And then the beautiful weather — These Things
The Common Well Boise Gallery showing ceramic works by Rolland Fletcher, paintings and quilts by Shay Woodhouse and color field photographs by Jeff O.
If you could stop the shouting of your own thoughts in your ears, you might be able to hear the small voice of... a pine cone in the sun.
- Minor White
Well hello lovely people of the planet and even on days when we don’t feel it so much like most of August where the sluff energy of summer falls into the long shadows of fall across yards and the north side of hills wake up more slowly than the south where thermals pull air across a yellow and browning landscapes with a refreshing breeze and it feels like I’m alive again every september and some mornings remembering the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and the faded brass chain used to raise our American flag at a little elementary school in central Arkansas when, like now, one of my favorite things was that I got there on a bicycle.
Writing Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 1
Interested in writing stories, poems or non-fiction? As part of this fantastic residency I’ve been part of with the Alexa Rose Foundation and The Common Well, three of us writerly-inclined residents will lead a writing workshop and craft talk on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m. at The Common Well (110 W. 31st Street Garden City, Idaho). Get more info on “A Writer’s Workshop: daily creative practices for writing stories, poems and non-fiction.”
The residency show continues through Oct. 4
The “Show and Tell” residency show continues at The Common Well gallery through Oct. 4, 2024. You can visit The Common Well Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. to check it out. Be sure to check their website and sign up for their newsletter to learn more about some super cool art events and opportunities in the Boise area.
Again, thanks to the Alexa Rose Foundation and The Common Well for providing this residency opportunity for me to explore and show what I’m calling color field photography right now. I’m working on a collection of photos and poems based on the work from this residency and I’m so grateful for the support of the foundation and The Well in this journey.
Open Studio Tour Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13
Also and finally, I know, we really like the inspirations more than all the too many words and I’m also excited to let you know that I’m part of the Boise Open Studios tour this year on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 at Sunset Grove (our place in Boise). There are over 100 artists who open their studios and homes as part of the tour and you visit the Boise Open Studios website to find an interactive tour map (should be online soon) and cruise around looking at art and studios (and gardens in places where Jennifer lives) and hang out for a bit and I think it will be super fun so drop by our place Saturday or Sunday, Oct. 12 or 13, and hang out with us.
Ok? Ok, let’s get to these things that inspired me recently:
A poem that’s like a perfect first date — A.O. Scott takes a close reading of Frank O’Hara’s poem “Having a Coke With You” in this New York Times interactive article. Super fun to close read poems and add some Internet magic too.
The Virtue of Slow Writers — not everything happens fast even if it happens in continuous moments, like writing a novel…I really appreciate this look at novels that took some time to write. This is where a shameless self-promoted ad would go for a writing workshop coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
What to do when you don’t feel like doing anything — Found these tips recently and have been using a couple of them getting ready for the Boise Open Studios show. I may still be reeling from the aftershocks of leaving my marketing and communications profession of twenty years last fall… Sorry. Not sorry. High five.
Known Alias: How Stephen King Was Outed as Richard Bachman — Or, how to kill a horror writer…pretty fascinating story but also, I love leaving a little mystery in my life.
People for Bikes City Ratings - Boise, Idaho — I just found out about this website (from a recent video by Seth of Berm Peak) that considers the many factors that contribute to a “bikeable” city. You can look up your city on the website.
Bonus inspiration
The Manual with Tim Walz — Trigger warning…this video contains political content created to encourage us to vote for Harris and Walz. I’m sharing it because it’s a fantastic video about Tim’s 1979 International Harvester Scout (it’s beautiful). This really is content marketing at its best and I love the metaphor behind him working on the cruise control on an old vehicle—really good. And really, let’s remember to get out and vote.