Amazing people are weird.

I think to myself as I am wiped out on the floor staring at the ceiling.

and that is how I --- convince myself to keep going/ find comfort

When my weekends sometimes look like this:


_____________________________________________



 So I need to make a cat.

This is at the top of my to do list. 

and when I get stressed about my to do list I remind myself that "make a cat" is at the top.

and somehow that means I am winning at life.

________

this is just the base structure for the cat's head.

This creature is going to be for Old Kent Road Theater. and our latest jam. 

I say OUR because I am a collaborator with the company. And anytime you get to be a collaborator. 

You grab that title and hug it. 

________

And, this play is NOT about cats. 

That is one of the harder things to explain. out of context. 

That the work we do is closer to performance art than it is to The Music Man. and no offense to Harold Hill, because one summer I sat on my great aunt's back porch with my headphones on and replayed "Trouble" until I had it memorized. 

You know. so I could perform it. 

for. 

the chairs on the screen porch.

___________

But about the cat. 

I googled "cat"

and. it is most important to now know that I am slightly frightened by cats. so this was awful for me.

to google it. 

THEY WERE ALL STARING AT ME.

and by were. I mean ARE.

sh. right now even.

even posting this picture gives me the creeps. I see at least 3 cats judging me to death.

and I say slightly frightened because I don't have a problem with cats unless they try and talk to me. or try and be mean to me.

and don't even say--> they aren't mean. I KNOW THEY ALL AREN'T.

( in fact I have two I not only like... but LOVE.)

number one spot goes to Mrs. Richardson. A neighborhood cat with a diamond collar and therefore it was decided that Mr. Richardson, her husband cat, worked all day to buy her bling. etc.

I held her even. Every time I saw her.

She's beautiful.

I mean. I was on the ground to get a BFF pic. so.

____

Also when my friend was dying it was her neighborhood cat that sat on her lap until her last breath. Regardless of friends rushing about.  

That cat is my favorite cat ever if I had to give awards. It loved on my friend BY CHOICE before she even got sick until her last second on this planet.

And so, she gets the award because of what she did for my friend. her name. fittingly... Magic.

_____

but some cats have been sneaky and rude.

so I am cautious.

Let's just say... they've turned on me.

I am cautious about the ones I run by in the street. that watch me. 

their heads turn as they sit upright and judge my gate.

Once, a group was together... judging. 

and that was just it for me.

HALT- I said I loved 2 cats but make that 3-5. And that is because my love for cats is conditional.

If they can decide to stick a paw out and GET me. Then I reserve the right to say if they are cool with me or not. 

______________

BUT

This is not an anti-cat post. 

It is a post about how I once had to make a cat. and therefore googled cat pictures for reference. 

And. how. right now. 

THEY ARE ALL STARING AT ME.

Still.

____________________________






And. 


In conclusion, this is what my night looks like:

________________________________________

kick something.

KICK THIS. <---click here. ok.

( because your latte will give you an hour of superpowers.
no, I know this. I am high on life when I have coffee.
But if you support this show with anything. even a dollar... it can give a theater full of superpowers. that last slightly longer.)

OLD KENT ROAD THEATER's newest production.

All the Indifferent Children of the Earth is a play about existing now.  It's also very nearly a quote out of Hamlet.  It's as if the play were called: Describe Thee to a Nunnery or, To Be or Not To Do Things, Muchly.  Our rewards here are mostly goofy -- the performance is our offering, the rewards are a friendly wink and a sincere, if jocular, "thank you" -- however the play is quite serious, except when it is funny, when it becomes uber-serious.  And when we dance we are basically parallel-universe-level serious.

These projects are labors of love and compulsive need, and raising this money would take us great lengths toward creating this show.  Though we recoup some funds in the ticketing process, theater is a money-losing venture.  A week of rehearsals is at least a hundred bucks right there.  A little money goes a long way.  Basically it keeps the loss from becoming prohibitive and keeps people from waking up in a panic in the middle of the night.  It also keeps theater going, which we absolutely must do lest we let Aeschylus and Sophocles down, who began the whole thing if you subscribe to a brutal,hegemonic,Western-centric model of history that explicates humanity's inexorable, atomic progress.

The Old Kent Road Theater has been making plays for at least five years now that are primarily about human beings relating to one another today.  Hopefully the way we make the play offers new perspectives or something unusual to like or dislike.  We'd like to inspire a sense of play, a sense of freedom, and sense of the new.

All the Indifferent Children of the Earth will have video in it, movement, sculpture-arts, dialogue, monologue, music, and lights.  The action finds three women and one man compulsively dissecting the beauty and the monotony and the horror of life.  It’s as if four anxious, petit bourgeois strangers found themselves at 8am in the backyard of a mutual friend’s August retreat, a half-mile from the coast outside of Cherbourg or Seattle.  Or it’s as if four precocious children were abandoned in a Math/Science Center on a rainy, late-autumn Saturday morning.  Or as if people do theater, in 2012, despite…the world.

