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Burning Man 2008 on Vimeo

September 17, 2008

While a video can never really give you the feeling of Burning Man, this one gives you a 10 minute hint, saves you from the dust storms, and shows you some of the highlights from the 2008 Burn in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada.

I hear from nilaNorthSun that 2008 was her best Burn from the last 8 years, even with the dust storm and the lack of fire dancers (read the poem on her blog above to get an idea why!!).

Here’s hoping next year will be my 11th Burn!

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Burning Man 2008 on Vimeo“, posted with vodpod

Moon Muses 2

September 15, 2008

Moon Muses

In winter you reach
across my bed
bounce off the mirror.
Pine needles frame your face.
We bundle deep in down
and creamy flannel
warm the night.

In spring you tease
rain shuts you out
from my rumpled bed.
You whisper to plant peas.
Your smile surprises me.
I hoot your name with the owls.

In summer you’re masked
most nights by fog.
Your scent spills through
my bedroom window
into my bed:
night blooming jasmine
earth sweat cooling.
I fantasize in your absence.

In fall you peek
exposed legs, entwined
sand dunes of white cotton.
Tomorrow lions and elephants
might trek the savannah
cross our mountains, valleys.
To lie in your light
I nudge him over.
His eyes reflect your shine.
Blankets thrown off
my hand on his curves
we glisten and glow.

Moon I keep my curtains open for you.

ArtLife Limited Editions published Moon Muses in its 19th anniversary issue, Dec. 1999 (see cover below).

For the broadside, I infused the lace in jasmine essential oil so when people opened the page, it was like opening the window and having the summery smell come in. The lace curtains are held open with brads, and glued along the “curtain rod”. Reading the poem required “opening” the curtains, becoming both the speaker in the poem and the moon.

I chose this poem in honor of tonight’s full moon, and the moon in the poems by Paul Squires and e.e. cummings (see previous post).

if i was (2) by Paul Squires

September 15, 2008

if i was (2) by Paul Squires

September 10, 2008 ·

e.e.cummings i would wrought you
a poemthingy of soft bent iron like
garden gates tilted open by age and
as you approached there would be
(scented like sweet tea ambrosia
oceans and tulips are you)
a whispering, amazing,
and, ,gone just before falling asleep
to the sound of rain on roof sound
(you tasting like desert moon
and bumblebee song)
the gates would sigh like old
philosophers knowing they knew
not the carpentry artistry, gone,
and, ,amazing and sink
to the groundsky
defeated by dew,

by Paul Squires http://hello.wordpress.com

On Mondays I usually post poetry–mine, either something I wrote previously, or something new. But today I decided to do something different and post a favorite poem by my favorite writer on the web, Paul Squires who posts poetry and poetic prose at his blog “hello”. He also has lots of podcasts, books for sale, and he sells his poems on t-shirts via CafePress as well as organizing web-based anthology of Contemporary Poetry and the collaborative poetry space, The Orchid Room. So go check him out!

This may become a weekly feature–a poem by a poet I am reading which I want to share.

Sometime later today I will post a poem of mine (“Moon Muses”). In the meantime, enjoy the poem above by Paul and the poem below by ee cummings. In searching through 100 selected poems by e.e. cummings to find one to post here, I fall in love again with the familiar, the favorites (“in Just–/spring,” “i like my body when it is with your body,” and “may i feel said he“), and feel joy to find again his wondrous ways with words in poems less well known like the one I chose:

here’s to opening and upwards,to leaf and to sap
and to your(in my arms flowering so new)
self whose eyes smell of the sound of rain

and here’s to silent certainly mountains;and to
a disappearing poet of always,snow
and to morning:and to morning’s beautiful friend
twilight(and and first dream called ocean)and

let must or if be damned with whomever’s afraid
down with ought with because with every brain
which thinks it thinks,nor dares to feel(but up
with joy; and up with laughing and drunkeness)

here’s to one undiscoverable guess
of whose mad skill each world of blood is made
(whose fatal songs are moving in the moon

ouroboros: submit to new on-line literary and art journal

September 12, 2008

Details here

Christine Swint and Jo Hemmant have announced a new poetry and art journal called ouroboros with a temporary home at ouroboros blog where you can find out about submission guidelines and the kinds of poems and artwork that interest them.

This is not to be confused with homouroboros, the zoetrope in the photo at the top of the page!

The project will have a web site, with four online issues a year, as well as two print issues, and a book down the road.

“We hope that all the talented poets and artists whose blogs we read everyday will consider submitting their poems, paintings, and photos to our journal,” encourages Christine.

I look forward to submitting!

