June 2009 archives
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June 28, 2009
july 2009 events
by gl. at 10:08 pm
July Events
I'll be traveling for a big chunk of July. Eastward ho! I promise to bring you back cheese and moon rocks.
Even though I won't be in some of these performances, I highly recommend attending Original Practice Shakespeare at a park near you. OPSFest is an unusual, fun & authentic return to the Shakespeare of yore -- which is to say, without rehearsals, sets or direction. It sounds daft but true! Actors study several roles but never read the full script and don't know which role they'll perform until the day of the performance, only meeting beforehand to choreograph fight scenes and songs. This is a "play" in one of the truest senses of the word, a process that embraces both spontaneity & mistakes. Indeed, part of the joy as an audience member is following along with the actors as they discover what to do next. No performance is ever the same! There will also be one more performance in August. Bring a picnic!
OPSFest presents A Midsommer Nights Dreame:
* July 11: 6 p.m. - Somerset West Park (Beaverton)
* July 12: 2 p.m. - Pacific Park (Vancouver, WA)
* July 18: 2 p.m. - Gabriel Park
* July 19: 2 p.m. - Esther Short Park (Vancouver, WA)
I'll get back just in time to teach a class at SCRAP on behalf of Trillium Artisans. I'm really looking forward to this! Trillium and SCRAP are natural allies.
July 29: Creative Business Identity
at SCRAP from 6-8 p.m., $10 donation recommended
Customers don't buy an object from you: they buy the story you present about how it was made, who made it and how they'll feel when they use it. So the time you spend working on your identity will affect every aspect of your creative business. Explore what you really love about your business and what makes you different from similar creative businesses. Then learn how to create a "basic message" about your business that is clear and engaging to your customers and peers.
In the meantime, if you're looking to teach a class or host an event this summer, we're now renting the studio for a variety of art activities. At just $25/hour, you won't find a more welcoming or inspiring environment with abundant supplies and creature comforts. Whether it's an art class, party, celebration or retreat, please contact us if you'd like to arrange for your special event in our space!
Last but not least, please support Trillium Artisans! Trillium's artisans care deeply about values like quality, durability, honesty in marketing, and authenticity. Trillium is a 3-year program designed to educate, encourage and support small crafty businesses using recycled materials. Buy yourself or a friend something nice at their online store. I'm on the Board of Trillium, so if you donate $10 or more I'll match your donation!
warmest wishes for a savoury summer,
gl.
posted by gl. | permalink | categories: newsletter
June 27, 2009
birthday card: mike brent
by sven at 7:00 am
Today is Mike's birthday...
From Sven & Gretchin: happy birthday Mike!
posted by sven | permalink | categories: painting
June 26, 2009
wiping the slate clean
by gl. at 6:15 pm
it's been a very long time since i've posted, and it looks to me like if i wait for the perfect time to give each item the post it deserves, i will never post again.
during the holidays, at the masarie curry party, marta said i changed her life: she attended a collage night once and makes one every day now. it's not often you get to hear something so dramatic or sincere!
but it's been hard because a bunch of awkward things happened at once. my focus has shifted to include arts organizations. i've been spending a surprising amount of time & energy supporting medical causes. my own art has re-embraced theatre. a lot of people have died (including lane, my mom & sven's grandfather). my primary art support group collapsed. my photo routine is broken. the economy shook us. in short, things are in flux.
since sven & i are about to go on a long summer trip, i'd like to tie up some loose ends so when i return, i can start with a clean slate: i'm still searching for the next surge of momentum but i can't move forward if i'm still looking back. so here are some things that have happened over the last year i'm not going to write much about but that are worth mentioning & recording:
events: shu-ju in the rare books room, gems of small press show, red bat & loaded hips show at iprc, white bird dance series, open studios (cirocco moody's raven), shawn demarest's shows, trillium holiday show, handmade nw, little things show, coraline premiere, a puppetlove show, apollo, how to disappear completely, hidden portland book launch, crazy enough, inviting desire w/ bridget, an afternoon on dayna's boat "rapture." plus, dayna went to italy & brought back treats: a fish placemat from volterra in in the cinque terre, yellow italian paper (used to wrap purchaes, in art, as placemats, etc.), a menu with cool image, favorite yogurt jar, a sugar packet, a piece of broken window from abandoned house in tuscany(!) wrapped in italian newspaper, red & white rocks from cinque terre, beach glass from the amalfi coast, a bookmark from assisi, and a metal botanical tag from flea market. then ann gave me a subscription to “where women create” magazine, which is like a “lifestyles of the rich & creative."
teaching: i had a great time teaching gocco at the iprc until the iprc could no longer offer them due to the shortage of supplies. (however, i still provide private gocco lessons, like the one i did with dot.) so i've been teaching creative business classes at the iprc, the library & trillium/scrap. that may come to an end soon, too. i've been re-offering workshops at the studio without being responsible for promotion & registration.
classes: when i first decided i wanted to dip my toe back into the theatre waters, i took a theatre/coaching class: it was a really rocky way to start because she did not believe in encouraging students. so i was both relieved & sad to leave. i had better luck at the 100th monkey's "ninja sewing" series (where i learned about threading, knotting, warp/weft, running stitch, gathering stitch, back stitch, buttons, hem stitch, blanket stitch, cross stitch, whipstitch, chain stitch, split stitch, french knots) and have been happy to be able to make and repair very simple things.
art: "where the sidewalk ends" photo series, "5 reasons" book, comparing down to earth "smoke rings" a year later, "writing our bellies full" reading, fidelio, last big gocco supply order, cast as an extra in TNT's "leverage" (so was trixie!), opsfest, dayna's art buddy invitational (my buddy, sven's buddy).
at the little things show, i picked up a prayer flag by jennifer mercedes because of its title: "a prayer for an inspiring future." yes, please. see you soon.
[gl. as The Lyon in A Midsommer Nights Dreame]
posted by gl. | permalink | categories: administrivia, classes & workshops, exhibits & events, miscellany, other art, printing, trixie, writing
June 2, 2009
birthday card: aiyana bonnichsen
by sven at 7:00 am
Today is Aiyana's birthday...
From Sven & Gretchin: happy birthday Aiyana!