Flag Live - November 2022

By Camille Sipple

Alienated Majesty

My husband sent me a link to a book review this week by an author whose work is in my wheelhouse. The author’s new book extolls the mental and physical health benefits of walking in his neighbor

hood the past several years. Of small observations and large realizations I think of my almost finished manu script of walking my own neighbor hood. A world weary sigh escapes my lips as I drop my phone into my satchel

and head to class.

As I face the brisk wind on my walk, hair whipping around my face, I can’t help but mourn another idea and book in progress lost. I know some will say that my book would be differ

ent, offer another perspective. But in the world of marketing, this is now a been there, published that idea For this walk, I keep my eyes downcast and look for patterns in the shadows underneath

Stacy Murison

STACY MURISON

A Junco in our backyard

skateboards wheels and the feet of laughing students There is no joy discovering these shapes, only something akin to overwhelm ing sadness and self recrimination. Why haven’t I been able to publish more of my walking essays? Why didn’t I finish my book this summer rather than eating all of the crème brûlée in France?

My husband and I used to discuss this publication phenomenon earlier in his ca reer. It seemed that he would referee articles for scientific journals for ideas he had but wasn’t able to research further or write. He is a well regarded but under published researcher. I cringe now to think of the encouragement I gave him back then, not really understanding the intellectual loss of non publication that is also wrapped in a kind of self defeat. Does our work even matter if it’s not published? Perhaps this is the curse of deep thinkers who are also slow writers to be well thought of but whose writing sees less and less publication.

As I re read Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self Reliance” with my students this se mester, we move quickly beyond Emerson’s admonishments of being both great and misunderstood. Instead, this group of stu dents finds a different passage to question: “In every work of genius, we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.” How to explain this? So often we don’t have confi dence in our own ideas, but when someone else voices them, we recognize our latent genius. If only we had spoken what was on our minds or in our hearts first When we discuss this passage in class, I use it as a call to action to speak their truths and to ask questions without fear.

After class, I walk back to my car in the dark, wondering what causes my own hes itation. I was able to voice this a few weeks ago to a friend of never believing I was (or am) intelligent There’s something that keeps me from thinking I’m smart enough to share some of my ideas. Being a nerd who sometimes speaks too slowly for others and whose brain makes odd connections can be a long term ego hit. Doubt becomes insid ious and, over time, project after project is abandoned.

This is only part of the problem, though Since my husband sent me the article, I keep thinking of something my friend, Jesse, told me a few years ago. While we were out celebrating the publication of his second

book, I asked him how he found the time for his own writing. Jesse told me he made the decision to put his writing first Before we left lunch, he reminded me to decide to whether I wanted to be a teacher or a writer first. I’ve held onto the idea for so long that I can do both well that the two are perma nently intertwined for me. I look around at my writing mentors who seem to do both well and continue to publish books, which causes me to reflect more on my own situa tion. Reflecting on how my priorities shifted during the pandemic makes me question if all of these changes are always to my bene fit. Perhaps there is something about caring too deeply for others and not enough about my own goals and dreams.

Can I even write anything anymore without referencing or evoking teaching or students? Or is it that both teaching and students inspire my writing? Rather than an intertwining, perhaps this is instead my ouroboros. Is this my new infinity? What begets what? Is it that I must believe my own genius to write? Or that I must write to believe my own genius?

Tonight, here at my desk, I question the ideas alienated and majesty. Like looking at a word for a long time causes us not to know if it’s spelled correctly or if it’s even a word at all. This is a kind of brilliance I find in Emerson, who captures the dual human experiences of awe and mundaneness. How is it that our own selves can be alien to us at times? As for majesty, I prefer to think of the golden leaves of the aspens, or the swift moving clouds as evening descends around me

That my ideas can be majestic is its own sort of madness to me. That I can be intel ligent is its own kind of alienation. I let my thoughts turn back to birds, when my world was much smaller a few years ago. Rather than my ideas returning to me as alienated majesty, I think I’d rather imagine myself as a fat little junco whose whole world is her back yard. Stay close to the ground, gather seeds, prepare for winter. Leave the majesty to the natural world for now and return Em erson to my bookshelf until next semester

Stacy Murison is a Flagstaff based writer Her work has appeared in Assay, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, Flash Fiction Magazine, Hobart, McSweeney’s In ternet Tendency and The Rumpus among others You can find her work at stacymurison com or follow her on Twitter, @StacyMurison

Reflecting on how my priorities shifted during the pandemic makes me question if all of these changes are always to my benefit.