And speaking of submissions, GuerrillaReads is interested in my latest iMovie Shishilop Project 9/3/08–but they’ve asked me to retape it to mitigate some of the wind noise and camera movement. Now if I can just schedule a nice sunset, no fog, with little or no wind at a time when the seabirds are talking back, and the cyclists and pedestrians are cruising by! I’ll let you know when it’s up on my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/theartpredator and you can tell me which one you like better! (and please subscribe to my channel while you’re there!)

Sonnet for September 11

September 11, 2008

Sonnet for September 11

thursday i listen to radiohead Read more…

3 More Broadsides Added!

September 11, 2008
Art Life Broadside "Shadowside"
Art Life Broadside

I have been scurrying around my blog sorting through all my old posts searching for all my poetry to put on this one page here. I’ve also been scanning and adding broadsides to posts that needed them. These are broadsides that I created from 1996-2004 for ArtLife Limited Editions; many of them are posted here.And I still have more broadsides–I made over 3 dozen and I’ve posted about one third now–so there are more to come!

For the complete text of the poem above, “Impressions from the Shadowside” which was published in Art Life August 1997, and a some of the story behind making the body print ala Yves Klein, go here.

ArtLife published this broadside, “Celebrate” in its 200 issue; you can read the text there and some of the story behind making the body art print. Below is the cover of that issue:

Yes, that’s clay and wire mesh. These magazines were truly amazing pieces of art. Many of us who participated over the years made elaborate pages consuming many hours and material resources!

One of the goals of the publication was to show both the mind and the hand of the artist. While some of the poets, especially in the years I participated, made their own pages or collaborated with artists (for example friday lubine and michael row or the Sullivans, Kevin Patrick and Patty) toward the end, poetry editor Phil Taggart made most of them which enabled fabled poets like Sharon Doubiago and others (like Michael Bauer) to participate.

I found creating a visual medium to go with my poetry a wonderful intellectual and artistic challenge. Many of my pieces integrated the physical use of my body in some way–like the body paintings, whether I did impressions like above, or had someone paint or henna my pregnant body. I also enjoyed adding the “hand” part–how could it be more than just a copy? How could the “hand” of the artist be revealed as well as the mind? So for example adding the Valentine candies to the collage “I was thinking about getting a dog” in the previous post or sand and glow in the dark stars to “Redemption/Navigation.”

I posted one more broadside previously, “Doors (text and story here),” published in ArtLife May 1997, and added this broadside to that post today:

The broadsides are available from me for purchase; you can buy back issues of ArtLife here

If you want to keep up with my poetry, my art, or my wild and wonderful adventures through life, please subscribe to my blog or to my channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/theartpredator

I was thinking about getting a dog: a poem dedicated to Sarah Palin and her daughter Bristol

September 10, 2008

I was thinking about getting a dog
(published ArtLife Limited Editions 2003)

A dog would listen for me, watch for me
wait for me. When I come home, he would
cover my face in kisses. We would go
for walks and drives in the car, camping.
I would like to have
a dog.

Instead I am walking down the aisle
of the drugstore past the Valentine’s
75 per cent off all the way
to where they keep the condoms, the tampons,
the pregancy tests.

I see I am wearing my name tag from work.
The store is empty, quiet. It is late,
rainy. I take my name tag off.
I am thinking about getting
a dog.

The drugstore brand is $3 cheaper
than the national brand. For $3 more
I can get a package with two tests.
I don’t want to need two tests. The package
is large in my left hand, my left hand bare
of a wedding ring. The sleeve of my
rain jacket doesn’t quite cover. I am
still too embarrassed to just buy tampons.
To buy condoms I have to buy something
else need to be carrying something else.
I have plenty of tampons. Condoms too.

On the long walk to the register I
stop on the Valentine’s 75
percent off aisle–pick up a heart covered
wine bag: three heart candles: BE MINE, LOVE YA
KISS ME; a red spice candle; some pink
paper cups; a heart garland. This is the
story I want the young man at the
counter to believe–one with champagne
in paper cups, candlelight, roses, kisses.
At his register, I hide my left hand.

Out of nowhere, a line forms behind me.
He is new and stumbles. Another clerk
guides him, shows him how to scan the test. There
is some confusion about the Valentine’s
and how to get the 75Z
percent off. People in line smile at the
profusion of hearts and the test kit that
go into the drugstore bag. In the car
driving to his house, I put the gifts and
the test in the wine bag, place it on his
dinner table. No more Valentine’s gifts

he says. I don’t need any more Valentine’s.
Open it, I ask after dinner. In
the morning I know I am not getting
a dog.

I dedicate this poem to Sarah Palin and her daughter Bristol. We all three had the choice of keeping a surprise pregnancy. All three of us were unmarried when we discovered we were pregnant. Sarah and I rushed to get married (she in August with an April birth barely 8 months later; me in April with a November birth). Bristol is planning her wedding now (if she needs a wedding blogger, I am available!)

There are some huge differences, however.

