minnesota!

*Live Poetry by KAI ZEN Kansas City based emerging poet/songwriter :)

Art Raffles! Contests! Games! win art! win prizes! just win!
*******************************************************
Artists Include:
Cyan Townley (mixed medium) exciting young artist, presenting recent work as part of a senior showcase

D'Antoinette Yancey (fiber arts/photography) established local photographer and artist, highlighting exciting creative approaches to fiber and photography

Jeff Watson & Jeremy Cole (mixed media/collage) two locally based emerging artists, showcasing their exciting 'DRAWN IN' approach to what is art!

Nancy Bovee (ceramics) established local artist & mentor, presenting a series of exciting ceramic artwork

Albane Ruiz-Campagne (photography) local emerging international photographer, presenting photography highlighting work from around the world

Mitch Stroup (photography) emerging commercial photographer, showcasing work on metal and other mediums

Jim Sawyer (painting) late artist, with a passion for pop culture and celebrity

Phil Meyer (acrylic on plastic) emerging KC based artist, showcasing a signature process, inspired by his artist father

Mark FitzSimmons (abstract painting) American war veteran showcasing his approach to expression and experience

Sterling White (pencil, mixed media) talented emerging KC based teaching artist showcasing inspired mixed media and found object work

Here's a sneak peek at my costuming:

Hope to see you tonight!

Related posts:

Come See Me at 1st Friday with Tibetan Monks

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:56:00 +0000

"Mulan" (mixed media, 2015)

You read that right, folks, I'm going to be out at this next First Friday (1/3/15) at the Pop Up Gallery (2100 Grand Boulevard) for "A Spiritual Awakening," an arts and culture event with local artists, live music, refreshments, and Tibetan monks who will be creating a sand mandala, chanting, selling hand-made items and more. This is the Facebook event page with additional information.

I will be showing my latest mixed media piece ("Mulan," pictured above), a collaborative painting that Henry and I made together, some older pieces, and also some doodles. Since I haven't done an art event in a while, I'm quite excited. Moreso because I love when the monks visit!

Hope to see you there!

Yes, I've Been Gone, Sorry About That...

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 21:33:00 +0000

Hi Everyone! Sorry I've been MIA for so long. We suddenly didn't have internet at home any more and haven't for a while - except on my phone which doesn't like blogger. Anyhoo, I'm still mucking about and plan to be back blogging regularly at some point but I'm not sure when. We're trying to move and stuff...Until then, hope you're enjoying the possibilities of this new year!

NaNoWriMo 2014 / Flood the Street with Art!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:19:00 +0000

Image via Words On Images

Imma make this short and sweet 'cause I'm 60 words behind on yesterday's word goal for NaNoWrimo and I need to get on that while Henry's napping.

Speaking of which, NaNoWriMo is going well. I've been exceeding my word goals except for the past couple days when getting a bit of a cold has slowed me down. Hoping to catch up today, but we'll see what happens! Also, I'm thinking that my book might end up not reaching 50,000 total words if the story arc completes its self before then. I guess I'll just find out! Are you participating in NaNoWriMo? If so, what's your novel about?

I also want to take a moment to invite all artists everywhere to join me in Flood(ing) the Street with Art! this November 28. Like Buy Nothing Day, Flood the Street with Art! is a movement against the commercialism of Black Friday. The idea is for artists everywhere to literally fill our streets with art that's been left out for anyone to find and take home with them. I love this because it's a positive action instead of a negative one like Buy Nothing Day (although I also support that!). Find out more about how you can be part of this on their FB event pages; they have one for the whole world and one for local MO/KS artists.

Related Links:
No Purchase Necessary
A Novel Accomplishment
NaNoWriMo 2013 Wrap-Up (A Little Early)
NaNoWriMo 2010 Wrap-Up & More!

Getting Ready for Another NaNoWriMo!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 15:26:00 +0000

I've decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo, once again this year. And this time I'm determined to complete a first draft within the time allotted! I'm in a much better place for that than I've been in past years,because lately I've actually been doing writing exercises!

