2016-04 5enses by 5enses

An exclusive interview with JEFF GRUBERT about the

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ALAN DEAN FOSTER takes a bite outta (food science) crime P.10

APRIL 2016 | VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 | 5ENSESMAG.COM

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5enses

April MMXVI • Volume IV, Issue IV

Mara Kack

In which:

4 5 6 7 10 + 11 5/6 12 8/9 13 6/17 14 22

Peter Pierson

talks about recovery, Prescott, and a new ﬁlm festival with Jeﬀ Grubert.

Paolo Chlebecek

stops at a red light and hears the familiar, witchy song of a yellow bird

foots the bill for a new cell service that might lead to change, literally

Peregrine Book Co. staﬀ

Markoﬀ Chaney

goes to the movies, to the forest (twice), horseback riding, & dresses up

Kelley Villa

has a word with the reclusive, elusive artist responsible for “that one piece”

Delisa Myles

radiates knowledge about a veggie whose planting is a blush from harvest

Alan Dean Foster

16 18 19 20

Robert Blood

stalks a ﬂower that smells as sweet as a rose and is often pretty in pink

asks an age-old questions and dances around a community of answers

smells something ﬁshy and has a hard time swallowing labeling subterfuge

James Dungeon

Let’s dance Tango Lab Mondays 5:45-6:45 pm Swing Tuesdays 6:15 pm intermediates,

6:45 pm fundamentals, 7:30 pm open dance

Salsa Casino Rueda

1st & 3rd Wednesday 7-8 pm

Argentine Tango Thursday 5:30 pm Salsa Sundays 7-9 pm ($8) ~ Cost: $10/class ~

Discount packs@ www.flyingneststudio.com/social

Visit flyingneststudio.com & Facebook for more

| info@flyingneststudio.com | 928-432-3068 | 322 W. Gurley Street |

Flip Photo

Discover events around Greater Prescott via a pop-sci metaphor

Word Herd

whimsical wordplay & imaginative etymology by Brian Lemcke

visits a neighbor then drops by the Sedona Open Studios Tour

Ty Fitzmorris

COVER IMAGES, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Chalk art by BK Lyons; owl painting by Mary Lois Brown; “Cockscomb” photo by Grazina Wade. Courtesy images. See pp. 11-13 for more.

Left Brain/Right Brain

grabs his binoculars and visits the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival

James Dungeon

~ CIRCULUS VITIOSUS ~

A visually stimulating puzzle by the Highlands Center for Natural History

pounds pavement and marks a space for Prescott’s Chalk it Up! weekend

Robert Blood

Copyright © 2016 5enses Inc. unless otherwise noted Publisher & Editor: Rev. Nicholas M. DeMarino M.A., P.M. Copy Editor: Susan Smart Contact us at 5ensesMag@Gmail.Com & 928-613-2076 Visit 5ensesMag.Com, Facebook, Twitter, & ISSUU for more

Oddly Enough

Smart, quirky comics about the strange-but-true by Russell Miller

springs into high gear in preparation for nature’s biodiverse bounty

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5ENSESMAG.COM • APRIL 2016 • CONTENTS • 3

Plant of the Month

Palmer’s Penstemon Every animal has a story to tell and a lesson to teach. SPRING HouRS: 10 am - 4 pm open 365 days a year!

1403 Heritage Park Rd.; Prescott, AZ 86301 • www.HeritageParkZoo.org Phone: 928.778.4242 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by the community.

4 • FEATURE • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Palmer’s Penstemon. Photo by Sue Smith, of Yavapai county Native & Naturalized Plants.

By Mara Kack almer’s Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) is delightful. The white to pink flowers are in clusters on tall, upright flower stalks. The individual flowers are large-mouthed with two upper lobes and three magenta-lined lower lobes that curve downward. Flower spikes can be 4-5 feet in height and bear many flowers. Have you noticed tall spikes of white to pink flowers in April or May along roadsides? Most likely, you saw Palmer’s Penstemon. If you sniff a flower, you’ll be rewarded with an exquisite rose-like fragrance. This explains another common name, scented penstemon. Flowers of Palmer’s Penstemon attract hummingbirds, bumblebees, carpenter bees, and digger bees. Flower visitors like hummingbirds who collect nectar are usually better for a flower’s health, because no pollen is consumed. Hummingbirds forage for nectar and inadvertently transfer pollen from one flower to another on their foreheads. Some floral visitors, like bumblebees, actively collect pollen to feed to their developing young. Balls of pollen are often visible on the legs of foraging bumblebees. This pollen is a loss to the flowers.

enstemons generally have four stamens but some have a ﬁfth, sterile stamen, called the staminode. The staminode is larger than the fertile stamens and frequently bears bristles on the upper surface of its distal end, therefore another common name, beardtongue. The staminode is thought to play a role in pollination. Palmer’s Penstemon is a droughttolerant plant that grows best in well-drained soils. It can provide good ground cover for controlling erosion and stabilizing disturbed and burned sites. It is a short-lived perennial but readily reseeds itself. In and around Prescott, it’s found in interior chaparral, Pinyon-juniper, and Ponderosa Pine communities from 3,400 to 6,500 feet. It’s found in the western United States from Wyoming south to New Mexico and westward to California. ***** Mara Kack, education director at the Highlands Center for Natural History, grew up in Prescott surrounded by its natural wonder and now teaches through science and nature to inspire new wonder in current and future generations. Visit the Highlands Center for Natural History at 1375 Walker Road, 928776-9550, or HighlandsCenter.Org.

Bird of the Month

Common Yellowthroat Common Yellowthroat. Photo by John West.

By Peter Pierson ou might be one of the many who ﬁnd themselves driving north on Miller Valley Road, stopping at a red light at Whipple. As temperatures rise, you might roll your window down to take in the season’s aﬃrming breeze and warm sun, idling at the light. On your right, on the southeast corner of that intersection, willows are in spring bloom. Just as the light turns to green, you hear a rolling, melodic witchety-witchety-witchety-witch from the lush growth alongside the busy street. It’s the song of the common yellowthroat, right here in this tiny urban sanctuary. A member of the family Parulidae, this New World, or wood, warbler is at home in the lush green undergrowth of marshes and sedges from the Gulf Coast to the edge of the Arctic. Like other birds dependent exclusively on the green corridors and small islands of wetlands here in the arid Southwest, its colorful plumage and vibrant song stands out in our diminishing riparian ecosystems.

he male yellowthroat is easily identiﬁed (when you can catch a glimpse of it) by following its song among the dense green-

ery of its home. A small songbird, typical of the warblers, its distinct black mask, rimmed by white along the head and neck, and brilliant yellow throat against an olive-green body easily sets it apart from most other songbirds in its range. Its song, though, oﬀers an unmistakable clue to birders of any ability. The common yellowthroat’s song is one of those bird tunes that’s practically a perfect onomatopoeia: witchetywitchety-witchety-witch. Now that you know it, you’ll probably pick it out of the din, perhaps alongside a busy urban intersection in the heart of Prescott. In our area, look, and listen, for the not-all-too-common in our region yellowthroat in riparian undergrowth along our lower elevation waterways. The yellowthroat has been regularly seen and heard through recent breeding seasons at the edge of the wetland ponds in Watson Woods Riparian Preserve. ***** Peter Pierson is a freelance writer whose essay work has been published for a variety of print media and produced and broadcast for KAXE-Northern (Minnesota) Community Radio and CBC Radio One across Canada. Visit Prescott Audubon Society at PrescottAudubon.Org. Contact them at Contact@PrescottAudubon.Org.

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Who’s catching lizards for their oﬀspring this spring?

5ENSESMAG.COM • APRIL 2016 • FEATURE • 5

Peregrine Book Co.

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Roadrunner!

he Greater Roadrunners are characteristic and inquisitive birds. They are the biggest cuckoo in North America, with long and distinctive legs, tail, neck, and slightly down curved bill, all topped with a short crest of feathers. They are true to their name, spending the majority of their time running along the ground as they hunt for a variety of small animals, including lizards and snakes, even rattlesnakes. In spring a mating pair works together to build a nest; where the male brings sticks to the female who constructs the nest. Photo by Al Lodwick.

6 • FEATURE • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Catered by Reva Sherrard “As You Wish” By Cary Elwes There’s a shortage of perfect behind-the-scenes memoirs in the world. It would be a (very great) pity to let this one pass you by. I literally wept with laughter. — Reva “Wizard’s First Rule” By Terry Goodkind The first book in one of the greatest fantasy series ever conceived, “Wizard’s First Rule” is the story of a woodsman who suddenly finds himself called to overthrow a god-king and save a continent (and that’s just book 1 of 11). Goodkind’s work strikes an elusive balance between philosophy, humor, and character-oriented worldbuilding that surpasses all but the best of the genre; a must-read for any fan of epic fantasy. — Sean “The Mare” By Mary Gaitskill In her latest novel, her first in 10 years, Gaitskill writes in her distinctive, lyrical style about a Dominican girl, the Anglo woman who introduces her to riding, and the horse who changes everything. A raw and candid comingof-age story, “The Mare” is one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a while! — Michaela

“The Man Who Planted Trees” By Jim Robbins There is still much to learn about the abilities of trees. How do they die? Communicate? Protect themselves and other trees? Robbins writes about an average man, David Milarch, whose extraordinary mission is to clone the largest, oldest, and most resilient trees in the world. As the planet drastically changes, both Robbins and Milarch advocate that trees and forests are essential to the planet’s survival. — Emma “Worn Stories” By Emily Spivack Just like us, our clothes have stories to tell. From bathrobes ﬁrst worn at a boyfriend’s apartment then worn through a marriage and the birth of two children, to leg warmers worn before each performance by a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet, these stories illuminate the love we have for certain pieces of clothing we own because of the memories and comforts associated with them. — Lacey

***** Visit Peregrine Book Company at PeregrineBookCompany.Com and 219A N. Cortez St., Prescott, 928-445-9000.

Vegetable of the Month

Radish Radishes. Photo by Elena Greenberg.

