Michael McClure, Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg © Larry Keenan
Rutland Herald –-
On the value of physical community endeavor in an age of do-it-yourself Internet democratization. With consideration of Meliora, a new community arts space opening in Bellows Falls, Vt., and Maria Muldaur at the Bellows Falls Opera House. Published in the November 12, 2009 edition.
Tackling Gospel Night at Latchis Theater, the one-year anniversary of The Starving Artist Collective, and a first attempt at a Southern Vermont Food Summit, all under the banner of old-fashioned cultural and creative practice remaining germane. Published in the November 5, 2009 edition.
An ode to the tragedy and brilliance of a true bohemian existence wholly dedicated to creativity: contemporary portrait painter Alice Neel. Published in the October 29, 2009 edition.
A snapshot of Celtic folk guitarist and U.N. Delegate Kelly Moore, a quirky, passionate man on a humanitarian mission to end hunger through music. Published in the October 22, 2009 edition.
Analysis of the public’s fascination with the mysteries and nuances of creative technique and the societal importance of occasionally exposing them. With consideration of figurative painter Ralph DeAnna at Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, historian Tyler Resch at Robert Frost Stone House Museum and the Media Mentoring Project under editor Jeff Potter. Published in the October 15, 2009 edition.
Exploring the effect of the natural landscape on the creative mind, and the emotional abstractionism possible in landscape painting. Published in the October 8, 2009 edition.
On C. X. Silver Gallery and its sister program, the Asian Cultural Center of Vermont, the only educational arts organization of its kind in the second least ethnically diverse state in the country. Published in the October 1, 2009 edition.
Tackling the question, "Is art that sticks to tradition losing meaning/relevance in a postmodern context?" With consideration of Southern Vermont Art Center's National Fall Open Exhibition, Maidens IV early Celtic music at Stone Church, and "Topography of Time: Photographs by Suzanne Flynt and Sam Pettengill” at Vermont Center for Photography. Published in the September 24, 2009 edition.
Examining the idea that culture has become a sourly manifested version of our own previous pop visions of it, resulting in relative apathy; the theory is framed against the context of Vermont's Art of Action tour, wherein ten premier artists were chosen to explore scenarios relating to the state's sociopolitical future. Published in the September 17, 2009 edition.
Concerning how tragedy informs deeper understanding of self and social reality and compels creative communication. With consideration of Italian Baroque painter Artemesia Gentlischi, Alex Haley’s “Roots,” Elie Wiesel’s "Night," and three upcoming arts events of note. Published in the September 10, 2009 edition.
An ode to the intricately bound sense of community within public music, with focus on a three-day festival in its tenth year, moe.down in Turin, N.Y. Published in the September 3, 2009 edition.
Concerning the correlation between the desire for religious revelation and the desire for artistic revelation, in the context of the Starving Artist Collective’s first annual Burnt Norton Summer Forum on the conjunction of arts and faith. Published in the August 27, 2009 edition.
On the sprawling “H2O: Film on Water” traveling multimedia arts exhibit exploring the connection of water to our lives. Published in the August 20, 2009 edition.
Comically theorizing about stereotypical personalities in the art world--painters, musicians, filmmakers, writers-—and appreciating the less-flash literary aesthetic. Published in the August 13, 2009 edition.
A treatise on metaphysics and art’s conscious exploration of an unsure reality, with special consideration of a 50+-piece sculpture exhibit by Diane Sullivan at Bennington Museum and paintings by Anne Eaton Parker and Ralph DeAnna at Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. Published in the August 6, 2009 edition.
On the human species’ penchant for fascination with the naked body, the essential value of figure drawing and the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center’s three-day celebration of both. Published in the July 30, 2009 edition.
Examining the relatively recent socioeconomic concept of “creative economy” and how area festivals fit into the structure. The first installment of my recently promoted column, now running weekly as opposed to biweekly, with a word-count increase and free rein over coverage. Published in the July 23, 2009 edition.
On the Marlboro Music Festival, celebrating its 59th year. Published in the July 16, 2009 edition.
Taking stock of the radical sociopolitical changes that American theatre underwent in the 1920s, and highlighting director Jonathan Silverstein’s production of era playwright George S. Kaufman’s Merton of the Movies. Published in the July 6, 2009 edition.
On the 10th installment of the roots, acoustic, blues and folk festival featuring folk legend Fred Eaglesmith, Roots on the River. Includes an examination of the “Fredhead” phenomenon, Eaglesmith's loyal legion of fans who follow from show to show. Published in the June 11, 2009 edition.
On Coleman Barks, renowned translator of Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet. Published in the May 14, 2009 edition.
Lamenting literature as a lost art within today's attention-deficient cyberculture, and positing the Manchester and the Mountains Poets and Writers Weekend as an effort to recapture the luster of the written word. Published in the April 23, 2009 edition.
Concerning Vermont’s tendency toward similar, Eurocentric musical genres, the suffocation this can bring to the entertainment milieu and modern blues master Evan Goodrow temporarily alleviating both. Published in the April 2, 2009 edition.
On Stan Ridgway, the cult-following noir folk singer and film score composer. Published in the March 19, 2009 edition.
Concerning an exhibition of stylized paintings using traditional Russian and Egyptian symbolism, entitled Windows to the Divine. Published in the January 2, 2009 edition.
An ode to the legendary Christmas season in wintry New England. Published in the December 18, 2008 edition.
