a rare foray into fiction. it is currently an assignment for my creative writing class, and has yet to be turned in for the professor’s critique. so it may change. we’ll see.
hopefully, it takes you away from what you’re supposed to be doing for a moment or two…
i dream in black and white, you know
i dream of trying to run in waist-deep water
i dream of punching enemies with all my strength but nothing happens
i dream of wet hidden warm places surrounded by soft skin and gratitude
i dream of the end of the world
(i have a bag of chips, my wits, and a towel
armed thusly, my dear, we are safe)
i dream of newspapers as wallpaper yellowed from the effort it took
to tell me the president is dead
and the drive-thru lady knows i’m on the floor of the front seat
and the woods are NOT lovely, dark OR deep
they are rotten
and wet
and would not burn even if you doused them in gasoline
lit a match
tossed it in
walked away and
waited for the warmth
and when i dream the dream where i fall from great heights
i wake up
wondering
if i survived
from “bending light into verse” by jennifer tomaloff
there is a shack
in the woods
it is summer
there is preaching
it is hot
it is a saturday night
there is no dancing
but there is joy
but it is forced
and i can feel that piano’s pain
knowing there is a creek down the way
where a girl offered me her foot
and her brother said ok
and i laughed
we all laughed
and she took my picture
and wrote me a letter
and i didn’t understand it all
but i took it all in
took it at face value
let it wash over me like warm creek water that made her toes and ankles and knees look like
something out of the magazines my father thought he had hidden under the stairs
we were kids
and we were meant to learn things
in creeks and under stairs
not in pews
and like the piano in the corner
i couldn’t wait for someone to come pay attention to me
so we could whisper secrets while no one was looking
god is just a speed bump
placed in the path of every summer weekend
i can feel that piano’s pain
from the photo book “bending light into verse” by jennifer tomaloff
late november clouds
late afternoon
latent fingerprints pointing nowhere
a crime
the way
the day
has sucked the sunlight dry
leaving the cold grey
of bad dreams
& old movies
one of my pieces has been accepted into the juried art show “go figure” at artworks here in kenosha. i’m excited about this - to my knowledge, it is the first “juried” show i’ve been in. there’s a fee, and prizes, and simply submitting a piece does not guarantee that it will be shown. evidently, there were quite a few submissions from outside the kenosha/racine area, so i’m really looking forward to seeing how the show turns out!
the theme of the show is the human figure. and no, i won’t ruin the suspense by telling you which of my pieces got in!
the show will go up towards the end of march. opening reception is saturday, april 11, at artworks. the show is only up for a week after that, so don’t miss it….
couple of shows coming up from other people who excite me:
thursday, march 12, is pezzettino @ the 8th note at uw-milwaukee
saturday, march 21, is dave tomaloff @ the uncommon ground in chicago
saturday, march 28, is BONK! as usual
sunday, april 12, is dredg @ the empty bottle in chicago
saturday, april 18, is pezzettino @ shank hall in milwaukee. this is her cd release.
if you’re lame and can’t get out to see any of these folks, at least check them out online.
i’ve been busy. i have a couple galleries outside the kenosha/racine area that i’m trying to get work to. one in potsdam, new york, and one in waupaca, wi. also working on getting blank journals to a friend’s business in wauwatosa, wi. watch for more info when i get it.
READING:
“dark tower vi” by stephen king. this one is a little slow starting off, especially since i just want more of roland. and it’s getting weird, which i guess the whole series is, but it sometimes seems like my good buddy steve is doing some things that are a little too easy and convenient…. the jury is out. my favorites are #1, of course, and #4, which is all about roland after he became a gunslinger.
“the average american male” by chad kultgen. i’m not even going to try to explain it. just go read it.
“sailing fundamentals” by gary jobson. i need to learn to sail.
SEEING
“the wrestler“ holy shit. an amazing movie. and marsia tomei is WAY hotter than most women half her age.
“the shift“ like “the first 48,” these shows get to me.
HEARING
“‘59 sound” by the gaslight anthem. great melodies, great heart, great lyrics…. when i don’t think i can listen anymore, i find myself singing it at odd times. thanks, tomaloff, for turning me onto these guys….
it’s been a minute. much to catch up on - probably too much for this post. i keep telling myself i’ll be better.
chronologically, here’s what’s up:
this sunday, march 8, 1pm to at least 7pm, i’m taking part in a one-day-only art event in kenosha: the annual dorian gray art show. rhode opera house, 514 56th st kenosha. if you have a taste for the weird, this is the place for you! kenosha’s own dr destruction will be on hand, as will the wisconsin paranormal investigators (cue twilight zone theme….). more of a festival than an art show, i am looking forward to this!
next BONK! is march 28 at blueberries cafe, 522 6th st, racine. don’t miss it, fools.
june 13, i’m playing a music show at the 6th st theater. dave tomaloff has asked me to join him on the bill. it’s an honor, and i’ll be there. look for new songs i’ve been working on, as well as a little art for the walls.
august 7, at 7pm, we’re doing a poetry reading/art show/book release/really cool thing. myself, tomaloff, nick demske, and nicholas michael ravnikar will be doing a short set of our written works. this show is next to mcauliffe’s on the square, in the old uncorkt. there will be art everywhere,from a ton of different people. the art will only be up for one day. also on hand will be a hand-bound, hand-made book (kinda like these) containing a few pieces from the above-named group of dudes. these will not be around for long, so get down there, catch us reading, grab a book, and head for the hills. for those in the know, august 7 is a first friday in downtown racine, too. i’m sure the event will be something not soon forgotten.
be well!
this is the page of paintings from my old website. there are some of the same paintings, but some old pieces. have fun….old art page
i just got hooked up with etsy, an online store for artists. i’m selling my handmade blank journals. i’ve only got three listed now, but i’ll be listing more (i’ve got about 30 made). i’ll also have my poetry book available. check it out: