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.

And the collage goes on!

Tommy's drawing on top
A box piece I did Friday...something about Treasure and sour grapes.
Tommy's 3-d piece he did Thursday night
and a bunch of people who were at a Morean collage party last night!

Last night I was talking with a gal who said she wouldn't go to an Artpool event cause you have to pay to get in. Ironically, you had to pay to be at this collage party/beer tasting event and have to pay to see almost all the shows that the Art Center displays. So for the price of a movie and a snack you can go to a fabulous art party at the Artpool. And if you want to just see the art on a different day--that is FREE. So I think Artpool has more free art than the Morean... I'm just saying. You do the math.

Thursday night I had my collage party at the Morean!

Had a lovely time and was tickled pink over the people who showed up! Thanks friends!!
From Top to Bottom:
Food and Andrew Topel
Jim Morey and Coralette Damme
Jennifer Cox-Wunderlich and Marina Williams
Crumbcake #1
Cindy Linville and her boyfriend
Malcolm Johnson and Jorge Vidal
Jim Morey and CC#3 (Jim was her collage project)
Ted Zoellner
Crystal and Andrew Topel
Calan Ree and I

Saturday night opening of the Collage Party!

Yes, I had to go back Saturday night to see how things went opening night... arrived at about 7 pm and stayed until half past eight. I brought a few images from home, my exacto and my hot pink duct tape... cause you know I am a huge art nerd. I met a lovely couple who seemed to "get it." Maybe "get me." So I invited them to my Thursday night collage party... this Thursday at the Morean... from 6pm to 8 pm... be there or be square... or something like that. To be honest--I have no idea how many people might just turn up. I hope you all come though. I'm gonna do my best to have some hors d'oeuvres and drinks. One can never have enough friends, art and hors d'oeuvres!!

the Morean community collage project...

Friday was rainy, overcast and humid. Tommy and I headed over to the Morean Art Center to help Jorge Vidal install/set up the collage gallery. It will be a two week community event. I was somewhat shocked when Jorge told me to, "go to it" and I began putting things up on the walls. I was only laying a foundation for the masses to come and do what they pleased to it. So really... a rather meaningless job--and it's no wonder that he couldn't get some other local schlub to do it. But I believe in the idea of community art. And I believe in the idea that anyone can make art. I also just like being with people and creating something at the same time. Here are some pictures of the gallery at the end of the day... Tommy worked hard with Jorge stringing the yarn around the two poles. It was a tiresome day but at the end--I felt really good--like I lived in the moment. And that's all it was a moment in time.

My Moo and I went on a picnic together in downtown St. Petersburg

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