Hot Picks

MONTH OF NOveMbeR, 2022

FROM DRUNK UNTIL DAWN

Homecoming week is filled with fun, school sanctioned events that range from chili cook offs to the ASNAU Carnival, but there’s one, unofficial tradition that stands out from the rest of the pack. Tequila Sunrise is Flagstaff’s biggest party of the year, bringing both students and alumni together at the crack of dawn to celebrate school spirit and NAU football. The chaos of this event is intoxicating, making it the ultimate pregame for the day ahead which includes a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., the Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m., tailgating at 11 a.m. and football against Montana State at 1 p.m. It’s a busy day, and sporting a warm buzz will almost certainly add to the excitement. But, please be sure to drink responsibly while you’re out and about this weekend and tip your bartenders. Cash tends to make sober, November mornings easier to digest. Some of the most popular hotspots are Collins Irish Pub and Grill, The Mayor and The Weatherford All of which tend to offer great morning deals for students and alumni who participate.

THAT’S ALL, FOLK

There are few musicians in this day and age that evoke the sentiments of vagabond storytelling in the way that artists like Woody Guthrie or John Prine did during their careers, but if we were to determine a modern-day equivalent, that artist might be John Craigie. Based in Portland, Oregon, Craigie has built up a modest name for himself as a folk troubadour, penning songs that are born out of mundane human experiences and expressed with a wholesome grandiosity. He is without a doubt one of the most singular artists in the American music scene, but for now, he remains a wellkept secret among his most loyal fans which makes it all the more exciting that he’s coming back to Flagstaff on November 11. With every performance, Craigie shows his audience why he’s a phenom enon in his genre by giving them a night that elicits a whole range of delightful and cathartic emotions. You’re not going to want to miss it. Craigie will play at the Coconino Center for the Arts on Nov 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost between $23–26, and a portion of sales will go to Waste Not, an Arizona nonprofit dedicated to sustainable food systems

JAKe bACON, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Last year’s Tequila Sunrise participants fill downtown Flagstaff’s sidewalks,waiting to get into the bars.

BRADLEY COX

COME JOIN THE MURDER

Finding your voice as an artist is a challenging part of growing into your form. Sometimes it takes a while, but once you find it, the idea of who you are shifts into something truly special. Jake Smith known famously as The White Buffalo has one of the most distinct voices in the business. He’s been compared most to the singer-songwriter Richie Havens whose gravely and soulful voice calls back to the roots of country, folk and even punk music. Most people know Smith from his work on the TV show “Sons of Anarchy”. He performs many songs including “Come Join the Murder”, which plays during the climactic moment in the series finale and a very country-rock rendition of “House of the Rising Sun” On November 11, Smith is releasing a brand-new album called Year of the Dark Horse which is just in time for his show in Flagstaff on November 16. He has said that this new album breaks all the rules and will be a sonic and lyrical journey for all of his listeners, so don’t miss out. This show is going to be very special. The White Buffalo will be performing at the Orpheum Theater on Nov. 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will start at 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets cost $25

KRINGLE GOES TO COURT

Click 1 2

the $ icon; click “Make a Donation Today”; then click “Make a

” Choose between FUSD Middle School or Elementary School Choose “Camp Colton Tax” before adding your gift amount and submit Visit FUSD1.org online:

Learn more at FriendsOfCampColton.org or email Mary Giannola at mgiannola@fusd1.org. Write a check to Mount Elden or Sinagua Middle School. Write

COURTESY OF JAKE SMITH HULTON ARCHIVE

(Left to right) Actors John Payne,Maureen O’Hara, Edmund Gwenn and young Natalie Wood stand before a Christmas tree in a still from director George Seaton’s film,“Miracle on 34th Street”.

“A spiritual home”

Filmmaker Deidra Peaches documents and spotlights

Indigenous tribes around the Grand Canyon and Colorado River

PAUL GARCIA

The New World is an oxymoronic statement that seems acceptable to academics and historians alike. To those of us that are Indigenous to the American continents, it’s a phrase that is both belittling and reductive to the long history of the many people that called the “New World” home. Locally, we are often forgotten or ignored when it comes to our sacred spaces especially when it comes to National Parks and Monuments. The long shadow of colonization often obscures our history and ties to the land and creates a fable about who we are, where we’ve come from and the dreams we have for our futures. Luckily there are several people within our communities that actively seek to shine a light on what it means to be bound to our ancestral lands.