On the 1918 Puccini opera Suor Angelica. Published in the December 4, 2008 edition.
Barack Obama’s promises for change, the current quagmire in Iraq and international political strategist Peter Galbraith discussing both. Published in the November 20, 2008 edition.
Arguing for the arts as a tool in the revitalization of ailing economies, as opposed to the prevailing notion that during times of economic strife, arts get less attention. Using former mill town Bellows Falls, Vt., as the cornerstone example. Published in the November 13, 2008 edition.
On folk guitarist Richard Thompson, of Fairport Convention, and Peter Blanchette, inventor of the 13-string archguitar. Published in the October 23, 2008 edition.
A history and analysis of Vermont's music and festival scene. Published in the October 2, 2008 edition.
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Stop Smiling: The Magazine for High-Minded Lowlifes --
Feature interview with actor Edward Norton, star of films 25th Hour, Fight Club and American History X. Published in the December 2006 issue.
Q&A with exiled Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland on the event of her latest film. Published in the November 2006 issue.
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The Commons --
On the Sufi-inspired, psychedelic, Persian-American rock of Haale, in anticipation of a benefit concert for Making the Most of I, an organization for at-risk women. Published in the September 2009 edition.
Report of the 59th season of the renowned Marlboro Music Festival chamber and orchestral series. Published in the August 2009 edition.
Report of an unusual festival celebrating technical skill in rendering the human form. Published in the August 2009 edition.
A rundown of the 40th annual Yellow Barn Music Festival in Putney, Vt., focusing on chamber music by amateur players. Published in the August 2009 edition.
NOMINATED FOR BEST HUMAN INTEREST FEATURE STORY in the New England Newspaper and Press Association's 2009 Better Newspaper Contest!!! ☚
A memoir of my time spent with the racist, sexist, homophobic cult called the Twelve Tribes, whose primary headquarters are in New England but who are active all over the world. During a year that I spent traveling--volunteering on organic farmsteads through the organization World Widewide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF), a Twelve Tribes member lied to me, stating that their property was a WWOOF farm seeking volunteers. The ugliness that resulted is told in detail in this highly controversial piece that began a clamor across southeastern Vermont. Please check the “News and Appearances” page for full details of the ongoing controversy, including links to the response letters written by a cult member and the group's lawyer, and to the two threads on iBrattleboro.com that were started solely for heated discussion of the piece. Published in the June 2009 edition.
On the politics of booking household-name and otherwise widely recognized acts in today’s music industry. Published in the June 2009 edition.
A first-hand, in-the-streets account of President Barack Obama's historic inauguration. Published in the February 2009 edition.
Report of the ongoing debate surrounding Vermont’s use of nuclear power, on the event of state legislature voting whether to grant the power plant another 20 years of operation beyond 2012. Published in the February 2009 edition.
Report of the aftermath of a startling hate crime enacted by youth in the typically liberal and community-focused town of Brattleboro, Vermont. Published in the January 2009 edition.
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Chicago Innerview --
features
Cover story with chanteuse Tori Amos on the event of her album American Doll Posse. Published in the November 2007 issue.
Feature interview with DJ/producer duo U.N.K.L.E. on the event of their album War Stories. Published in the October 2007 issue.
Feature interview with emcee M1 of hip-hop duo Dead Prez. Published in the June 2006 issue.
previews
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Time Out Chicago --
feature
Interview with Stones Throw label founder and hip-hop DJ Peanut Butter Wolf, aka Chris Manak. Published in Issue 87, October 26-November 1, 2006.
preview
review
- "In Rotation" / Boom Bip, bUMPS, DJ Kentaro, and Aja West and Friends / Issue 120, June 14-20, 2007
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Newcity --
Interview with sculptress Christine Tarkowski on the event of her show Imitatio Dei at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Published in the October 10, 2006 edition.
November 26, 2006 installment of a rotating column about Chicago events of note. Concerning an Imagist group exhibition at Corbett vs. Dempsey gallery.
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Home Grown Music Network –-
features
Q&A with Dave Hamilton, lead singer and guitarist for roots rock 6-piece 56 Hope Road. Published June 11, 2007.
Q&A with Yorg Kerasiotis, lead singer and keyboardist for organic electronica band Bump. Published May 10, 2007.
Q&A with Eric Noble, the Midwest’s premier promoter in the roots rock and festival scene. Published February 28, 2007.
Review of the May 25-27, 2006, Minnesota music festival put on by jamband elder statesmen Big Wu. Includes an interview with Big Wu founding member, lead singer and bassist Andy Miller. Published July 16, 2006.
review
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HonestMag. --
This is a PDF download of our inaugural issue, Fall 2005. Between pages 8 and 16 of the PDF, corresponding to pages 8-25 of the magazine, you can find my work as film editor.
- Cover story with experimental noise artist/screenwriter/director Jennifer Todd Reeves, pages 14-23.
- “A Headz Up for Your Inner Cinephile,” a what-to-look-for feature, pages 24-25.
- Two articles by excellent writers in my stable: “Hollywood Clichés—Jabbing at Idiots,” by Paul Morie, and “Reel Exposure—Invisible Cinema,” by Jessica Jackson. Front-of-section, pages 8-13. Topics chosen and shaped by me, final edits by me.
* Though a PDF, this is worth downloading. It’s a fun, visually expressive magazine full of youthful arts criticism and urban sensibility. A grassroots labor of love that I am proud to say I was in on the ground floor with!
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