Cast: Sarah Dahlen as Sarah, Daniel Kublick as Daniel, Kathleen Heverin as Kat, & Hollis Witherspoon as Hollis.

Light Design: Morgan Anne Zipf; Sculpture-Arts/Illustration: Abernathy Bland.

Video Design & Video Direction: Asa Gauen; Text & Direction:  Eric Bland.

PERFORMANCES: Thu/Fri/Sat at 8pm, Feb 16/17/18; 23/24/25; Mar 1/2/3. 

WHERE: The Brick Theater.  575 Metropolitan Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211 (between Union Avenue and Lorimer Street)  http://bricktheater.com/

Tickets are $18.

__________________________________

now you know.

let go...Feel The Rain.

_____________________________________

TRIPP. The Little Drummer Boy.

So there's this angel I know. 

He is 2. 

And he is so very sick. 

He was born with EB. and I have posted before about this disease. but I will do it again. and again. and if I had millions of dollars. I would give it to Dr. Tolar and his team. and the team of EB advocates. fighters. and families. 

ABOUT TRIPP. from his mom, Courtney:

Tripp was born on May 14, 2009. He was diagnosed with a rare genetic skin disease called "EB." Any type of friction on his skin or mucous membranes causes blisters. They told us he would not live to be a year old. Every day he amazes us by his strength. He is a fighter and with all he has been through, he has never given up. He is the strongest person I know. Tripp wakes up each morning with a smile on his face. Every day spent with him is a blessing. God has a special plan for him. I'm just blessed to be able to witness that plan.

Tripp when he was itty bitty

This disease is new to you? probably. 

It is the worst thing no one has heard of.

And yes, that is my opinion. but it is a strong opinion because EB is a terrible disease.

come on. he is so sweet. i love this picture.

I love a lot of babies with EB. and this one is a rockstar champion.

and today his mommy made a post that he is losing his battle. 

Wait. scratch that. He cant lose. 

so. he is winning.

he has been winning. 

Watch him

with his grandma.

go to his blog. and see this baby boy finish out like a champ.

and you will be encouraged by his mother. 

Who is an example of big, giant, amazing love. 

Tripp's link has been on the side bar of my blog for a while. Go visit it. 

and if you pray. 

Oh,

Pray for Tripp. 

to be comfortable. and at peace. 

with his momma

Children with EB are often in agony.
But sometimes you wouldn't know it.


You cannot imagine unless you live with EB daily.
and that includes EB sisters. brothers. moms. dads. grandmas. grandpas. aunts. uncles. and all those who care for these butterfly babies.

Taking care of those with EB is a major major task. wrapping.dressing.bathing.medicine.feeding.
These families are amazing.


__________


OK. now. best thing ever. watch him go.


This is an early video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUof-liFKjY&feature=autoplay&list=UUR2YInctbWnNRXWqzUglnVA&lf=plcp&playnext=1


really. watch all these.

EB affects more than your skin. 

it affects your mouth, eyes, and other organs.

Over time, EB has affected Tripp's eyes.
Tripp has lost his sight. But he has serious rhythm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0ZIGx48tMs&list=UUR2YInctbWnNRXWqzUglnVA&index=9&feature=plcp


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGMsFx_S_hI&list=UUR2YInctbWnNRXWqzUglnVA&index=10&feature=plcp


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq-DtZUrNeU&list=UUR2YInctbWnNRXWqzUglnVA&index=7&feature=plcp

I am so sad for Tripp. because he is hurting.
His play time is extremely short now. if he even has the energy to play at all.

But I am so encouraged by his life. and celebrate that.

You should see the amount of support and love surrounding his story.




His spirit is greater than his disease. 

He is an angel boy.

MAKE A DONATION TO CURE EB.

http://www.Debra.org/


___________________________________________


*


*


*


*


*


*



Since I wrote this draft post... Tripp died.

pray for his momma.
and his family.

and if you are moved to give to EB research. do it.

This print was inspired by Tripp.

and his family.


_____________________________

Exodus 9:16

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 

___________________________

They have been doing everything right.
because they have been powered by love.



Visit Courtney's blog. The link is on the right side of the screen.
.learn about EB.
at least now you know a little more about it now.

___________

A great article about Tripp.

___________

Bigger than yourself.

I am seriously lucky. 

*

Except for that one time I got stuck at the VERY TOP of a rollercoaster. 

The 1st hill. Very top. steep angle. 45 min.

It happened. I lost all color in my face. And while I was never comfortable. I did document it.

This was years ago. but it sticks with you.

it just lasted. too. long.

fake smile of courage.


holding your body as upright as possible with a constant fear of falling backwards.


as they stop the theme music.

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

.and finally.

um. yes. we did.


 find the small people over there on the ground. who watched us the whole time.

Anyways. 

I ALWAYS DIGRESS. IT'S WHO I AM.

______________

So. Like I said.

I am lucky. 

Always.

Often.

Sometimes.

Well. this one time especially:

One day someone walked by my studio 

and happened to like my sweet little eerie rosie cheeked rabbits with long arms and legs. 