Diné filmmaker Deidra Peaches is one of these individuals. She began her career as filmmaker in 2009 when she debuted her documentary “Shimásaní’’ at the Imagina tive Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.

“[I] was trying to understand what gave her strength as a Diné woman and what resonated with her.” Peaches said about her first documentary. “She talked about the importance of corn… and the importance of culture and language. I think that documentary definitely created for me a passion to tell stories that are very significant to my identity as a Diné woman. Also learning more about the tradition, the culture and the burden of socio-political issues that [we are facing].”

Since her debut, Peaches has also worked on several documentaries focusing on the

environmental and health issues that the Diné face. Her film “TÓ ÉÍ ’IINÁ ATÉ”

(Water is life) focused on the water scarcity and the uranium mining that have polluted

the groundwater in Dinétah.

“The objective of [this] documentary was to highlight the social injustices of water exploitation on the Navajo Nation,” Peaches said. “Even though the tribes (Navajo and Hopi) border the Colorado River for over one hundred and ten miles, they don’t have water rights to the river”

Recently, she screened her film “Voices of the Grand Canyon” which highlighted several Indigenous tribes that hold the National Park in reverence for their his tory and spiritual importance. The project originally began in 2015 when she traveled down the Colorado river with fellow cinematographer Jake Hoyungowa Sadly, Hoyungowa passed away before the project could be completed.

“I know it was something he felt passionate about,” Peaches said about Hoy ungowa. “I knew he would have wanted to finish it. When he was alive he was working with the Grand Canyon Trust and Inter tribal Centennial Conversation Group I was approached by the Grand Canyon Trust and they wanted to know if I was interested in continuing this project. I felt like during that time of grief like it was something that I needed to put my energy into because I know that’s something that meant a lot to both of us.”

Their passion really shines through the completed film. The number of people they interviewed to share their knowledge about the Grand Canyon is remarkable. “Voices of the Grand Canyon” is truly a labor of love. It’s also a great way for the many tribes that hold the Grand Canyon in ven eration to share their perspective.

“Grand Canyon National Park is more than a bucket list destination,” the narrator says as breathtaking images of the canyon and river are projected on the screen. “It is a spiritual home to Native people.”

Eleven tribes today still maintain cultural connections to the Grand Canyon. Zuni, Havasupai, Navajo, Hopi and White Moun tain Apache are just some of the tribes that have spiritual and historical ties to the canyon. Many petroglyphs and artifacts can be found throughout the canyon. Several tribes believe it is the place of emergence.

“The archeological sites are our foot prints,” said Leigh Kuwanwisiwma of Bacavi in the video “The Grand Canyon

PHOTOS BY DIEDRA PEACHES

Diedra Peaches is a Diné filmmaker who examines the relationship that Native peoples have with the natural world around us.

Leigh Kuwanwisiwma,Hopi

is our genesis and also our final spiritual home… it is the home for our ancestral people.”

The Havasupai people also have strong ties to the park, the territory of the Ha vasupai tribe once included part of the south rim of the canyon. They now reside on a reservation fifty miles away from their original homeland. Standing on the rim overlooking the canyon, Coleen Kaska addresses the audience of the film to share her tribe’s history in the canyon.

“Over a hundred years my people have lost a lot of mingling [with the canyon].”

Kaska said. “Once it became a national park my people were restricted from the area. They were no longer welcomed here.”

The removal and restriction of Indig enous people from sacred sites and their homeland is something we have become accustomed to however it does not mean we don’t still long to be in our homeland

Nor does it deter us from finding a way to reconnect with those sacred spaces. Nikki Cooley found one way to reconnect with the canyon.

“I’m the first Navajo woman to be a com mercial river guide for about thirteen years.” Cooley said. “I really was outspoken about my cultural perspectives because I felt that the guiding community [and also] our cli ents needed to know Indigenous perspec tives and knowledge should be included in every conversation It’s a very sacred place that we must treat carefully, respectful and not think of it as a theme park”

As the video ends and the credits roll there is a sense of love and care that was put into production by the team and by Peaches. As marginalized people we often have our history invalidated to fit western narratives, our stories cooped by outsiders to be repacked as niche curiosities, and our voices silenced while we try to speak up on the issues that affect us disproportionately. It wasn’t until individuals like Peaches that we are finally able to say our piece, finally able to share our perspective with a wider audience and to finally have a voice that is our own.