By Kelley Villa he radish (Raphanus sativus) is a member of the Brassicaceae family. Its relatives include kale, broccoli, turnips, and horseradish. The name radish comes from the Latin word for root, radix. The spicy or peppery flavor of radishes comes from their skin. Radishes are thought to have originated in China, but they were also grown in Greece and Egypt. They were so highly valued that they were dipped in gold and offered to the Greek gods. Citizens of Oaxaca, Mexico celebrate La Noche de los Rábanos every Dec. 23 by carving radishes into intricate designs. Here in Yavapai County, radishes can be grown during the spring and fall, preferring milder temperatures. Our farmers grow several varieties, including light green and bright pink watermelon, white daikon, red, purple, pink and black. Radishes grow quickly (about 30 days) so they are great for firsttime gardeners. They are ready to harvest when they’re about one inch in diameter.

hoppers should choose radishes that are smooth and ﬁrm with bright green leaves. Separate the root from the greens before

washing and storing in the refrigerator. Consume them two to three days after purchase for best flavor. If you miss that window, they can be freshened in a bowl of ice water. Considering their small size, radishes are packed with nutrients — fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, B6, niacin, potassium and folate — not to mention lots of water. We typically eat the fleshy taproot of radishes, but peppery radish greens can be used wherever leafy greens are called for, including pesto. The light pink flowers are also edible and make a beautiful salad addition. Radishes can be pickled and stored in the refrigerator. At the Prescott Farmers Market, you can often find radish sprouts at Maxwell Garden. You can also try growing your own. ***** Kelley Villa is the market manager for the Prescott Farmers Market. She is also an AmeriCorps VISTA service member at Yavapai County Community Health Services. Her jobs support farm to school activities and healthy food access in Yavapai County. Find out more about the Prescott Farmers Market at PrescottFarmers Market.Org.

5ENSESMAG.COM • APRIL 2016 • FEATURE • 7

Left Brain: April’s mind-full events Events

“Birds, Beaches, & the Buildings of Belize” • 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 4: Eric Moore, avid birdwatcher and owner of Jay's Bird Barn, discusses his recent trip to Belize where he saw hundreds of spectacular bird species, amazing beaches, and stunning ancient Mayan ruins. A Prescott Audubon Society Lecture Series event. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500)

“The Remarkable Apex Predators of the Late Cretaceous Tropic Shale” • 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5: Dave Gillette, curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Museum of Norther Arizona, talk. A monthly Central Arizona Geology Club meeting. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500)

“The Sawtooth Complex” • 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 5: Susan Lang discusses her newest book, a novel that deals vigorously with the dilemmas of human life on the planet. A Southwest Writers Series event. (Prescott College Natural History Institute, 312 Grove Ave., 928-350-2280)

“The Beauty of Plants Within Riparian Ecosystems” • 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 6: Sharon Arnold leads a walk in a wild place in Prescott's heart along Granite Creek. Walk starts at the end of Rosser Road. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550) “Scene by Scene” • 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 6: Learn to use eﬀective transitions to make sure that each scene stands out in your writing, yet ensure the whole ties together. A Writing Workshop Series event. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500, RSVP) “Light Pollution” • 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6: Leah Cole discusses why light pollution is so undesirable and some of the things that can be done to mitigate its eﬀects. A monthly Prescott Astronomy Club meeting. (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Building 74 Lecture Hall 107, 3700 Willow Creek Road, Prescott AstronomyClub.Org)

“How the Canyon Diablo Train Robbers Escaped the Death Penalty” • 5 p.m. Thursday, April 7: Dr. Paul Hietter discusses the March 1889 Canyon Diablo train robbery, the epic manhunt, capture, and ramiﬁcation that followed. An Arizona Humanities Lecture event. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500)

“An Evening with Poets” • 7 p.m. Friday, April 8: Jane Hirschﬁeld and Susan Terris discuss and perform poetry. A Yavapai College Literary Southwest Series. (Yavapai College Library, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-445-7300) Evening forest walk • 7 p.m. Friday, April 8: Explore the forest as it transitions from day to night. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550)

Granite Basin bird walk • 7 a.m. Saturday, April 9: Local, guided bird walk at Granite Basin with Eric Moore. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP)

“Vanilla Beaned” • 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 12: New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay discusses the eighth book in her cupcake mystery series, which is set in Las Vegas. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500) IMAGE: “Vanilla Beaned” cover image, fair use.

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Audubon bird walk • 8 a.m. Saturday, April 9: Monthly Prescott Audubon Society bird walk. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550)

“Earthbound Misﬁt” • 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16: Former news helicopter pilot Jerry Foster talks about his career and new book. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000)

“Everything You Need to Know About Rainwater Harvesting” • 10 a.m. Saturday, April 9: Barnabas Kane talk. A monthly Citizens Water Advocacy Group meeting. (Granite Peak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 882 Sunset Ave., 928-445-4218)

“Glorious Geology of the Granite Gardens” • 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 20: Pat Gulley leads and walk and discussion on adventurous trails around the Dells. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550)

“Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery” • 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9: Historian Parker Anderson discusses his latest book. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000) “Starry Nights” • 8 p.m. Saturday, April 9: See Jupiter, Sombrero Galaxy, Whirlpool Galaxy, Bode's Galaxy, Crab Nebula, and double stars. (Pronghorn Park, 7391 Rusty Spur Trail, PrescottAstronomyClub.Org)

“Monarch Butterﬂies & Their Use of Native & Non-native Plants” • 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14: Bob Gessner and Cathy Palm-Gessner, of Southwest Monarch Watch, discuss spotting and tagging data for monarch butterﬂies. An Arizona Native Plant Society presentation. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550)

Banning Creek bird walk • 7 a.m. Friday, April 15: Local, guided bird walk at Banning Creek with Bonnie Pranter. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP)

“What a Plant Knows” • 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 15: Discuss Daniel Chamovitz's “What a Plant Knows: A Field Guide to the Senses.” A monthly Natural History Book Club meeting. (Prescott College Natural History Institute, 312 Grove Ave., 928-3502280)

21 8 • EVENTS • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

“Deceptions, Lies, & Alibis” • 5 p.m. Thursday, April 21: Michael Coyote Peach discusses a killer camel, a tornado-riding con man, a dead dragon, and a half-naked horse thief, among other quirky characters, in his original cowboy poetry. A Third Thursday Dinner & Program event. Catered dinner included. (Phippen Museum, 4701 Arizona 89, 928-778-1385, $25-$30) “Death Cafe” • 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21: People gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death with the objective “to increase awareness of death with a view to help people make the most of their (ﬁnite) lives.” (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000) “Women & Birds: Birding for Science, Sisterhood, & Fun” • 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21: Karen O'Neil and Kathy Wingert discuss how 11 years ago, a group of women got together to keep their birding skills sharp and evolved into a group of friends who have contributed to the understanding of birds in and around Prescott. (Prescott College Natural History Institute, 312 Grove Ave., 928-350-2280) “Deceptions, Lies, & Alibis” • 8 p.m. Thursday, April 21: Michael Coyote Peach discusses a killer camel, a tornadoriding con man, a dead dragon, and a naked horse thief through cowboy poetry. (Phippen Museum, 4701 Arizona 89, 928-778-1385, $25-$30)

“What You Need to Know to Grow Free” • 9 a.m. Saturday, April 23: Local experts provide knowledge and techniques needed to implement a diverse landscape, no matter

“New Horizons' Mission to the Pluto System” • 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21: Dr. Will Grundy, co-investigator of NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, discusses the amazing amount of scientiﬁc data via New Horizons that's returned from Pluto and our solar system beyond. A Third Thursday Star Talk via the Prescott Astronomy Club. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500) IMAGE: Pluto as seen by New Horizons on July 13, 2015, via NASA, public domain.

12 the size of your yard. Event is a 2016 “Grow Native!” Plant Sale pre-sale info event. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550, RSVP) “The Working Cowboy” • 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23: An intimate, down-home look at the Arizona working cowboy including music, poetry, stories, historical presentations, a Western art exhibition, and cowboy crafta. (Sharlot Hall Museum, 415 W. Gurley St., 928-445-2133, $5-$10)

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Cottonwood Peninsula bird walk • 7 a.m. Monday, April 25: Local, guided bird walk at Cottonwood Peninsula with Bonnie Pranter. (Jay’s Bird Barn, No. 113, 1046 Willow Creek Road, 928-443-5900, RSVP)

“Landscaping for Backyard Habitat” • 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28: Steve Morgan discusses creating landscapes with plant species that are native to the Southwest, particularly in the Central Highlands. A monthly Prescott Audubon meeting. (Trinity Presbyterian Church, 630 Park Ave., 928-778-6502, PrescottAudubon.Org)

Multi-day "Surrender to Win Film Festival" • April 8-10: Innaugral ﬁlm festival featuring documentaries and ﬁlm dealing with addiction and recovery, plus panels and special guests Full schedule online at EarbaseNow. Org. (Elks Theater, 117 E. Gurley St., 928-7771366, prices and times vary) Prescott Area Boardgamers • 5 p.m. Wednesdays, April 13 & 27: Play European-style board games. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500) “Grow Native!” plant sale • 8:30 a.m. April 30 & 10:30 a.m. May 1: Annual Highlands Center public plant sale. (Highlands Center for Natural History, 1375 S. Walker Road, 928-776-9550) Prescott Farmers Market • 10 a.m. Saturdays: Enjoy local organic produce and goods from local farmers. (Yavapai Regional Medical Center's Pendleton Center, 1003 Willow Creek Road, PrescottFarmersMarket.Org)

April’s art-full events :niarB thgiR

Events

“The Art of Brewing Kombucha” • 9 a.m. Saturday, April 2: Learn the whys, how-tos, and beneﬁts of this DIY ancient elixir. (One Root Tea, 500 W. Gurley St., 928-221-2533, $30, RSVP)

“Madama Butterﬂy” • 9:55 a.m. Saturday, April 2: Via satellite, The Metropolitan Opera’s presentation of Giacomo Puccini’s opera based on the short story by John Luther Long. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, $20-$24)

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“Card Crafting With Watercolor” • 1 p.m. Sunday, April 3: Students play with diﬀerent methods of paints in watercolor with Karen Gartley Bush. (That New Gallery, Gateway Mall near Dillard’s, 3250 Gateway Blvd., 928-445-0788, $55, RSVP) Poetry Discussion Group • 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 6: Monthly poetry discussion. (Prescott Public Library, 215 E. Goodwin St., 928-777-1500) Young Playwrights Festival • 2 & 6 p.m. Sunday, April 10: Sixth annual celebration, featuring 11 short plays written by playwrights from ﬁfth to 12th grade. (Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery, 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286, $10) Open mic poetry • 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13: Monthly poetry jam presented by Decipherers Synonymous. (The Beastro, 117 N. McCormick St., 971-340-6970)

