Family of Friends

Inside/Outside Fluxfest at Printed Matter

photo by Ruud Janssen, Invite by Keith Buchholz

Last Friday I had the joy of performing in the Inside/Outside Fluxfest hosted by Printed Matter, Inc and Keith Buchholz. On the inside I read a poem by Ross Priddle. Ross said I could read one of his poems... of course it was the one on the "top of the pile." And the top of the pile that day was:

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
undated but, March 2008?
1) it would be a remarkable coincidence
1) there’s nothing lyrical about this (is there?)
1) a wheat penny
1) ophir (land of?)
1) you can see the gouge of the pen
1) feel free to be as cheesy as you wanna be
1) postally speaking
1) silly-type vispo
1) you gotta actually do it though (for full effect)
1) this is laser print? maybe?
1) just checkin’ to see if you’re still there
are you still there?
1) electronic contact
1) do you have elm trees there?
1) maianthemum?
1) prunus?
1) hand-made paper / home-made paper
1) give me an inch
1) evidence of climate change: pine beetle epidemic
1) Julyville
1) I want to get back in touch with you.
1) how’s it done? that’s all we wanna know.
1) reconnecting is possible


On the outside... I read ten of Poems by Richard C.
Here they are:

1st Poem:
I can't seem to find the right words.

2nd Poem:
Its on the tip of my tongue

3rd Poem:
I have the right to remain silent.

4th Poem:
Don't hold your breath.

5th Poem:
My mother used to say to me, if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything

6th Poem:
My mother also used to say, Whats the matter? The cat got your tongue?

7th Poem:
It's needless-to-say

8th Poem:
You took the words right out of my mouth.

9th Poem:
I'm thinking. I'm thinking.

10th Poem:
You know how it is.


I had a wonderful time with the group of performers there that night. Afterwards we went on to Katzs deli.

Lost along the way.

What is that thing
the thing everyone wants
the thing you broke

Stendhal Gallery: John Held's mail art collage piece

I made this after coming home from the Book about death show... so inspired by all those happenings in New York City... like meeting so many mail artists and meeting Bill Wilson and seeing his Ray Johnson collection and his May Wilson collection. Who would of thought that 7 months later this piece would be hanging in the Stendhal gallery as a part of a mail art collage piece by John Held? Originally mailed this to Bill Wilson. Bill gave it to Joel Cohen and Joel gave it to John Held... or at least that's the info I gathered...

Some mail art that I sent out... minus one piece... that has still yet to be mailed. Tomorrow Ted and I are leaving for the big Apple. It's going to be one of those HUGE mail art events... with a chance to meet people who I have only corresponded with...

I'll be performing at Printed Matter early Friday evening and then will be at the Katzs Deli... to attend a post-fluxus, post-NY, Choursbeedance meeting. Thursday night is the big Gaglione and Held show at the Maya Stendhal gallery...

I'm slightly nervous but also know that these are the people who I know and love and it's gonna be fun and it's gonna be good. Thank you Richard C. for letting me read a portion of your "Poems by Richard C." And thanks Ross Priddle for allowing me to read one of your poems. Wish you both could be there.

Hopefully I'll have something to report when I return. So long!

Sometimes I want to be Jack Bauer

Wow, that Jack... he sure saves the day, takes beating, electrocution, being shot, car accidents... and still--he keeps going. Jack Bauer is the ultimate man. He always knows exactly what to do. And for being a war ravaged soul... he still has a heart. Probably more unrealistic than any of us realize. Still, it's nice to have a goal in life...

Tomorrow I'm getting my hair done. It seems silly but it always makes me feel good about myself... I enjoy change. And with the hair I hope to make other changes in my life. What are those? I guess we'll all find out.

Next week I'm going to New York City. Seems to me that we'll be having a meeting at Katz's Deli... kicking it like Ray used to. I really can't believe how mail art has changed my life. I can't believe the people that I've met through the network of mail artists. I can't believe that I stood in Bill Wilson's basement and held Ray's work while drinking Bill's champagne. We are a strange lot of people. But we all share that love of mail. I feel so blessed to be a part of this group of dear friends. Can't wait to see you all next week.

Maybe I can bumble through life as JZ... or maybe I'll take the bull by the horns and be more Jack-like... either way... gonna attempt to save the day.

William Evertson

Today I received these lovely seed packets from Bill Evertson! They were a part of his recent exhibit at Mobius in Boston. SEE IT HERE.