Coleen Kaska,Havasupai

Nikki Cooley,Diné

... I think that documentary definitely created for me a passion to tell stories that are very significant to my identity as a Diné woman...”

By Virginia Woolf

Adapted by Sarah Ruhl

by Jaclynn Jutting

Mapping out my life

Iknow you’ve definitely heard this be fore but I’m going to say it again: It’s crazy how fast time moves. Usually, you hear this from your parents, grandparents or family members when they see how much you’ve grown or re ceive your graduation an nouncement For me, I’ve noticed it a lot this year my senior year of college.

Camille Sipple

I’ve always been some one who plans ahead and likes having a roadmap for my life, while also enjoy ing the little moments of spontaneity that show up here and there. However, as of now, I don’t have a roadmap or a foolproof plan after graduation. Despite how much this scares me, I know it’s necessary and OK For as long as I can remember, my next stepping stone has always been dipped in the ink of academia. Now, I’m not so sure.

At first I was frustrated that nobody I asked was able to give me a solid answer

on what I should do after graduation. Then I realized why. This is one of the first big directional decisions of my life that I have had to make without someone tell ing me what the right thing to do is. All of my life I’ve had some form of guidance or guard rail shaping my decisions or at least giving me options to choose from College graduation seems to be the last of those guard rails and training wheels falling off, so I can move forward on my own.

As freeing as this is, it’s also a bit scary No one really prepares you for the part of fin ishing school where you are a “fully fledged adult” pushed out to fly on your own and make potentially life altering decisions without any sort of voice on your shoulder advising you. I am also someone who is constantly obsessing over if I am making the right decisions which is probably a side ef fect of my constant planning. In that sense, jumping off from the safety of the school shaped ledge that I have sat comfortably on for my whole life is terrifying That being said, I am still definitely ex-

cited to graduate and see what my next chapter brings, whatever it may be I know that I have surrounded myself with people

who wish to see me succeed and offer sup port along the way, no matter what road I choose.

At first I was frustrated that nobody I asked was able to give me a solid answer on what I should do after graduation.

is the best medicine

Big Head Todd and the Monsters plays at a benefit concert for the Poore Medical Clinic

CAMILLE SIPPLE

On Fr day November 18 at 8 p m , Big Head Todd and the Monsters wil be taking the Orpheum stage and br ng ng the mus c of the ‘80s and 90s back to Flagstaff

The Orpheum has a so planned this event to run as a benefit concert Susan Walter, the genera manager of The Orpheum sa d the venue in coordinat on with Big Head Todd and the Monsters wil be donating a port on of the ticket proceeds to Poore Medical Cl n c, a ocal medical and denta clinic that prov des ser vices free of charge. Poore Med ca Cl n c aims to maintain a commu nity based community supported free c inic that provides services to low income or uninsured Cocon no County residents.

Over the past 10 years, the cl n c has he d an annua fundrais ng event at the Orpheum known as “Beans and Rice,” Walter said. This year, the cl n c and venue col aborated and decided things would be a little different. Rock band B g Head Todd and the Monsters wil be headlining the benefit concert, marking the

clinic’s 11th anniversary

“We [the Orpheum and the cl n c] looked at our calendar and both agreed that the band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, wou d be a great fit to connect Poore Medical Cl n c’s current aud ence whi e reaching a whole new demographic found in the band’s fan base,” Wa ter sa d.

Guitarist and vocal st Todd Mohr sa d he and the other band members are extremely excited to be playing concerts in publ c again. COVID 19 took a toll not on y on venues, but on art sts as well Mohr explained “We’re ab e to work again and peop e are able to come out to see the concerts,” Mohr sa d. “It’s a really warm environment for mus c right now, so we’re really en oying it.”

Mohr said the band has been slowly ntroduc ng songs off of their upcoming album over the past year and hope to continue to bring fans new materia at every show. That being said, the band a so does not intend to stop playing l ve concerts any time soon Mohr explained.

“Our plan is ust to keep p aying shows,” Mohr said. “We never real y stop p aying We don’t rea ly go on

a tour that begins and ends. We’re pretty much always touring e ther in the winter or the summer”

To any fans coming out to the show who have been istening to Big Head Todd and the Monsters s nce they first started making music in 1986, Mohr said he and the other band members express the r most sincere gratitude.