YC Creative Writings students reading • 5 p.m. Thursday, April 14: Creative Writing students from Yavapai College read their new poetry and prose. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000) “Roberto Devereux” • 9:55 a.m. Saturday, April 16: Via satellite, The Metropolitan Opera’s presentation of Gaetano Donizetti’s work. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, $20-$24) PCA scholarship fundraiser • Noon, Tuesday, April 19: Local ﬁber artist, printer, and teacher Barb Wills discusses her inﬂuences and career. (Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, 928-445-3286)

“Don Quixote” • 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 19: Via satellite, The Bolshoi Ballet’s presentation of Marius Petipa’s work. (Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2000, $9-$15)

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4th Friday Art Walk • 5 p.m. Friday, April 22: Monthly art walk including more than 18 galleries, artist receptions, openings, and demonstrations. (ArtThe4th.Com)

Contra Dance • 7 p.m. lesson, 7:30 p.m. dance Saturday, April 23: Contra dancing. Via Folk Happens. Calls by Judy Zeidel, music by The Privy Tippers. (First Congregation Church, 216 E. Gurley St., 928-925-5210, $4-$8) “Beginning Acrylic Painting” • 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 24: learn the basics of acrylic painting with a brush and palette knife, with Patty Heibel. (That New Gallery, Gateway Mall near Dillard’s, 3250 Gateway Blvd., 928-445-0788, $40, RSVP)

Open mic poetry • 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27: Poet Dan Seaman emcees monthly open mic poetry. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928445-9000) “Gravel Ghosts” • 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30: Acclaimed poet Megan Merchant reads selections from her latest collection of poetry. (Peregrine Book Co., 219A N. Cortez St., 928-445-9000)

Multi-day “August: Osage County” • 7:30 p.m. April 7-9, 14-16, & 21-23; 2 p.m. April 10, 17, & 24: Tracy Lett’s story about an unexpected reunion that explodes in a maelstrom of repressed truths and unsettling secrets. Directed by Jean Lippincott. (Stage Too, North Cortez Street alley between Willis and Sheldon streets, 928-445-3286, $15) Mata Ortiz show • 10 a.m. April 9 & 10: Annual show and sale featuring works by the talented potters of the village of Mata Ortiz catered by Lucy Mora and Lorenso Bugarini. (Smoki Museum, 147 N. Arizona Ave., 928-445-1230) Fused & Slumped Glass Bowls • 9 a.m. April 9 & 16: Learn all the basics of fused and slumped glass and a little bit more with Patty Lindsey. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928-445-2510, $170-$180) Fiber Clay Sculpture • 9 a.m. April 13 & 14: Learn to work with ﬁber, how to use armatures in sculptures, repair cracks and breaks, and how to dry ﬁnish pieces with Joanie Wolter. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928-4452510, $180-$205) Mixed Media Collage • 9 a.m. April 19-21: Learn new techniques and open your creative doors during this mixed media

16 & 17

McDermott & Sorenson • From April 11: New art by nature and travel photographer Michael McDermott and impressionistic, abstract designs with vibrant colors by Nicole Sorenson. (The Raven Café, 142 N. Cortez St., 928-717-0009) IMAGE: “Morning Chore” by Michael McDermott. Courtesy image. acrylic workshop with Pat Lambrecht-Hould. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928-445-2510, $230-$250) Landscape with Palette Knife • 9 a.m. April 26-28: A combination of plein air and studio painting of landscapes by palette knife with Diane Olsen. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928445-2510, $305-$325) Yoga classes • Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays: Yoga classes including Ayurveda, over-50, mindful, and dynamic ﬂow yoga. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928-4323068, prices vary) Social dance classes • Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, & Sundays: Learn the Argentine tango, West Coast swing, tribal belly dance, Lindy hop swing, ﬂamenco, and Latin dance. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928432-3068, prices vary) Mindfulness meditation • 7 p.m. Tuesdays: Meditation group open to people of all faiths and non-faiths. (First Congregational Church, 216 E. Gurley St., PrescottVipassana.Org) Performance dance/ movement arts classes • Wednesdays & Thursdays: Learn contemporary dance, movement for life, and normative movement. (Flying Nest Movement Arts, 322 W. Gurley St., 928-432-3068, prices vary)

Art Corrigan and Miller • From April 1: New metal art by Ron Miller and oil and acrylic paintings, ﬁber clay, sculpture, and jewelry by Nancy Corrigan. (That New Gallery, Gateway Mall near Dillard’s, 3250 Gateway Blvd., 928-445-0788) “Kaleidoscope” • From April 1: Art show featuring colorful art, subject matter up to artist. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928-445-2510)

“Chalk it Up!” • 10 a.m. April 16 & 17: 8th annual free, familyfriendly, community-centered artistic endeavor intended to cultivate and support the creativity in people of all ages and abilities. (National Bank of Arizona Parking Lot, 201 N. Montezuma St., PrescottChalkArt.Com) IMAGE: Chalk art by BK Lyons. Courtesy image.

11 Spring 2015 YC Student Exhibition • From April 12: Yavapai College students show their work in this juried show. (Yavapai College Prescott Art Gallery, 1100 E. Sheldon St., 928-776-2031) “Out of Woods” • Through April 14: Photography by George Lewis and wood sculpture by John Hoyt. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) AZ Plein Air Painters Group • From April 15: Group show featuring art by the members of the AZ Plein Air Painters. (Mountain Artists Guild & Gallery, 228 Alarcon St., 928-445-2510) “BE Dazzled” • From April 15: Gorgeous glass and riveting mixed media from Annette Olson and Cindi Shaﬀer. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) “True Colors” • Through April 16: L.A.-based Rachel Lachowicz turns her eye on the masculinecentric world of Modernism. (Prescott College Art Gallery at Sam Hill Warehouse, 232 N. Granite St., 928-350-2341) “The Eyes Have It” • Through April 19: Annual group spring photography show. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) “Color & Line” • Through April 20: Jewelry and mixed media artworks by Lee Iredell. (Arts Prescott Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-7767717) “Eclectic Works in Various Media” • From April 21: Annual show featuring eclectic works in various media — a mixed style borrowing from a variety of styles from diﬀerent sources in the tradition of Carraccii circa 17th century Bologna. (’Tis Art Center & Gallery, 105 S. Cortez St., 928-775-0223) Williams • From April 22: Metal sculpture and assemblage by Tom Williams. (Arts Prescott Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma St., 928-776-7717) PCA scholarship fundraiser • Through April 24: Scholarship fundraiser show. (Prescott Center for the Arts Gallery, 208 N. Marina St., 928-445-3286)

Get wood

Thank science for potable pulp and ﬁshy ﬁsh Alan Dean Foster’s

Perceivings

By Alan Dean Foster y wife, JoAnn, is a wonderful cook. Of course when preparing a dish from a recipe, but where she really excels is in improvisational cooking. She can take mismatched leftovers, junk food, the skeletal remnants of last holiday’s turkey, and turn them into a gourmet spectacular. She can even do it, and does so on a regular basis, with foods that I dislike. Me: “The sauce on this pasta is amazing! What are the little green ﬂecks? Parsley?” JoAnn: “Broccoli.” Me (ﬂummoxed): “But I hate broccoli.” JoAnn: “Well, you’re eating it.” Me (wonderingly): “You could put this sauce on styrofoam packing pellets and eat them!” If modern food science is to be half-believed, we may be doing just that (or something all too similar) already.

e, as Americans, pride ourselves on our standards of food safety. On our food science, if you will. And yet, somehow, holes in those standards have a disquieting habit of showing up on the evening news. Just recently, a number of cheese manufacturers have been hauled up on charges of including anywhere from 7 to 8 percent wood pulp in their product. Italian hard cheeses like parmesan and Romano seem to have been especially susceptible to such cellulosic adulteration. (Is this why shavings of those particular cheeses so closely resemble wood splinters?) In their defense, manufacturers say that a modest amount of wood pulp is completely harmless to the body. Aside from the fact that when I buy cheese, I expect to be buying cheese (except for “pasteurized process cheese product” or “cheez whiz,” which are subjects for another time), I feel that the portion of termite DNA in my system is minimal, and I have no wish to test its efficacy in a Reuben sandwich spiked with wood pulp. Speaking of wood, have you ever heard of “ester of wood rosin”? Sounds like the stuff baseball pitchers put on their fingers. You may very well be drinking it as you read this. It’s made from the stumps of long-leaf pine trees. Just doesn’t get any tastier than that, does it? Ester of wood rosin is used in, among other thinks, fruit-flavored drinks and sodas. Most of these are concocted with concentrated oils (orange, blackberry, lime — take your pick). But such oils and water, as the old saying goes, don’t mix. That’s where ester of wood rosin comes in. It allows those flavoring oils to mix freely with water and to remain in suspension within it, so that the last gulp of your favorite cherry soda pop tastes the same as the first. That’s food science for you.

JACY’S AUCTION Reuse, recycle, re-make-money Antiques • Household • Estates • Buy • Sell • Consign • Transport

928-443-0911

10 • COLUMN • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Images public domain. Illustrations by 5enses.

y favorite example of such charming explorations into the biology of comestibles involves seafood. No wood references this time. Just the fact that, according to recent research, something like one-third of all the seafood sold in the United States is mislabeled. Not just ordinary fish, but the contents of the dishes you order in fancy restaurants just as much as those you get fast-fried from Long John Silver’s. Pollack often is passed off as cod, and monkfish as lobster. Seafood vendors, including your friendly neighborhood supermarket, try to get around this as surreptitiously as possible through the use of “scientifically” accurate labeling. So when you’re buying “krab salad”, you’re likely getting good old pollack again. It’s that “k” instead of “c” that makes it all nice and legal according to government regulations. (Recall for a moment the implications of that first “z” in “cheez whiz”.) What you’re actually buying is a product called surimi, a paste made from any kind of cheap fish that can be shaped and formed to look like other fish, or scallops, or crab. Just add a little (legal) red food dye, and you’re all set. And legal. Speaking of scallops, there’s no way to tell if you’re really eating those tasty shellfish — or shark that’s been cut to resemble scallops. Since the actual taste is close and can easily fool a diner, finding out which is which is a matter of science. Don’t feel bad if you think you’ve been duped. Buyers for fancy restaurants are fooled by these oceanic subterfuges all the time. Now that I’ve made you feel better about your next meal, I’m going to go have myself a nice, tall glass of iced ester of wood rosin. Cherry-flavored. ***** Alan Dean Foster is author of more than 120 books, visitor to more than 100 countries, and still frustrated by the human species. Follow him at AlanDeanFoster.Com.