I was 41 when I found out I was pregnant. The Big Monkey, who was also 41, was in the process of moving in, and we were talking about marriage. We had a cake topper with a wire sculpture of a naked ecstatic man and woman holding hands, the woman with a smiling baby in her giant tummy). I had exercised my right to choice earlier in my life, and I recognize it is a choice. Sarah Palin describes Bristol as choosing to have this child yet is not a supporter of abortion rights; given the opportunity, she will deny the right to choice for others that she, her daughter, and myself currently have. Advocating abstinence absolutely doesn’t work. We all know this.

As a conceptual artist, I wrote and did art with my burgeoning belly. To see two of these broadsides and to read those poems go here. Other poetry about being a mom can be found here.

On a lighter note, actor/writer Julie Brown has been creating a series of hilarious videos. She’s spot on as Sarah Palin:

more Palin Palaver: Caribou Barbie or Malibu Barbie here and Caribou Barbie Q in a bikini and with a dead caribou here

Sarah Palin aka Caribou Barbie: surrender Iraq or we’ll BBQ you with the caribou!

September 10, 2008
surrender Iraq or else we'll BBQ you with the caribou!

surrender Iraq or else?

What’s your caption?

Ay yi yi I can’t help it! I had to post this picture of Seccessionist Sarah Palin poolside holding a rifle wearing a bikini. My friend Eric Werb forwarded with the tag line: “Surrender Iraq!! Or you’ll have to come to Thanksgiving Dinner!” Caribou on the menu?

I think Caribou Barbie is saying: “Surrender Iraq or we’ll BBQ you with the caribou!”

or? Supply your caption in the comments below!

My new nickname for Sarah Palin: Caribou Barbie Q…What’s your favorite?

photo from the LA Times
I saw this in the LA Times a few days ago: A HUNTING TROPHY: In this undated photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and one of her daughters pose with a caribou she shot. A woman in an exceedingly macho state, Palin has not always been taken seriously. But opponents cross her at their peril. (Associated Press) August 30, 2008

I’m still voting for Malibu Barbie–and I don’t mean Cindy McCain!!!. I think the real Malibu Barbie’s a vegan or at least a vegetarian (I’m sure Skipper convinced her.)

And I promise to try to not take any more cheap shots at poor Sarah Palin. At least not until I look better than she does in that bikini.

BTW, the best place to go for all things Palin from someone who knows Alaskan Politics, from the mudflats of Wasilla (population 9,000 plus caribou alive and dead), and we’re talking serious news as well as laughs, go to Mudflats.wordpress,com

Back to business! UPCOMING posts:

–3 more poetry broadsides!
–info on a cool new blog to submit poetry and art to!
–3:15 Experiment 2008 poems! (Almost done transcribing!)
–cool fall literary and cultural events to calendar!

How to “get” Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other forms of on-line social networking

September 9, 2008

People who don’t blog don’t always “get” blogging and make fun of those of us who do. What they don’t realize is that the info they are using–the recipe they bake, the poem which delights, the information they need–often comes from a form of a web site called a “blog.”  By the same token, people who aren’t on facebook or twitter often don’t understand the value of these forms of social networking. I was there too until I read this blog post about a NY Times article on blogging.

Until November when I started mine, I was in the ranks of those who dismissed “blogs.” Now I have several blogs in various stages of development (Art Predator, Wine Predator, The Write Alley, A Tale of Two Cities, Wedding Blogger and Ghost Blogger 4 Hire) and I can honestly say blogging has changed my life, providing me with a huge audience (nearly 25,000 page views from all over the world) for my words, ideas, my poetry.

I know from checking my blog stats that I do a service, that people find information that they need and they want. In the last 10 months, Read more…

OH NO MR BILL!

September 9, 2008

It is likely you’ve been to my blog before. If so, you may have noticed a change, a BIG change. As in OOPS! As in what happened to the header photo of the Art Predator at Burning Man 2007?

I was trying to find a theme which would be easier to read per reader request since the black with small white text gets tiring. When wham! Header gone!

This was a test, only a test of this theme. However, it now seems to be entranced with my blog and I can’t interrupt the burgeoning romance just yet.

I hope to return to regular broadcasting soon with my distinctive Burning Man 2007 image coasting across the top of my blog.

The good news is, this theme is much easier to read and while I was up struggling with this, rather than in bed sleeping, I won tickets on KCRW to see Michael Franti and Spearhead, also Ozomatli, Lila Downs, and Nortec Collective at the Hollywood Bowl in LA Sunday Sept. 21 at 7pm. Should be an awesome show! For a Micheal Franti sample, click below:

UPDATE: The header is back and I may have found a new theme. What do you think? Should I go back to the old dramatic black background which shows off images? or stay with the new softer easier to read but less edgy model? I wish I could remember how to do screen shots and show you the various themes I tried!

art predator

art predator )'( seek to engage the whole soul

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