“It s been a really great experi ence for us because we ve just been basica ly play ng l ve shows for our who e career” Mohr sa d “There haven’t been a lot of rad o hits or MTV hits We re not rea ly stars in any other way except for how our fans are.”

Those interested in support ng Poore Medical Cl n c or simply look ing forward to an evening with Big Head Todd and the Monsters can purchase their tickets on the Or pheum s website The venue has a so act vated a donation mechanism with n the website where attendees can opt to contr bute additional donat ons, Walter said These ad ditional monetary donations w ll go directly to Poore Medical Cl n c, a ongside the t cket proceeds

In th s fi e photo the ateDr.Henry and Nina Poore stand outside the r c in c after t was named the 2013 Arizona Dai y Sun Organization of the Year KELL TRESGALLO

Gu tarist and vocalist Todd Mohr says “It’s a really warm environment for music right now,so we’re really enjoy ng it.”

COURTESY OF B G HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS

COURTESY OF B G HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS

MYRON LUZN AK

B gHeadToddandtheMonstersperformingattheCultureRoom nFt Lauderda e,FL

MYRON LUZNIAK

Impossible Living Together

After that first year of dorm living as students at Reed College, most of us moved into Reed Houses. Throughout southeast Portland, Reedies crammed themselves into houses with names like The Dustbin, The Cosmos, The Center of the Universe. We were lucky, I think, that the neighborhood surrounding Reed sported a number of run-down, four-tofive-bedroom houses Due south of Reed was East Moreland where some faculty and some fancy people lived but in all other directions, you could find a Reed House sprinkled in among the 1950s middle-class suburbs. You could tell the Reed Houses by the lack of mown lawns and the number of couches on the front porches. The neighbors seemed, mostly, chill with the fact that sometimes up to 8 people lived in a four-bedroom house and that on some weekend nights, parties with kegs and bands went on until 4 a.m. Or maybe those neighbors did complain, but in the 90s, housing in Portland wasn’t the competitive sport it is now. Then, houses in those neighborhoods sold for $100,000 or so. Now, they’re half a million at least. I suspect the neighbors have a lot more to say about couches on porches and how of ten you must maintain your lawn.

I never lived in one of the named houses like The Dustbin, but I organized renting a house with a few other people. My first Reed House was pretty far east—almost to 82nd Street—about 40 (short) blocks from school. Rebecca, of recent Jeopardy success and who is now a sought-after psycholo-

gist in Baltimore, and her friend, Chris, an English major like me who is now a veterinarian in Massachusetts took me up on the offer I posted for rooms for $120/month. My best friend at Reed, Misty, who is now an immigration lawyer, moved in with her ferrets—Asa and Maxine. My then-boy friend Andy, also now a lawyer, though divorce, not immigration, had his own room although he mainly slept in mine. $120 times five paid the $600 rent no problem

We made ramen like regular students but also feasts of roasted chicken and falafel and lasagna. Misty and I grew tomatoes in between the tall grasses of the backyard. Asa and Maxine escaped their cages and hid behind the stove.

My next Reed house was only a Reed house because most of us had—past tense—attended Reed. My parents helped me put a down payment on a house we called the Big Blue Barn for $93,500. The payments, with mortgage insurance, came to $615/month. I rented out three of the rooms—one to Rhett, a physics major who rode a unicycle and whose cat, Smile, only drank water from the ever-dripping bathtub faucet and to Jonathan, who became my boyfriend after he moved in, who was also a physics major who went on to get his PhD at U Dub and now works as an in vestment counselor for Black Rock (I think. He’s hard to find on Google). Dating by renting out rooms served as a form of Tin

der before we even had Match.com.

Living in these housing situations wasn’t always easy We sectioned up the refriger ator but those chilly borders didn’t always last. Dishes didn’t wash themselves, and she-who-wanted-a-clean kitchen ended up washing them herself (still true fact to this day.) She who mopped the floors. She who bought the paper towels. He who complained that if the she (me) bought more paper towels, the he (Rhett) would clean more. We only ever had one bathroom in any of these houses. Sometimes, the lights and music stayed on too late and too loud for the would-be sleepers Sometimes, the vacuumer started vacuuming before other people wanted to be awakened. This lack of 100% agreement over cleanliness and noise frustrated, but, most of the time, the situation resolved itself. I bought paper towels. Rhett scrubbed the bathtub more often (mostly for Smile, but still). We drank Black Butte Porter and watched the X-Files, the Simpsons and Star Trek: Next Generation. It helped that all the roommates across time were both Reedies and Trekkies.