(Chalk) dust in the wind Chalk It Up! returns to Prescott

By James Dungeon rally of faces. A garden of flowers. Several zoos’, aquariums’, and ranches’ worth of animals. A lawsuit of Disney characters. Once the proverbial and literal dust settles on Chalk It Up!, the fruits of two days’ labor offer a revelatory insight into the contemporary zeitgeist. (Somewhere, a social scientist is attempting to correlate street art with election outcomes.) But you needn’t get so analytical. “This is about spreading the message about being healthy and being well,” said Tina Blake, development coordinator for the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic Foundation. “It’s about art, and community, and getting outdoors.” And, of course, fun. This is the eighth year for Chalk It Up! — the second with West Yavapai Guidance Clinic at the helm. Despite the leadership change, the event continues to grow. “We had the highest attendance ever (last year) and raised over $9,000 that went back into community mental health,” Blake said. “We also had over 80 official sponsors, which was another record.” In 2015, more than half of the 1,700 registered attendees were children or youth. (There were roughly 5,000 attendees total.) Event organizers distributed 1,200 boxes of chalk with zero left over. This year, there’ll be twice as much chalk — about $4,000’s worth — in large part because of grants from the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council. “Last year, we were panicked and ended up putting together little loose chalk pieces to try and get together more boxes,” Blake said. “People offered pieces from their boxes, which was pretty cool. … I think we’re set for this year.” There’ll also be more guest/featured artists, too — about a dozen, this year. These folks are the ones who get the larger spaces and make the really vivid pieces. You know, the pros. Plus there’ll be more prizes for participants. Bring sunscreen, water, a hat, and a towel or pad to sit or kneel on. “We want people to know it’s not just art on the ground, though” Blake said, alluding to additional mobile art surfaces, a sculpture canvas, a new

LEFT: Chalkers enjoy Chalk It Up 2015 despite one of them having a case of the blues. (Get it?) Photo by David Cottle. RIGHT: Lisa Brethour, a guest/featured artist in 2015, works on a piece for Chalk It Up! Courtesy photo. photo booth, and more. “This is an event for children and adults, for families, and, well, for everybody.” There’s also several musical and dance performances. Plus free popcorn. Here’s the basic info you’re looking for … What: Chalk It Up! annual chalk art festival When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, April 16 & 17 Where: National Bank of Arizona Parking Lot, 201 N. Montezuma St., Prescott Who: Benefits West Yavapai Guidance Clinic Foundation Web: PrescottChalkArt.Com Worth: Free, chalk included ***** Chalk It Up! is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17 at the National Bank of Arizona’s parking lot, 201 N. Montezuma St., Prescott. Proceeds benefit the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic Foundation. Find out more at PrescottChalkArt.Com. James Dungeon is a figment of his own imagination. And he likes cats. Contact him at JamesDungeonCats@Gmail.Com.

5ENSESMAG.COM • APRIL 2016 • FEATURE • 11

Watch the skies

Visit the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival

By Robert Blood irds are everywhere. And so are birders. “It’s a hobby anybody can get into and do in their backyard,” said Barb Hart, ﬁscal coordinator for the Cottonwood-based Verde Valley Birding & Nature festival. “How many times have you been outside or out for a hike, seen a bird, and wondered what kind of bird it

was?” You can get the answer to that question and more at the annual festival, now in its 16th year. It boasts more workshops, field trips, and vendors than ever before. The festival has come a long way since its 2001 inception by Arizona State Parks, the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce, and the Northern Arizona Audubon Society and, for the past four years, has been run via the recently established Verde River Valley Nature Organization. In recent years, the Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival has pulled in about 400 registered attendees. “If you count the free family day and walk ins, it’s probably close to 1,000 people,” Hart said. “It’s not a huge crowd, but it’s better that way. We cater very personal experiences and like to keep the field trips small.” Field trips include guided birdwatching in surrounding locations. There’s a fee on top of event registration for each half- or full-day field trip, and attendance is limited to about a baker’s dozen participants. “The guides are experts and can help people all the way from those having their first birding experience to advanced birders trying to add birds to their life list,” Hart said. “We have some truly great birding habitat all the way from Prescott up to Flagstaff down to Agua Fria.” Some housekeeping: This year’s festival is titled “Night in Flight.” Friday night’s keynote speaker is author and humorist Al Batt. Events for Saturday’s free family day are geared for kids. There are also daily workshops as well as less-birdy trips that run the gamut from canoeing and kayaking, to geology, to botany, to wildlife photography. (If you’re reading this, online registration for field trips and workshops is already open (Which is also true if you’re not reading this.).) “The keyword in our area is diversity,” Hart said. “We have some desert, grassland, and riparian areas all within a fairly small radius, and you can’t overstate the importance of the impact of the Verde River.” Here’s the basic info you’re looking for … What: “Night in Flight” annual Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival When: Thursday through Sunday, April 21-24 (varies by event) Where: Cottonwood (varies by event) Who: Benefits the Verde River Valley Nature Organization Web: BirdyVerde.Org Worth: $15 registration, $5-$20 for workshops, $25-$70 for field trips ***** The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival is Thursday through Sunday, April 21-24 in Cottonwood. Proceeds benefit the Verde River Valley Nature Organization. Find out more at BirdyVerde.Org.

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TOP: Owl painting, the primary promotional image for the 2016 Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival, by Mary Lois Brown. Courtesy image. BOTTOM: Birders enjoy the the special keynote field trip of the 2015 Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival. Photo by John Hart.

Robert Blood is a Mayer-ish-based freelance writer and ne’er-do-well who’s working on his last book, which, incidentally, will be his ﬁrst. Contact him at BloodyBobby5@Gmail.Com.

Open doors, minds

Seek out the Sedona Open Studios Tour

By James Dungeon hat coffee you guzzle every morning? The cup that holds it seems like a pretty simple ceramic piece, right? Turns out there’s a bit more to creating it than you might’ve thought. “Most people are amazed when the see all the steps that go into making a mug,” said Cornville-based ceramicist Mike Upp. “There’s throwing, trimming, firing, waxing, glazing, firing again. ... The whole process is literally about 10 steps.” Upp has been demonstrating this for about four years at Earth & Fire Ceramic Design, his studio, during the annual Sedona Open Studios Tour. Now in its 13th year, the free tour boasts demonstrations and works-in-progress at 56 locations that hold an oversized palette of mediums — painting, sculpture, glass, jewelry, ceramics, photography, and multimedia, among others. “Sedona Open Studios really lends itself to education and immersion,” said Upp, who’s also the organizer of the event. “You can learn about art and the process of art in a way you never could at an art market or gallery.” This year’s three-day tour boasts 15 new participating artists, though who and what you see is up to you. This self-guided experience includes potential stops in Sedona, Village of Oak Creek, Page Springs, Cornville, Cottonwood, Carkdale, and Camp Verde. (There are also $1 raffle tickets that funds art scholarships for

high school students — an idea Upp said was inspired by the Prescott Area Artists Studio Tour.) Average studio tour turnout varies by location, and the general consensus seems to be that the tour attracts a mix of laypeople and artists. Ditto for new versus returning patrons. “Probably 40 percent of the people who visited us last year were return visitors,” Upp said. “We get a lot of kids, and one of my favorite things about the tour is that everyone really wants to engage with you.” This is the part of the story you should pause and think about networking opportunities. (… OK, please start reading again.) And even if you just visit one studio, the tour is a great excuse for a scenic sojourn. “There’s always the allure of the Red Rocks — that alone is a good reason to drive up,” Upp said. “We’ve got amazing homes with amazing views throughout the tour, which is a really nice bonus.” Here’s the basic info you’re looking for … What: Sedona Open Studios Tour annual self-guided tour When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 29-May 1 Where: Sedona and the Verde Valley (map and brochure with individual studio locations online) Who: Benefits the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition Web: SedonaArtistsCoalition.Org Worth: Free ***** The Sedona Open Studio tour is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Saturday, April 29- May 1. Proceeds benefit the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition. Find out more at SedonaArtistsCoalition.Org. James Dungeon is a figment of his own imagination. And he likes cats. Contact him at JamesDungeonCats@Gmail.Com.

LEFT: “Verde Valley View,” painting by Christie Palmer, participant in the Sedona Open Studios tour. Courtesy image. RIGHT: Mike Upp, ceramicist and studio tour organizer, discusses his art with a visitor in 2015. Courtesy photo.

5ENSESMAG.COM • APRIL 2016 • FEATURE • 13

News From the Wilds Skyward • April 7: New Moon at 4:24 a.m. • April 18: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation. This is the best time to see the planet closet to the Sun since it’s nearly 20 degrees above the horizon when the Sun sets, directly below the Pleiades. • April 21: Full Moon at 10:24 p.m. • April 22: Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak. This moderate shower peaks after midnight, but unfortunately the nearly Moon will wash out all but the brightest meteors.

Weather Zebra-tailed Lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) are predators of the earliest insects and arachnids to emerge in the spring. Photo by Ty Fitzmorris.

By Ty Fitzmorris pril arrives in a thunderous proliferation of life — a raucous, enlivening yawp in the wilds after the long quiet of winter. Snowstorms are an increasingly remote possibility, and the majority of the month is sunny and warm, with butterflies, returning migratory birds, native bees, growing and flowering plants, and mammals in the thrall of mating and bearing young. There is more activity in the natural world than can be easily followed, and the flowering of plants, emergence of insects, return of migrant birds and bats, and the appearance of mammalian young all begin now. The verdant wave of spring swells up from the deserts along south and western facing slopes and riparian corridors, as the new leaves of riverside trees unfurl and the earliest flowers unclasp. These first flowers provide nectar and pollen for

butterflies, solitary bees, flies and damselflies that are looking to find mates and lay eggs. Many species of mammals are giving birth, as are the Beavers and Porcupines, while the young of other species, such as the Black Bears, are emerging from their dens and beginning the long process of learning to forage and navigate their landscapes, preying on these early insects and plants.

he wave of spring migration gains in volume through April, as the murmurs of the ﬁrst swallows and bats trickling quietly northward along the creeks grows into a roar of neotropical warblers and broad-winged hawks. Warblers follow riparian corridors northward, wearing a bewildering array of breeding plumages as they glean insects from the broad leaves of cottonwoods, alders, willows, and sycamores, ultimately headed as far north as the arctic

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circle. Broad-winged hawks, including Swainson’s, Rough-legged, and Ferruginous, follow the rise of thermals, large rotating columns of heated air that rise off of broad plains, such as those in Chino Valley. Swainson’s Hawks can be seen in groups up to 10,000 strong as they migrate between the Argentinian pampas and the Canadian tundra, a flight only rivaled in scope by the Peregrine Falcon. Butterflies, the real vanguard of spring, fly in amazing diversity beginning this month, as they mate and lay eggs. Look especially for orange and black checkerspots, commas, question-marks, yellow and sometimes blue swallowtails, dark, low-flying iridescent skippers, and soaring, gold-tinged Mourning Cloaks. In some areas without flowers many of these species can be seen drinking the sap of tree wounds, and damp patches of mud along riversides can provide amazing observation spots.