A 3 year old friend of Henry's gave me a set of Rory's Story Cubes a bit ago. Lately I've been using them I as a daily writing exercise! The story cubes, if you don't know, are essentially a set of 9 picture dice that are meant to inspire story telling games. The set I have is the 'voyages' theme so it has lots of unusual objects and creatures.

I've been hand-writing these exercises, and I intend to hand-write during NaNoWriMo as well. I used to always hand-write my first draft and then type the second one. I feel a return to that habit well get my creative juices flowing better.

And I also have a kick-as fantasy plot ready for this second novel if mine. I can't wait to get started!

Related posts:
A Novel Accomplishment
My Goal for NaNoWriMo
NaNoWriMo 2013 Wrap-Up (A Little Early) NaNoWriMo Wrap-Up and More! (2012)

Let's Talk about ALL THE THINGS!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:15:00 +0000

Lots of things on my mind to share today, so I'm just gonna get to it...

Marriage Momentum
Can you believe the awesomeness that is #MarriageMomentum?! Same sex marriage is becoming legal in so many places! Even in KANSAS! I mean, what!? It's so great! Missouri is at least recognizing same sex marriages performed in other states, but I'm shocked that Kansas beat us to fully granting them. Happily shocked. And jealous!

Blog Action Day
For the first time in I-don't-know-how-many years, I missed posting on Blog Action Day. But you can check out the bloggers who did write about inequality on the Blog Action Day site.

Young Feminist Leaders
It's fantastic seeing young women at the forefront of social change being represented in the media in such positive ways! Kudos to Emma Watson for her work with the United Nations and to Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai for her tireless activism!

It's On Us
FINALLY a campaign that addresses the source of rape and assault issues. FUCK YEAH! I'm stoked about this campaign and the way that dialogues about feminism are changing in our society. It's about damn time ^_^

Parents as Teachers
I'm loving this program! Henry just started it this semester. Not only do we get a monthly home visit, but we also get access to all kind of special free events (most recently the Zoomobile, and there's a pumpkin patch event tomorrow), special toys and books, play dates and more. It's such a great resource.

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Through Parents as Teachers, I discovered and enrolled Henry in the Imagination Library, which sends KC-area kids, ages 5 years old and below, a free book each month. Henry's first one just arrived earlier this week. He received "The Little Engine Who Could." He really likes it and I love seeing the pictures that I remember from when I was a child. (But the story is way more repetitive than I remember. I admit, I leave out quite a bit when I read it to him.)

Royals Going to the World Series
WAY TO GO ROYALS! This hasn't happened since I was like 3. Which is probably why I lost all interest in baseball... But I'm still glad they're winning for a change.

Related posts:
Love and Civil Rights
Blog Action Day: Stop Forced Evictions in Kenya
Lawrence Lessig on the Problem with American Politics
2 Must-Read Posts on Steubenville

Kansas City Regional Equity Network's 3rd Annual Summit

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:44:00 +0000

On Saturday, I attended the 3rd annual summit of the Kansas City Regional Equity Network. The summit's focus was Social Equity & Transportation. I'd never heard of the Equity Network before, but seeing as I'm deeply interested in the topics they would be covering, I thought I'd go and see what happened. I'm so glad I dids!

The KC Regional Equity Network is a group of "change makers" pulling together to make our region a place where everyone can connect to the resources and opportunities they need to learn, grow and prosper. The Equity Network is concerned with the following issues: education, housing, environment, land use, development, healthy communities, transportation, and workforce development.

As I mentioned previously, this summit was focused on social equity and transportation. There was a keynote speaker, followed by a panel discussion, and ending with break-out groups. Some of the issues raised included:

youth culture's preference for walkable communities
potential changes & upgrades to public transit
the need for a regional transit plan/system
the need for community voices in transit planning
potential policy changes esp. re: low-income housing and tax abatement
connections between jobs and transit opportunities
the need to re-invest in city areas that have been abandoned
the need for mixed-use communities and mixed-use housing

So many ideas were flying and people were so energized! I was really glad I attended.