(they listened to him)

this guy is a very large oil painting. tell your friends with very large walls.

And so we talked about opportunities.

And that lead to someone else. Who knew someone else. Who knew someone else.

Who was dreaming up an amazing idea. 

And Oh, 

It was one that I wanted to be a part of

before I even knew of it.



I knew it in my heart. 

_____________________

See, I think.

I think we all want to be bigger than ourselves. 

and that is why this idea speaks to me.

It's a group of people
who are passionate and talented. And they have the same focus.

Empower young artists. 

and that means all young artists. 

_________________________

This amazing idea is 

Live Art is a theater arts program for children of all abilities. 

and I don't think I can be more behind this idea.

one-  because I adore the arts and
two-  because I adore the power of the arts.

It is going to be moving.
to work on this.
to be a part of this.
to watch this.

To see students that have special needs claim their spotlight.

Expectations are

students will amaze.

And. 

everyone will learn. 

And. 

there will be celebrating.

Classes will lead up to a concert where the students perform with brilliant musicians. 

SPARC THEATER

is responsible for this beautiful environment.

In collaboration with area artists, supporters, pre-existing special needs programs, and local arts organizations in the community.

There will be students with special needs working alongside
professional artists and students without special needs. 

It is about building each other up.

It is about being rich.

AND

It is being documented.

For real.



Watch the trailer.

* 

* 

*

Please do. It is precious and exciting.

_____________________

______________________



if you are moved to support Live Art in any way:

visit sparconline.org

You know that feeling you get- when you sort of want to cry because you are so moved to be in a room?  Yeah. So do I.


We had teacher orientation last weekend. and well. everyone is on board.

with wide eyes.

and big hearts.

and

I told you.




I'm lucky.

.art wins.
______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

January is like that quiet friend who is always there but not really interjecting with crazy adventure ideas.

___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

p.s. happy new year. to every amazing person that ever reads this blog.

____________________________________________________________________

sometimes being sad is very very close to being - happy.

There are moments in life that force you to be completely aware.

And I think many of them happen when irony is unavoidable. 

 when two "not-supposed-to-happen-at-the-same-time moments"
exist 

in the same piece of time.

____________________

Like leaving a birthday party with a piece of cake.

but eating it on the way to visit a friend.

who is dying.

_____________________

That's a kind of moment

that stops you.
_____________________

I worked with Martha for a while.

We were a generation apart, but we were friends for 800 reasons.

Like our shared love of reality TV, craft fairs, and seasonal chocolates stuck on the end of pretzel sticks.

(Ok. she made those.)

usually the chocolates were monster fingers.

and we would dial the phone with them.

see.


See why I needed her at the office.

_____________________

But she got sick.

****

___________________________

her gifts were always meaningful.

like sewing pins. with hearts on them.
because I love to sew.

__________

And she was one of those people who saved a comic from the paper when it applied to you. 

I think that sort of person is one of the kindest in the world. 

because even though they just woke up. brewed their coffee. and poured milk on their cereal.

they aren't worried it will get soggy... they stop and get out some scissors and cut the comic out.

and then tape it to your cube secretly.

She was one of those. 

____________________________

Martha kicked me out of the office.

well...she pushed me out forcefully.

with a big white vase of purple flowers.

But before she succeeded in getting rid of me.

She would see something I was working on and say -

you need to be making art. Go do it.

Get out of here.

and

Go for it.

_____________________________________

As she got sicker.

I visited with her...

and I had visions of her dying with a beautiful giant blanket I made. With all of her favorite things on it.  

But sometimes. you have no control. 

Scratch that. 

All the time. you have no control.

(I am finding this out. constantly.)

and all you can do is be there for someone.

_______________________________________________


And I am very thankful that I was called that day.
and left that birthday party with a piece of cake.
to go see her.

because birthdays are blessings.

and so are friends.

and even though it seems super sad.

and like a super horrible irony.

I am confident that sad... is the closest thing to happy.



Because I have yet to feel sad
without an attachment to some sort of happy.

I was blessed to be friends with Martha. still am.

lucky me.

and to be there with someone you care about. two hours before they die.

That is a big life moment.

******

and I am interested in big life moments.

Always.
________________________________________________

 So thank you Martha. For your streamers. and your jazzy wardrobe bling. and for asking me every day if I saw Dancing With The Stars last night. Because even though I was stressed and sleep deprived, you never stopped being good to me. never stopped being interested. and never stopped telling me -

Get out of here.

You need to be making art.

___________________________________

From the beginning you said to me
"I'm taking this whole thing as a challenge."

and
You did.

Your strength and grace are examples that I will never forget.

____________________________________________________

I will also never forget your love for Adam Lambert. 

And the fact that you not only went to his concert and stood the entire time. 

but 

you wore black skinny jeans. boots. and bought the tour shirt.

Girl, his voice is butter and I will continue to preach on for the both of us!

______________________________________________________

Consider this a giant hug.