Average high temperature: 67 F (+/-4) Average low temperature: 34.2 F (+/-3) Record high temperature: 88 F (2012) Record low temperature: 11 F (1899 & 1924) Average precipitation: 0.91” (+/-1.12”) Record high precipitation: 6.9” (1926) Record high snowfall: 9.8” (1965) Record low precipitation: 0” (8 percent of years on record) Max daily precipitation: 3.4” (April 17, 1917) Source: Western Regional Climate Center

***** Ty Fitzmorris is an itinerant and often distractible naturalist who lives in Prescott and is proprietor of the Peregrine Book Company, Raven Café, Gray Dog Guitars, and is cofounder of Milagro Arts, a community arts nexus, all as a sideline to his natural history pursuits. He can be reached at Ty@PeregrineBook Company.Com.

News From the Wilds, too A very brief survey of what’s happening in the wilds ... By Ty Fitzmorris High mountains • Black Bear cubs cautiously emerge from dens with their mothers and begin learning to forage for grubs, leaves, and roots. • Leaf-buds of Gambel Oak and Aspen swell nearly to opening. • Porcupines give birth late in the month, usually to one baby, and will spend more time than usual on the ground. Porcupines feed on the inner bark of conifers, including Douglas Fir and Ponderosa Pine, and can live up to 10 years. Their babies are born with their eyes open, and their spines harden within hours. • Long-tailed Weasels give birth to four or five young. Visit: Maverick Mountain Trail, No. 65. Ponderosa Pine forests • Cherry trees (Prunus virginiana) flower, along with wax-currants (Ribes spp.), paintbrushes (Castilleja spp.) and locoweeds (Astragalus spp.). • Ponderosas “weep” sap from their branch tips, creating a slight daytime rain of small, watery sap drops. Pines may release sap for several reasons, including the movement of water and sap into their growing branch-tips, defense against insect pests, notably bark beetles, and most unusually, to communicate with other trees. As the chemical composition of one tree’s sap changes in response to pest attacks, it can trigger similar changes in nearby trees. • Bark beetles, including the infamous Ips beetles, emerge from soil and begin excavating nuptial chambers in Ponderosas. Healthy Ponderosas can fight off a beetle infestation, but in drought years, beetles may overwhelm tree defenses and kill many trees. Interestingly, though, it’s not the beetles that kill the trees, but rather fungi that the beetles carry that infects the wood of the tree, making it digestible for the beetles. Visit: Miller Creek Trail, No. 367. Pine-Oak woodlands • Acorn Woodpeckers continue breeding and tending young. These

Native solitary bees, such as this Ashmeadiella lea cutter species, are integral in pollination of most native plants, including cacti such as this Strawberry Hedgehog (Echinocereus englemannii). Photo by Ty Fitzmorris. woodpeckers are unusual in that they nest in colonies, and tend the young of other, often related, nestmates. • Coyote pups emerge from their dens, though the group of siblings remain together for up to a year before establishing their own packs. • Valerian begins flowering. This plant is extensively used as a muscle relaxant, sedative, and soporific.* • Black, Gray, and Arizona Oaks change color and drop last year’s leaves, as they grow soft, lightercolored ones. This “spring fall” is an unusual adaptation among the trees. Visit:Little Granite Mountain Trail, No. 37. Pinyon-Juniper woodlands • Lemonadeberry (Rhus trilobata) flowers. This species gets its name from its tasty, though sour, berries, which can be used to make a lemonade-type drink.* • Cliff-rose (Purshia stansburiana) begins flowering. • Airborne juniper pollen begins to decline noticeably. • White-tailed and Mule Deer shed their antlers. • Ringtails, cat-like relatives of Raccoons, begin mating. Visit: Tin Trough Trail, No. 308.

Grasslands • Spring butterflies fly in dazzling diversity. Look for fritillaries, sulphurs, blues, duskywings, grassskippers and swallowtails. • Many flowers blooming, especially in low and mid elevations. Look for the small yellow flowers of Barberry (Berberis haematocarpa), visited by native bees, and the fragile white flowers of Evening Primrose (Camissonia brevipes), visited by evening moths. • Parry’s Agave begins growing its long, asparagus-like flowering stalk. Though these agaves flower only once, the plant itself does not die, but resprouts a new rosette of leaves from its base after flowering. Visit: Mint Wash Trail, No. 345. Riparian areas • Creeks run feebly, full of spring algal growth, while water-striders reach full size and hunt for other insects on the surface of the remaining water. As the last water dries up in one area, many water striders grow wings and fly to water nearby. • Black Hawks, which arrived this last month from their wintering grounds in Central America and Southern Mexico, rebuild their streamside nests and court mates.

Males sometimes place a single green branch on a nest, and stand proudly on it, advertising their nestbuilding prowess and attractiveness. • Beavers give birth to their kits in their streamside dens, who remain with their parents for up to two-anda-half years. Beavers are a keystone species in our riparian ecosystems. • Damselflies, including indigo bluets and iridescent rubyspots, emerge from their aquatic pupae in lower riparian areas. Dragonflies also appear. • Riparian trees sprout leaves, including Velvet Ash, Arizona Sycamore, Fremont Cottonwood, and Boxelder. Cottonwoods release their cottony seeds now, while the helicopter-shaped seeds of Boxelder ripen. • River Otter young open their eyes for the first time. Visit: Willow Lake Loop Trail, off of Willow Creek Road in Prescott. Deserts/Chaparral • Sugar Sumac (Rhus glabra) flowers. It is named for its sugary sap, which has been used as a sweetener. The berries, though edible, are sour.* • Iridescent tiger beetles (subfamily Cicindelinae) emerge from their pupae and begin hunting for flies and other insects. These beetles are among our most spectacular insects, iridescent green and purple with cream-colored spots, though they are difficult to see. • Eastern Collared Lizards (Crotophytus collaris) can be seen sunning on rocks in riparian uplands. • False Mock-orange (Fendlera rupicola) begins flowering and is visited by bumblebees and carpenter bees. • Ocotillos, paloverdes, Creosotebush, Mammilaria and Echinocereus cacti and Velvet Mesquite flower, drawing an extraordinary diversity of native bees. Visit: Aqua Fria National Monument. * Always consult with a trained professional before ingesting any part of a wild plant. This information is not intended to encourage the attempted use of any part of a plant, either for nutritive or medicinal purposes.

Screenings

Jeff Grubert broaches difficult subject matter with Surrender to Win Film Festival By Robert Blood [Editor’s note: This interview was culled from conversations between the reporter and Jeff Grubert, executive producer of the Surrender to Win Film Festival. The festival is April 8-10 at The Elks Theatre (117 E. Gurley St., No. 115, 928-7771366, $10-$49). A schedule of events and tickets are available at EarthbaseNow.Org/surrender-towin-film-festival and PrescottElksTheater.Com.] What’s the idea behind the Surrender to Win Film Festival? It’s designed to celebrate the creative spirit of recovery. It asks what it’d be like to live a clean and sober life and explores the underlying mysteriousness of the experience that happens to people when they get clean and sober. We’re trying to celebrate something we don’t fully understand about that process. There are a million roads to sobriety, and there’s the mystery that happens on the other side of that. There’s this side of sobriety, this wonderful life full of grace, mystery, creativity, and abundance. The festival is really celebrating that movement from a life of darkness into a life of light full of love. But why a film festival? Why that medium? Film is about dark and light. You walk into a movie theater, and you’re in a dark room and then light is projected on a screen. That’s the essence of the medium itself. It’s the perfect way to receive the message of recovery, especially when the movies being shown help us understand that message more clearly. The films in the festival explore what it means to be sober, the human experience of that, and everything that entails. Specifically, we’re showing movies about addiction and the treatment of addiction as well as that of mental

illness. The movies aren’t just about drug addiction — they’re also about sex addiction, addiction to money, property, and prestige. So, yes, we’re creating a film festival, but we’re really creating a sacred space where people can have a transformative experience contemplating how we treat addiction and mental illness. Is the festival for people in recovery, in the industry, or in the community at large? It’s for all of those, but really, the entire community at large. The reason for that is that, according to the latest research I’ve seen, one in three American families are affected by mental illness or addiction at some point during their lifetime. It’s a timely topic. It’s personal. And it takes a lot of courage to talk about these topics. Even showing up to an event like this, honestly, takes courage. By coming to the film festival, you’re putting yourself in a place where you have to have an open mind, and you’re going to hear about people struggling. What’s your own experience with this topic? I’m a person in longterm recovery. I haven’t had a drink or a drug in just over 27 years. What started out as an avocation for me has become, at the age of 53, a vocation for me. I’ve gone from someone who’s had to take care of this part of me, this disease, and making sure I’m getting treatment to being at a point that I’m asking myself, how can I give back for having this life, this gift of living sober? How can I help people embrace this … well, paradox. I’m asking people to embrace the darkness of this disease in order to be grateful for the gift of sober living that happens on the other side of it. So why have the festival in Prescott? Prescott is a nesting ground for this issue. Geographically, this has been a place people have come for 150 years for healing of some kind. I think there’s a bigger, deeper, maybe more spiritual reason for that. People come to Prescott from all over the world to get clean and sober. There’s also the reality of the challenges that process brings. In a lot of ways, the recovery industry is very new, and, although Prescott has

By Brian Lemcke

16 • FEATURE • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

Surrender to Win Film Festival poster. Design by Patsy Mastrobuoni. been blessed by a lot of people getting sober here, it’s also been a challenge to have so many people in transition here. It’s a messy process. The community has brought up a lot of questions and challenges. It’s a surprising choice you’re screening “The Business of Recovery,” which doesn’t shine that industry in a flattering light. It’s because of the challenges we have here that we have to show that movie in Prescott. We want the film festival to meet people where they’re at. We want to confirm many of the issues that people have raised about the treatment industry. We also want the community of Prescott to know that they’re not alone. This is a universal challenge that people and communities all over the world are dealing with. I think the movie is a nice way to let people know we hear you, you’re not alone, and it’s our invitation to get involved in the discussion. There’s a deeper conversation about what it means to get well from drugs and alcohol dependency and what happens during the treatment of those addictions. Those are some of the most difficult addictions to treat. They’re the most challenging, and there’s no one way to treat them. There are a million paths to getting sober and the more people that are invited into that conversation, the more people are going to help, and the more awareness there’ll be. That means getting to solutions and getting more people well. It takes a community to face these issues.