As the housing crisis continues to crunch people’s incomes into tiny crumbs, I’m thinking about how efficient it was, liv ing in these houses with other people. Co-housing sounds like a drag—people love their privacy and everyone has differ ent levels of comfort for cleanliness, but maybe the advantages outweigh the drags. Resource-wise you’re sharing timber and windows, heating and electricity, internet and refrigeration. You’re sharing the cost not only of the mortgage/rent but also util ities and repairs. You also have to practice

Nicole Walker

patience and resolve frustrating habits, which, in some truly high-ideal kind of way, might be a path to bridging our country’s great divide.

It’s supposedly the American Dream to live in a house in a nuclear family. And, to some degree, living with your kids and spouse is the same as living with roommates. You will probably still end up washing all the dishes. You will probably annoy your housemates with your vacu uming. But if you have the space to share, why not open up a room to someone? Why not concentrate humans where humans live—close-in to town where even more sharing of space can occur? The desire to live alone is one of those dreams drilled into us by our forbearers like dream of drilling for oil. You think, when you reach black gold, that you’ve got it made—my own house, my Amer ican dream. But maybe it is possible to live together, turn my house into our house. And, maybe, if you’re single, you can use your new-found willingness to share like you would use OK Cupid, and your roommate and you can further partner up Maybe it is possible to share paper towels, timber and warmth. In fact, maybe, by sharing, your house is a little warmer already you don’t need so much heat or oil or even grass.

Nicole Walker is the author of seven books, most recently Pro cessedMeats:EssaysonFood,Flesh,andNavigatingDisaster

She teaches at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff The words here are her own and do not necessarily reflect those of her employer

Masters of Brewtality shares a cold one with blacksmith extraordinaire Joshua Meyer

We’ve been accused of being many things down here in the Masters of Brewtality crypt... Unnatural blasphemers, deviant freaks, remorse less party animals and naked agents of good fun, but we’ve never been called hip. Aspiring for adoration based on our slimy tendrils being on the pulse of what’s main stream is something that we’ve universally spat upon amongst our unholy crew, but, this month, we did it. We were drinking craft beer with a local craft icon before the blinding spotlight of Reality TV hit and, hot damn, we’re going to share our hideous tale, too.

Last month, we made an epic quest to find the most crushing of metal fes tivals in Taos, New Mexico, but on the ride back, we realized that we’d made an appointment with none other than local blacksmith extraordinaire Joshua Meyer. We desperately needed healthy sleep and healthy food, but, remembering we get only one quick jaunt through this strange existence, we rallied hard and hit the road yet again, this time destined for a hidden forge nestled in Flagstaff’s Eastside.

The idea had come after a vigorous sampling of some of Flag’s more potent beers while watching Forged in Fire and the question was asked if we, humble lunatics that we are, could find a teacher who would be equally nuts enough to give us access to a forge, hammers, grinders and anvils with the intention of mak ing epic knives? A brief internet search turned up Josh and, when we found out he was in Italy sampling both food, beer and wine, we felt we’d found the right fit because there’s nothing we respect more than a road warrior powered by the fin est of boozy beverages down here in the crypt.

The closest point of reference we found for Josh’s forge was Golden Dragon right off Steve’s Boulevard and, being honest, we couldn’t have been happier. That little neighborhood over there between Fourth Street and Steve’s is one of the weirdest spots on the fringes of downtown and we can’t get enough of it. From our favorite personal trainer Brendan Cabral at Flag

staff Fitness Company to Adam Herring ton’s High Altitude Brewing Supply, this hidden gem of awesomeness remains one of the last best secrets we have in our rap idly growing town And imagine our sur prise when we pulled up to find that High Altitude had moved in directly in front of Josh’s forge. More on that later…

Joshua Meyer got into blacksmithing through his brother, who upon freeing himself of the constraints of military service, was looking for a new focus. The physicality, the precise science, the

personal expression and the rush of it all spoke to him. And his new hobby hit Josh at just the right time in his life as well. As any artist will tell you, there’s a lightning strike moment where you realize you’re going to live and die by your creations because the world thrust upon can no longer offer anything other than subjugation The nine to five, but ton down life becomes a cinched plastic bag over your head and, while you’ll have no choice but to abandon any prospect of stability, it’s truly the only path open for

you to follow. When we met him, he was five years into his journey and watching his methodology was nothing less than awe inspiring.