I think the Equity Network really has a good thing going. I appreciate how their focus on equity covers so many problem areas in our region. I feel like this is an organization that I can get behind 100% and expect to see results!

I plan to attend their quarterly meeting in November and see how I can say involved from there. This is a group I DO NOT want to lose touch with!

Related posts:
I Want to Ride My Bicycle
Vintage Transit (Video)
How I Fell In Love with Alternative Transportation
How to Live Car-Free in the Midwest

Event Pics: 2014 Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 22:42:00 +0000

I finally got around to editing my pics from this weekend, so get ready!

My gal pals and I had decided to all draw Thomas Hart Benton paintings, in keeping with the "What Makes KC Great?" theme - one of three the festival had this year. And, like I said before, I chose "Romance," which I kind of regret ONLY because there was a lot of brown in the image that was nearly the same color as the bricks! It was hard to make it POP like I wanted it to.

Henry came with me Saturday, and stayed from 9 AM-4:30 PM with barely a fuss. It was awesome! At first he enjoyed "helping" Mama draw...

...but then he decided to hop around and enjoy the wide open space. He spent the rest of the day either playing with Angry Birds on my tablet, Pre-K apps on my phone, or running and hopping about being adorable.

Despite the gorgeous weather and Henry's cuteness, I was not really into drawing on Saturday. Maybe because 2 of my girlfriends who are usually there were out of town. Or maybe because I started off coloring the brown parts which didn't look at all exciting. Either way, I perked up when my Older Brother #2 showed up and helped me start laying down the sky colors. I felt much cheerier about my piece after that.

This is what I had at the end of the day, plus dirty knees, and a very tired toddler.

Sunday was another beautiful day. I got started adding more shading and color over what I'd done the previous day, before moving on to finish drawing the figures, etc. My friend Darcy came by to help and hang out, but I somehow managed not to get any pictures of her! :O

Sooner than I expected, I was all finished up!

I was pretty happy with the results, but everyone else liked it better than me, I think.

After I finished, I got to see my friend Stacey making balloon animals for kids, and visit the Typewriter Oracle who'd write you a poem after you asked her a question.

And, of course, I went around looking at all the other chalk drawings. I didn't get a lot of good pictures of other people's drawings, because by then it was that magic hour where the shade and sun were competing and lots of my pictures turned out just plain BAD. But here are the ones I managed to get (the first 3 are the Benton pieces my friends made).

Below are the featured 3D artists. I was jelly that they got to work on concrete instead of brick. It's so much easier to get vibrant color on concrete!

Oh, and I got a mention in the KC Star.

Did you make it out this weekend? If so, what did you think?

Related posts:
2013 Plaza Art Fair (Event Pics)
2013 KC Chalk & Walk Festival (Event Pics)
Event Pics: KC Chalk & Walk Festival (2012)
Event Pics: Chalk Walk in the Historic Northeast (2012)
Event Pics: SlutWalk / Chalk Drawing Demo
Event Pics: 2011 Chalk & Walk Festival

Don't Miss the 2014 Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival!

noreply@blogger.com (May) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 19:30:00 +0000

Tomorrow (9/6/14) and Sunday are the Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival at Crown Center! You won't want to miss it! I'll be re-creating "Romance," a painting by Thomas Hart Benton (and I hear there will be 7 other Bentons this year), which you can see below.

Lotti, the festival organizer, emailed me this great info on the painting:

A simple, yet charming, painting of a young couple in love. Be aware that when Benton painted this in the early 1930’s, public displays of affection between African-Americans were often illegal because of Jim Crow Laws. It was considered disgusting and shocking. But two people holding hands while walking in the moonlight has always occurred, and Benton recognized this. The original painting was owned by the author James Michener, who later donated it to the University of Texas Art Museum.

Hope to see you there!

Related posts:
2013 KC Chalk & Walk Festival (Event Pics)
Event Pics: KC Chalk & Walk Festival (2012)
Event Pics: 6th Annual Chalk Walk in the Historic Northeast