You said “conversation.” Does that mean there’s more than just the screenings? Yes. There are panels. Friday night, for instance. … First, we’re going to screen “The Business of Recovery” which uncovers a lot of the abuse that’s happening inside the treatment industry. That’s followed by a one-hour panel discussion. We’ve invited people in government, people in business, the filmmaker (Greg Horvath), and others for a discussion about what’s happening in Prescott. The movie paints the broad strokes of the underlying issues in the recovery industry at large. The panel is a way to bring it home to Prescott. It should outline what’s happening, the options, and the solutions. It’s an invitation to go beyond the negative aspects of this. It also illuminates the fact that there are thousands of people in our community living clean and sober, leading productive, responsible lives as members of our society. We want to invite people into a conversation about that. The festival, and especially the panels, aren’t just about issues of treatment,” but about how to deliver good treatment and offer healthy solutions that benefit Prescott. People in recovery make a difference in our community. After the panel, the next film, “The Anonymous People,” shows that on a national level, 23 million people in the U.S. are living clean, sober, responsible lives on the other side of recovery. That’s something to be hopeful and excited about. The whole festival is worthwhile, but I’m really excited about that Friday night. It’s an invitation to visit our fears about treatment and to engage in a personal conversation about the bigger context of the issue. … I should also mention our host for the first two days of the festival, Sandy Kenyon, who’ll lead the panels. He’s a professional in the media who understands the importance of these conversations. He’s a person of long-term recovery who hasn’t had in drink in over 24 years. He’s a Hillside graduate, which is a facility run by the West Yavapai Guidance Clinic. He loves film, and he loves Prescott. How did all of this come together? The idea started in November of 2015. Early on, a representative from State Rep. Noel Campbell’s office, challenged me on the spot, that if I was going to do a film festival, I needed to show the movie “The Business of Recovery.” At that point, I thought it would be a huge challenge to bring that film to a film festival to Prescott. I thought it’d scare away the treatment centers. But, what I found out was the exact opposite — they welcomed the film. They welcomed the scrutiny and a chance to get better at what they do. That’s something I love about the treatment industry, in general. Good treatment is always a question of, “How can I do this better?” There’s no one right way of doing it. That means you have to be open to new ideas and new concepts in treatment. ... The biggest thing is probably getting people to show up to the event. It’s easy to wipe our hands and say, “Hey, it’s their problem,” and put this off on the people in treatment. “I’m entitled to my opinion and I’m not in recovery, so why should I

Proceeds from the festival benefit Earthbase Recovery, a nonprofit of which you’re the executive director. What is that? We cultivate self wholeness and self healing for people who are suffering from different forms of mental illness and addiction. We’ve been around since November of 2014. We believe that human beings have a connection to the earth and the natural world, — a natural, god-given, or whatever-you-want- to-call- it connection. The more time we spend in that natural world, the more we can find wholeness and self-healing. So, what we do at Earthbase Recovery is guide people in that process. I’m the executive director, but I’m also a professional human development facilitator and a wilderness guide. We help people get into their own psyche in the wilderness and explore themselves and the natural world.

Jeff Grubert. Courtesy photo. go to the film festival?” I’m the first to admit there are a million reasons why you wouldn’t want to come to a festival like this. Why would you want to spend a weekend looking at someone else’s horrible addiction? My answer is that if you do come, you’re going to have something happen inside you. It’s a magical thing that can instigate compassion and creativity. I know it’s hard to show up for challenging topics like this, but if you come and engage the material without judgment, just take it in, I’m sure you’ll experience that change. What’s your sense of this topic’s progression in Prescott in recent months? In the last year, there’s been a shift in Prescott away from the initial outrage over the fact that there are treatment centers in our area — maybe more than a lot of us realized. That outrage begins a journey. It’s a place from which we start asking a lot of questions. And the more questions we ask about the treatment of addiction, the more frustrating it becomes because we don’t get any really clear answers. There are a lot of problems surrounding addiction and addicts. Where we end up through this questioning is engaging the creative process. That leads to solutions. You have to move through that initial outrage and, once you do, most people end up in a place of compassion. That compassion is transformative. And the only thing that really works with addiction is deep compassion. There are a lot of people who get clean and sober here, and they influence our community. The healthier they become, and the more compassion we have for them, the healthier Prescott becomes. Just in March, I’ve seen the language of city officials change. It’s shifting from a conversation about how to shut down these places to how to take on these challenges as a community and embrace Prescott as a place of healing. We want to challenge people to see how sober people bless our community.

***** The Surrender to Win Film Festival is April 8-10 at The Elks Theatre (117 E. Gurley St., No. 115, 928-777-1366). Screenings and panels are divided into blocks. Tickets range from $10-$15 per part. 1-, 2-, and 3-day passes range from $25-$49. Find out more about the inaugural festival, a schedule of events, Jeff Grubert, and Earthbase Recovery at EarthbaseNow.Org/surrender-towin-film-festival. Tickets are also available at PrescottElksTheater.Com. Robert Blood is a Mayer-ish-based freelance writer and ne’er-do-well who’s working on his last book, which, incidentally, will be his first. Contact him at BloodyBobby5@Gmail.Com.

Diagnosis: Technology

By Paolo Chlebecek ot again! Would you look at this huge cell phone bill? Why is it so much? What am I getting for all this money? Do you know what you’re paying for your cellular service? There have been reports of massively expensive cellular phone bills ranging from $4,800 all the way up to 15 quadrillion U.S. dollars! I didn’t believe that last one either, but after many reputable news outlets reported this in 2012. Apparently, the bill was the result of a carrier error. I guess I shouldn’t complain? At any rate, I’m still tired of paying so much per month for my cell phone service, so I decided to look around. I came across an invite to Google’s Project Fi. Project Fi? That’s weird. It gets its name from the latter half

Cell-ing points

Don’t carry a torch for your carrier of WiFi. In the U.S., we say “WyFy,” but in other countries they say “Wee-Fee,” really. However you say it, though, Project Fi is intriguing.

obile telephony began its foray into our lives with the first portable cell phone that was demonstrated by Motorola in 1973. That opened the way for the first automated cellular network launched in Japan by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone in 1979. Next came the first commercially available cell phone in 1984 by Motorola featuring the DynaTAC 8000X. The rest is history, and ever since then we’ve clamored for more and more. There are many choices of carriers these days. Most offer a simple phone that can talk and text and nothing else for a basic fee. Other

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providers can offer the ubiquitous iPhone or Samsung varieties that can run a multi-million dollar company or launch the space shuttle, if needed. If you want good, inexpensive service in multiple countries while utilizing data you may have a hard time finding one that fits the bill. (Pun intended.) What makes Google’s Project Fi so unique is its approach to billing and carriers. First, it takes advantage of WiFi and not one, but two 4G LTE networks. This enables you to use more cell towers and gets you the faster 4G data connections. They’ve partnered with Sprint and T-Mobile for phone calls and data. If there’s a WiFi connection available, it’ll use that method. But when it can’t, it will automatically switch you to whichever cellular network has the fastest connection at your location.

o, what about the cost? Here’s when my ears perked up like a dog waiting for a treat. It starts at only $20 per month! That includes unlimited domestic talk and text, unlimited international texts, Wi-Fi tethering to use your phone as a hotspot, and access to cellular coverage in 120-plus countries. Now, you should add at least 1 GB of data to your phone to use while you’re away from the home or oﬃce. The ﬁrm pricing no matter where you are in the 120-plus countries is only $10 for each GB. OK, so that’s only $30 per month.

Let’s say you get a 2 GB data plan. For example, I average only about 1.7 GB usage per month as I’m usually on WiFi for my data uses. Instead of wasting that $3, I get it back. Any unused portion of your data plan is repaid to you at approximately one cent per MB and the next month’s bill will be lower by that much. They calculate 1,000 MB per 1 GB. The actual math is 1024 MB equals 1 GB, but let’s not quibble about minutia.

o what’s the catch? There’s always a catch, right? Indeed there is: You must use one of their phones, i.e. the Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X. At the time of writing, they range from $199 for the lesser model 5X if you sign up with Project Fi at the same time. From there, it’s all the way up to $649 for the premium 128 GB Nexus 6P. I was not paid nor did I receive any compensation for this article. I just got excited about saving money for good stuﬀ. Ain’t technology great? ***** Paolo Chlebecek is founder and owner of PaoloTek, which he started in 2003. He loves dogs of all sorts and oddly ﬁnds himself driving around town between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. every weekday. Wave hi when you see him or contact him at Paolo@PaoloTek.Com

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18 • COLUMN • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

✲❁❙ ✧◆■✍❅❄ ✭❁❒❋❏❆❆ ✣❈❁■❅❙ ❐❁❙▲ ❈❏❍❁❇❅ ▼❏ ✤❁❖❉❄ ✣❁❒▲❏■

☛☛☛☛☛ ✭❁❒❋❏❆❆ ✣❈❁■❅❙ ❉▲ ❁■ ✥❁❒▼❈✍❂❁▲❅❄ ◗❈❏❄◆■❉▼ ❐◆■❄❉▼ ❁■❄ (✦■❏❒❄) ✤❉▲❃❏❒❄❉❁■ ✰❏❐❅✎ ★❅ ❈❁▲ ●❏▼▲❁ ❂❉●●▲ ❁■❄ ■❏ ▲❅■▲❅✎ ✣❏■▼❁❃▼ ❈❉❍ ❁▼ ✮❏❉▲❙✮❏❉▲❅✩▲✮❏❉▲❏❍❅✠ ✧❍❁❉●✎✣❏❍✎

