Happy Holidays: Art, Poetry, and Pink Hair Edition

Glenn wearing a fetching Prairie Schooner t-shirt with me posing with poinsettias

Happy Holidays, my friends. In my last post I talked about survival mechanisms that helped me during a terrible year. Among these things, I included art, poetry, and friends. In the last week, I tried to include all three! Hey, I can’t be all gloom and doom. Visited Redmond’s VALA for the Impact show, Creatura’s new animal-charity-and-pop-gothic-art shop in Capitol Hill, and had a poetry date with Kelli Agodon, where we talked about our new manuscripts-in-progress and Christmassed it up (Christmas as a verb!) Plus, I’ve decided to take the plunge and try pink hair for 2018! Something about getting diagnosed with MS makes you want to make a symbolic effort to take some control over your body, I think. Anyway, I don’t have any reason not to have pink hair these days. What, am I going to scare the neighbors? (Also snuck out to see the new Star Wars movie. Too long, but loved the crystal-salt-foxes.)

Also, I’ve got a new poem, “Self-Portrait as Escape Artist” in the newest issue of Rattle (modeled with Sylvia below), and I got a few new lit mag subscriptions for Christmas – including Prairie Schooner, whose t-shirt Glenn models here.

Poet Fun

It’s important for us to get together with friends around the holidays, which can feel too rushed to really appreciate, and do some things that affirm our love of art, poetry, lip gloss, etc.

Creatura

Managed to go check out Kirsten Anderson (formerly of Roq La Rue gallery) new project Creatura, which cleverly combines her love and support of animals and pop-surrealist-gothic art. I left with a little art pin and a pink skill bracelet. I’ll be back to see local artist’s work!

VALA

And went to Redmond’s VALA for their Impact show, four artists (including mastermind Jacqui Calledine) working for social justice. Fascinating stuff, and I got to catch up with several of my favorite artist friends!