He walked the humble freaks and geeks of the MOB crypt through every step, from the initial vicious pounding of near molten railroad spikes to grind ing a knife’s shape fit for a murderer and everything was done in a manner far more supportive than our blackened hearts could ever hope to attain. We made our own knives, people! It was in

Mike Williams

PHOTOS BY JAKE BACON ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Joshua Meyer inspects the beginnings of a knife he forged from an old railroad spike in his studio.

As any artist will tell you, there’s a lightning strike moment where you realize you’re going to live and die by your creations...

credible! Which brings us to one of the top 5 beers we’ve ever had….

A simple Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. We had a few left over in the cooler and, upon finding out we all had a mutual adoration for those most special of suds, we cracked them open as the knives were being quenched. You don’t get many of the most memorable beers you’ve ever had over the course of your drinking career because, well, you’re drinking, but those that shine like a blood red moon stick with you forever This was one of those Running between an anvil and a blistering forge, striking red hot iron with a ham mer worthy of Chris Hemsworth, and grinding an edge onto a blade after you’ve managed to grind off a sizeable chunk of your knuckle because you’re learning a new craft and you totally suck was equally humbling and inspiring

And when we cracked open those ice cold brewskis, it brought everything about this column back home. Beer is the punctuation mark at the end of the most

poignant sentences describing your life. It’s a soundtrack to adventures, making new friends, and learning new skills. What a wonderful potion indeed!

In closing, Josh likes local beers and if you’re around downtown, you might just be lucky enough to catch him. He’s booking these wild blacksmithing classes through his new website, The Quench. com, and if you’re interested in seeing the process, you can view his Forged in Fire episode on Amazon Prime, which he totally won. Also, with a little luck, Adam at High Altitude Brewing Supply will have his back bar open within the next few months, so keep an eye out for a collaboration between the two adjoined businesses. They’re not sure what or how yet, but we’re sure it’ll be awesome. Un til next month, keep it spooky, boils and ghouls!

Mike Williams (your titular Master of Brewtality) is a humble tattoo artist, egotistical writer, re lentless beer drinker, unrepentant Hellraiser and connoisseur of all things Doom Metal You can find him slinging ink at Flagstaff Tattoo Com pany or at some bar downtown

Meyer is a recent contestant on the History Channel show“Forged in Fire.”

Joshua Meyer has a selection of knives forged in his studio as an example of just one type of work he does.

Frozen in time

Grand Canyon Conservancy’s 2022

Artist in Residence sculpts canyon scapes

ASH LOHMANN

Afew years ago, Colorado sculptor Leah Aegerter accompanied some friends on a life-changing trip to the Grand Canyon.

During what she described as a nine-day fast-paced trek through off-trail stretches of the canyon, Aegerter found that her up-close-and-personal introduction to the Grand Canyon was clarifying and in spiring. Unexpectedly, in execution, this inspiration would lead Aegerter back to the famous canyon for an even more intimate encounter

“I was really inspired by the diversity of geology here,” Aegerter said. “After that trip in the Spring of 2020, I started this process of 3D scanning and then reproduc ing those scans.”

Aegerter left the Grand Canyon for the first time and was inspired to capture the “life” in geological features throughout the Southwest, using a scanning technique known as photogrammetry. In the Rocky Mountains surrounding her hometown in Carbondale, CO and among southern Utah’s sandstone structures, the sculptor honed her craft digitally then artistically captured the landscapes as moments in a geological lifespan.

Hoping to capture these natural and not-so-fleeting moments as accurately as possible, Aegerter deploys her background in digital fabrication. She explained that utilizing equipment like a 3D printer to produce something physical first requires the creation of a model. Once she develops a model, Aegerter said she can go along with the other stages of her process.

Typically, Aegerter’s models assist in her creation of sculptures carved from wood and replicated in digitally scanned landscapes. With six years of work un der her belt, the artist’s photogrammetry-to-sculpting technique is distinctive.

Now, having started her residency, Aegerter spoke about getting her footing and figuring out what her creative process looks like in the canyon. After all, the Grand Canyon isn’t your typical workplace-envi ronment.

Continuing her work with photogram metry, the sculptor is also applying the

same techniques of her signature process and incorporating an altogether new to her medium paper. From start to finish, Aegerter has detailed her creative work flow by making her way into the canyon to digitally catalog the rock formations’ shapes and textures while simultaneously noting the “vibes” and emotions of her experience.