4 Prescott’s 4th Friday

ART WALKS

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4FRIDAY COT T

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❁❍ ❁ ❖❅❒❙ ❏●❄ ❍❁■✛ ❈❏◗ ❏●❄ ✩ ❄❏ ■❏▼ ❋■❏◗✎ ✰❏▲▲❉❂●❙ ✩ ❁❍ ❁ ❈◆■❄❒❅❄✌ ❐❏▲▲❉❂●❙ ❍❏❒❅✛ ❂◆▼ ✩ ❃❁■■❏▼ ▼❅●● ❂❅❃❁◆▲❅ ✩ ❈❁❖❅ ■❅❖❅❒ ❁❇❅❄ ❁▲ ❏▼❈❅❒ ❍❅■✌ ■❏❒ ❄❏ ✩ ❒❅❍❅❍❂❅❒ ❁■❙ ❃❈❉●❄❈❏❏❄✎ ✳❏ ❆❁❒ ❁▲ ✩ ❃❁■ ❒❅❃❏●●❅❃▼ ✩ ❈❁❖❅ ❁●◗❁❙▲ ❂❅❅■ ❁ ❍❁■✌ ❁ ❍❁■ ❏❆ ❁❂❏◆▼ ▼❈❉❒▼❙✎ ✩ ❁❐❐❅❁❒ ▼❏❄❁❙ ❁▲ ✩ ❄❉❄ ❆❏❒▼❙ ❙❅❁❒▲ ❁■❄ ❍❏❒❅ ❁❇❏✌ ❁■❄ ❙❅▼ ✩ ❆❅❅● ▼❈❁▼ ✩ ❃❁■✍ ■❏▼ ❇❏ ❏■ ●❉❖❉■❇ ❆❏❒❅❖❅❒✛ ▼❈❁▼ ▲❏❍❅ ❄❁❙ ✩ ▲❈❁●● ❄❉❅ ▼❈❅ ❒❅❁● ❄❅❁▼❈ ❆❒❏❍ ◗❈❉❃❈ ▼❈❅❒❅ ❉▲ ■❏ ❒❅▲◆❒❒❅❃▼❉❏■✎ ✩ ❄❏ ■❏▼ ❋■❏◗ ◗❈❙ ✩ ▲❈❏◆●❄ ❆❅❁❒ ❄❅❁▼❈✌ ✩ ◗❈❏ ❈❁❖❅ ❄❉❅❄ ▼◗❉❃❅ ❁■❄ ❁❍ ▲▼❉●● ❁●❉❖❅✛ ❂◆▼ ❙❅▼ ✩ ❈❁❖❅ ▼❈❅ ▲❁❍❅ ❈❏❒❒❏❒ ❏❆ ❉▼ ❁▲ ❙❏◆ ◗❈❏ ❈❁❖❅ ■❅❖❅❒ ❄❉❅❄✌ ❁■❄ ❉▼ ❉▲ ❂❅✍ ❃❁◆▲❅ ❏❆ ▼❈❉▲ ▼❅❒❒❏❒ ❏❆ ❄❅❁▼❈✌ ✩ ❂❅●❉❅❖❅✌ ▼❈❁▼ ✩ ❁❍ ▲❏ ❃❏■❖❉■❃❅❄ ❏❆ ❍❙ ❍❏❒▼❁●❉▼❙✎ ✡■❄ ❂❅❃❁◆▲❅ ❏❆ ▼❈❉▲ ❃❏■❖❉❃▼❉❏■ ✩ ❈❁❖❅ ❄❅▼❅❒❍❉■❅❄ ▼❏ ◗❒❉▼❅ ❄❏◗■ ▼❈❅ ▲▼❏❒❙ ❏❆ ▼❈❅ ❉■▼❅❒❅▲▼❉■❇ ❐❅❒❉✍ ❏❄▲ ❏❆ ❍❙ ●❉❆❅ ❁■❄ ❏❆ ❍❙ ❄❅❁▼❈✎ ✩ ❃❁■■❏▼ ❅❘❐●❁❉■ ▼❈❅ ❐❈❅■❏❍❅■❁✛ ✩ ❃❁■ ❏■●❙ ▲❅▼ ❄❏◗■ ❈❅❒❅ ❉■ ▼❈❅ ◗❏❒❄▲ ❏❆ ❁■ ❏❒❄❉■❁❒❙ ▲❏●❄❉❅❒ ❏❆ ❆❏❒▼◆■❅ ❁ ❃❈❒❏■❉❃●❅ ❏❆ ▼❈❅ ▲▼❒❁■❇❅ ❅❖❅■▼▲ ▼❈❁▼ ❂❅❆❅●● ❍❅ ❄◆❒❉■❇ ▼❈❅ ▼❅■ ❙❅❁❒▲ ▼❈❁▼ ❍❙ ❄❅❁❄ ❂❏❄❙ ●❁❙ ◆■❄❉▲❃❏❖❅❒❅❄ ❉■ ❁■ ✡❒❉❚❏■❁ ❃❁❖❅✎ ✩ ❈❁❖❅ ■❅❖❅❒ ▼❏●❄ ▼❈❉▲ ▲▼❏❒❙✌ ■❏❒ ▲❈❁●● ❍❏❒▼❁● ❍❁■ ▲❅❅ ▼❈❉▲ ❍❁■◆▲❃❒❉❐▼ ◆■▼❉● ❁❆▼❅❒ ✩ ❈❁❖❅ ❐❁▲▲❅❄ ❏❖❅❒ ❆❏❒ ❅▼❅❒■❉▼❙✎ ✩ ❋■❏◗ ▼❈❁▼ ▼❈❅ ❁❖❅❒❁❇❅ ❈◆❍❁■ ❍❉■❄ ◗❉●● ■❏▼ ❂❅●❉❅❖❅ ◗❈❁▼ ❉▼ ❃❁■■❏▼ ❇❒❁▲❐✌ ❁■❄ ▲❏ ✩ ❄❏ ■❏▼ ❐◆❒❐❏▲❅ ❂❅❉■❇ ❐❉●●❏❒❉❅❄ ❂❙ ▼❈❅ ❐◆❂●❉❃✌ ▼❈❅ ❐◆●❐❉▼✌ ❁■❄ ▼❈❅ ❐❒❅▲▲✌ ❁■❄ ❈❅●❄ ◆❐ ❁▲ ❁ ❃❏●❏▲▲❁● ●❉❁❒ ◗❈❅■ ✩ ❁❍ ❂◆▼ ▼❅●●❉■❇ ▼❈❅ ▲❉❍❐●❅ ▼❒◆▼❈▲ ◗❈❉❃❈ ▲❏❍❅ ❄❁❙ ▲❃❉❅■❃❅ ◗❉●● ▲◆❂▲▼❁■▼❉❁▼❅✎ ✰❏▲▲❉❂●❙ ▼❈❅ ▲◆❇❇❅▲▼❉❏■▲ ◗❈❉❃❈ ✩ ❇❁❉■❅❄ ◆❐❏■ ✭❁❒▲✌ ❁■❄ ▼❈❅ ❋■❏◗●✍ ❅❄❇❅ ◗❈❉❃❈ ✩ ❃❁■ ▲❅▼ ❄❏◗■ ❉■ ▼❈❉▲ ❃❈❒❏■❉❃●❅✌ ◗❉●● ❁❉❄ ❉■ ❁■ ❅❁❒●❉❅❒ ◆■❄❅❒▲▼❁■❄❉■❇ ❏❆ ▼❈❅ ❍❙▲▼❅❒❉❅▲ ❏❆ ❏◆❒ ▲❉▲▼❅❒ ❐●❁■❅▼✛ ❍❙▲▼❅❒❉❅▲ ▼❏ ❙❏◆✌ ❂◆▼ ■❏ ●❏■❇❅❒ ❍❙▲✍ ▼❅❒❉❅▲ ▼❏ ❍❅✎ ✭❙ ■❁❍❅ ❉▲ ✪❏❈■ ✣❁❒▼❅❒✛ ✩ ❁❍ ❂❅▼▼❅❒ ❋■❏◗■ ❁▲ ✣❁❐✍ ▼❁❉■ ✪❁❃❋ ✣❁❒▼❅❒ ❏❆ ✶❉❒❇❉■❉❁✎ ✡▼ ▼❈❅ ❃●❏▲❅ ❏❆ ▼❈❅ ✣❉❖❉● ✷❁❒ ✩ ❆❏◆■❄ ❍❙▲❅●❆ ❐❏▲▲❅▲▲❅❄ ❏❆ ▲❅❖❅❒❁● ❈◆■✍ ❄❒❅❄ ▼❈❏◆▲❁■❄ ❄❏●●❁❒▲ (✣❏■❆❅❄❅❒❁▼❅) ❁■❄ ❁ ❃❁❐▼❁❉■✇▲ ❃❏❍❍❉▲▲❉❏■ ❉■ ▼❈❅ ❃❁❖❁●❒❙ ❁❒❍ ❏❆ ❁■ ❁❒❍❙ ◗❈❉❃❈ ■❏

●❏■❇❅❒ ❅❘❉▲▼❅❄✛ ▼❈❅ ▲❅❒❖❁■▼ ❏❆ ❁ ▲▼❁▼❅ ◗❈❉❃❈ ❈❁❄ ❖❁■❉▲❈❅❄ ◗❉▼❈ ▼❈❅ ❈❏❐❅▲ ❏❆ ▼❈❅ ✳❏◆▼❈✎ ✭❁▲▼❅❒●❅▲▲✌ ❐❅■■❉●❅▲▲✌ ❁■❄ ◗❉▼❈ ❍❙ ❏■●❙ ❍❅❁■▲ ❏❆ ●❉❖❅●❉❈❏❏❄✌ ❆❉❇❈▼❉■❇✌ ❇❏■❅✌ ✩ ❄❅▼❅❒❍❉■❅❄ ▼❏ ◗❏❒❋ ❍❙ ◗❁❙ ▼❏ ▼❈❅ ▲❏◆▼❈◗❅▲▼ ❁■❄ ❁▼▼❅❍❐▼ ▼❏ ❒❅▼❒❉❅❖❅ ❍❙ ❆❁●●❅■ ❆❏❒✍ ▼◆■❅▲ ❉■ ❁ ▲❅❁❒❃❈ ❆❏❒ ❇❏●❄✎ ✩ ▲❐❅■▼ ■❅❁❒●❙ ❁ ❙❅❁❒ ❐❒❏▲❐❅❃▼❉■❇ ❉■ ❃❏❍❐❁■❙ ◗❉▼❈ ❁■❏▼❈❅❒ ✣❏■❆❅❄❅❒❁▼❅ ❏❆❆❉❃❅❒✌ ✣❁❐▼❁❉■ ✪❁❍❅▲ ✫✎ ✰❏◗❅●● ❏❆ ✲❉❃❈❍❏■❄✎ ✷❅ ◗❅❒❅ ❅❘▼❒❅❍❅●❙ ❆❏❒▼◆■❁▼❅✌ ❆❏❒ ●❁▼❅ ❉■ ▼❈❅ ◗❉■▼❅❒ ❏❆ ✑✘✖✕✌ ❁❆▼❅❒ ❍❁■❙ ❈❁❒❄▲❈❉❐▲ ❁■❄ ❐❒❉❖❁▼❉❏■▲✌ ◗❅ ●❏❃❁▼❅❄ ▼❈❅ ❍❏▲▼ ❒❅❍❁❒❋❁❂●❅ ❇❏●❄✍ ❂❅❁❒❉■❇ ❑◆❁❒▼❚ ❖❅❉■ ▼❈❁▼ ❏◆❒ ◗❉●❄❅▲▼ ❄❒❅❁❍▲ ❈❁❄ ❅❖❅❒ ❐❉❃▼◆❒❅❄✎ ✰❏◗❅●●✌ ◗❈❏ ◗❁▲ ❁ ❍❉■❉■❇ ❅■❇❉■❅❅❒ ❂❙ ❅❄◆❃❁▼❉❏■✌ ▲▼❁▼❅❄ ▼❈❁▼ ◗❅ ❈❁❄ ◆■❃❏❖❅❒❅❄ ❏❖❅❒ ❁ ❍❉●✍ ●❉❏■ ❄❏●●❁❒▲ ◗❏❒▼❈ ❏❆ ❏❒❅ ❉■ ❁ ▼❒❉❆●❅ ❏❖❅❒ ▼❈❒❅❅ ❍❏■▼❈▲✎

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Choreography in the Community 2014. Photo by Delisa Myles.

Age-old questions

Choreography in the Community program challenges assumptions about young, not-as-young Delisa Myles’s

Moving Arts

By Delisa Myles hat’s it like to be your age? What assumptions do you make about people who are 10- to 12-yearsold? People 18- to 24-years-old? And what about people 55 or older? Those were the first questions we asked ourselves as we began an intergenerational performance project with Prescott College students, Skyview School fifth and sixth graders, and members of the larger Prescott community who were 55 or older. The impetus for all of this was — and still is — Choreography in the Community, a course I’ve taught at Prescott College off and on since 2000. This year’s culminating performance, “The Web of Us: Past, Present, and Future,” is coming up on Friday, April 29 (more info below). I’m directing it with Breanna Rogers, the dance teacher at Skyview School. Looking back to that first year, before the participants first met as a group, Breanna and I

invited them to make a few assumptions about the other age groups they’d be working with. “Be honest,” we challenged them. Here are some of the thoughts that came to light: People in fifth and sixth grade are … imaginative and adventurous, insecure about themselves and their bodies, worried about being cool and fitting in, worried about how they dress, worried about how they wear their hair, worried about how they act and speak, worried about who they hang out with, and worried what they spend their time doing. Moreover, they … do not feel heard by the world outside their peers, are dramatic and frustrated, like little bombs ready to explode, and are loud and fast and have tangled hair. College students are … inclusive and welcoming, hip to a fault, technologically oriented, always leaning against buildings, trying to find themselves, and able to do whatever they want. And they don’t comb their hair. People 55 and older are … wise, stuck in their ways, impatient, and conservative. Moreover, they … have physical limitations, have life figured out, bruise easily, have fragile skin, like to tell stories, have gray hair, are peaceful, and are less likely to be spontaneous or try something new. There was a sense of anticipation, a little nervousness, and maybe a little awkwardness on our first day together.

ne of the ﬁrst explorations we did together was an activity called diamonds, where we work in groups of four and stand in diamond formations. The person in the front of the diamond is the leader and those behind follow with exact timing. The leadership is subsequently

20 • COLUMN • APRIL 2016 • 5ENSESMAG.COM

passed off to all members of the group. This exercise gives people the opportunity to try on someone else’s movement, to get close to feeling what it’s like in someone else’s skin. It also gives each person the opportunity to lead, create movement, and feel supported by the fact that the three people dancing behind them are doing their best to replicate their movement. When all the diamonds moved at the same time, it was like seeing a slow motion flow of animals migrating. Some groups moved creature-like near the floor; some groups moved higher above, arms floating, as if free of gravitational pull. In other explorations, a 60-something-year-old man and a 10-year-old girl partner with shifting shapes, negative space, and stillness. In another, a college-age woman and a 12-year-old boy dance a fierce expression of mechanized quirky robots. Seeing 35 people doing this at the same time with sensitive group awareness creates a kaleidoscopic landscape of bodies in motion. There’s a sense of choreographic order with the unison movement and a quality of surprise and controlled chaos with all of the variations unfolding. It’s as if you can see how the intelligence and momentum of the universe forms swirls of galaxies or how an ecosystem draws on all varieties of diverse life forms to make things click. After a few weeks of dancing together, mirroring, sculpting, and playing with the shapes and patterns that emerged from each individual and from within the group, something happened. The vulnerability and awkwardness of the new situation melted away. It felt as though a huge blanket of acceptance and equality enveloped us. We moved through a sea of smiling faces and dancing bodies. We became a web of people — just

people — the assumptions faded and an ageless quality emerged. Everybody danced in a way that was true for them. We seemed to collectively and individually rise to higher potentials. The 12-year-old boys became less cliquish and more group focused. A 60-year-old woman was more energized and less timid. We forgot who was supposed to be cool and who was judging.

s I write this, this year’s participants are three weeks into the 10-week process and there’s a sense that we’re bonding. I’ve heard from a few of the community members that it’s the highlight of their week. In our most recent session, we watched each other dance. Half the group danced and half observed, and then we talked about what we’d seen. The ﬁfth and sixth graders are the ﬁrst to volunteer to talk, eagerly raising their hands. Many of them comment with a sophisticated eye for composition and detail. Some just comment, “That was fun.” And they’re right; it was. We listen to each other and the web of us materializes. The invisible connection that we are creating is growing. But what exactly is it? At the end of each session, we gather in a circle for a short sharing, and there’s always something special — dare I say, holy — in the group. It’s a relaxation and an energized exaltation that’s in the air at the end of each class. Part of it’s that we’ve all gone beyond ourselves, included someone new in our dance, and into our world. Through step-

ping into the dance of another, we’ve rubbed oﬀ on each other, and our realities have expanded a bit. The group has become more uniﬁed through our shared movement, and our individuality has become more honored and seen. This shimmering end-of-class quality is … hard to describe. It’s a feeling inside each of our bodies, but it’s also in the room. There’s something tangibly interconnected about the group. It’s the eye contact, the little touches, the listening and paying attention in new ways that creates the web. We’re all a little out of our usual element, doing things with people that we ordinarily wouldn’t come in contact with. This seems to create small changes in the way we look at ourselves and each other. Maybe it’s okay to approach someone not your own age and talk to them — dance with them, even. Maybe our assumptions get in the way of seeing each person as they are in the present. When we go around the circle and say one word for how we feel or how we experienced the day, the words are often excited, fun, proud, energized, grateful, surprised, awesome, and impressed.

es, it’s the physical exercise that provides an endorphin boost, but I wonder, are these positive feelings more pronounced than those derived from a romp at recess or a workout at the gym? My sense is that it has something to do with the mix of ages that makes the feeling so special. It has to do with going beyond assumptions and

prejudices, about being surprised that things are not always what we might assume. Older people do want to try something new. College students can do more than lean on buildings. Fifth and sixth graders do have something to say that adults want to hear. There’s a feeling of wholeness and a special kind of nourishment we get by being around the spectrum of ages. If you’re curious to see this process in action, our culminating performance for the public, “The Web of Us: Past, Present, and Future,” is 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the Prescott College Granite Performing Arts Center. It’ll include nearly 60 people performing choreographed, improvised, and spoken word pieces. Please join us for an evening of creative intergenerational art. There aren’t many settings or situations where people of mixed ages can get to know each other; where we have the opportunity to counter the stereotypes and separation that our culture breeds; where we have the opportunity to create together as equals. This is one of them. We hope to see you there. ***** Delisa Myles is a dancer, choreographer, and professor of dance who’s been central in creating Prescott College’s dance program since 1994. She is founder and creative director of Flying Nest Movement Arts in downtown Prescott. Find out more and contact her at FlyingNestStudio.Com, DelisaMyles.Com, and Info@FlyingNestStudio. Com. Movement Arts photo by Deborah Ford.

Not-asholy days

here’s a preponderance of holy and hippie days this month. Still, there’s more to life, right? Consider celebrating ... April 1: Free Cheese & Puppies Day • April Fool’s! April 3: Don’t Go to Work Unless It’s Fun Day • Tell ’em 5enses said so. April 6: Plan Your Epitaph Day • Here lies ...

n a secret hangar, 900 miles from Baghdad, the ﬁrst F-117A Stealth Fighters to be used in combat were covertly hidden during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft’s amazing design is invisible to radar and it has proven its defensive value repeatedly.

ODDLY ENOUGH ... During the war, mechanics found the hangars littered with dead bats. Apparently, the shape of this plane worked so well that bats with their sophisticated sonar systems cannot see the plane even when it’s standing still. Hence, bats were flying into the fighters, the same way birds fly into very clean windows.

April 7: No Housework Day • A convenient excuse. April 8: Draw a Picture of a Bird Day • They don’t have arms, which is kinda creepy. April 11: Eight-track Tape Day • Analogous analog. April 16: National Librarian Day • Thank your resident book-y. April 23: Take a Chance Day • Just you try something. April 26: Richter Scale Day • A seismic celebration.

*****

he Gillaroo (which means “red fellow” in Gaelic) is a rather unusual trout-like ﬁsh that lives exclusively in Loch Melvin in Ireland. It feeds primarily on snails, shrimp, and freshwater mollusks. The locals claim it tastes better than salmon. ODDLY ENOUGH … The Gillaroo is the only ﬁsh known to have a gizzard. ***** Russell Miller is an illustrator, cartoonist, writer, bagpiper, motorcycle enthusiast, and reference librarian. Currently, he illustrates books for Cody Lundin and Bart King.

April 28: Astronomy Day • Watch the stars.

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