Throughout her digital catalog of the canyon’s geology, Aegerter’s phone must be prepared with storage to spare, as she explained how a single hike may require thousands of photos of different rocks

“I take a bunch of images of [one] rock from all different angles, so maybe 250 images,” Aegerter said. “Then, I use those photos and load them into a software that generates a 3D model on the computer. Then from there, I 3D print the rock scans—and I haven’t gotten to this part just yet, but the plan is to cast paper into the 3D prints.”

While she hasn’t worked with paper on her geological sculptures before, Aegerter is enthusiastic about experimenting with the medium. She is making her own paper for the project and explained that her paper pulps are mixed and ready to be casted into the rock-inspired 3D molds

“I’m really thinking of [using paper] as a way of documenting and cataloging the textures of the Grand Canyon,” Aegerter said. “I haven’t really figured out what the end process will be, but that’s what the residency is for.”

Consistently taking inspiration from nature surrounding her, Aegerter explained that she yearns for avenues to capture landscapes sculpturally. Without removing or altering natural curves and ridges but also duplicating the structures in a way that’s unique to her, Aegerter takes time to develop closeness to her subjects, deepen ing her connection to her art.

“I would say there’s something very seductive about seeing the rock textures in new materials,” Aegerter said.

On her first trip to the canyon, Aegerter said despite fostering artistic inspiration, she didn’t necessarily have an opportunity to connect with the Grand Canyon on that deeper level.

Having begun her residency, Aegerter said opportunities for her to intimately explore the canyon have been populous. Aegerter’s first few nights beneath the canyon rim during her residency were “much, much slower” than what she experienced there beforehand.

“Being alone really changes my perception of the place—my personal relationship to it,” Aegerter said.

She described her process as capturing and developing a relationship with the land at one given moment in geologic history—a

present moment, as Aegerter experiences it. The Colorado River consistently redesigns the structure of the Grand Canyon. Because of its continuous transformation, the sculptor explained how the landscape feels alive to her

Approaching the geology from an artistic and visual standpoint, allows Aegerter to center emotions in her sculptural execution. While capturing the landscape of the Grand Canyon, she incorporates feelings like solitude and wholeness into her work.

The artist explained that not everyone

COURTESY OF BRITTANY CONKLIN

The Grand Canyon Conservancy’s latest Artist in Residency,Leah Aegerter,sculpts geological formations using a fusion of digital and analog techniques.

can experience moments like the ones she does in the Grand Canyon. For whatever reason art is often a more accessible way for people to experience a place, and consequently, the emotions and vibes that occupy it.

“I would hope that people can kind of feel the tenderness within the sculptures

and just be able to put themselves in the headspace that I was in when I was captur ing that particular 3D scan or building the sculpture,” Aegerter said.

So far, Aegerter described a few mo ments that captured her awe—moments that she explained would likely be embed ded in her artwork one way or another. She

said moments like these are ones that make challenges she faces along the way worth it. Be it obstacles of canyon terrain or dig ital difficulties, Aegerter said she always finds these special moments beneath the canyon rim.

“In general, a whole day would pass and I’d be super hot and I’d be tired and sweaty and ready to be done with things,” Aegerter said. “But I always have a moment in the day when I’m outside and hiking that’s like, ‘this is why I do it.’”

One specific example where Aegerter’s physical exertion had been made up in “good vibes” occurred while hiking the Es calante Trail, past 75-Mile Creek.

“The trail skirts around the brim of the

canyon and then it drops down into the canyon,” Aegerter said. “You hike down to the water, to the Colorado River, and the [canyon] walls felt like they were made of these folds of skin. It just felt very much alive in a way… Later on that day, I saw a great blue heron from above, swooping down really close to the river for a few seconds before landing on a beach. Being able to observe that moment of silence is im portant to me.”

Throughout her time exploring the canyon, Aegerter said her goal is to continue seeking moments where she sees and feels how alive the Grand Canyon is Enchanted by the desert landscape, Aegerter expressed that she is not concerned about the potential for scarcity of such “magical” moments

Additionally, she expressed gratitude for Grand Canyon Conservancy’s artist in residence program, as Aegerter also explained she will be leaving her residency with scans and memories galore to continue sculpting the story of her relationship with Grand Canyon. Because she knows developing this project as much as she would like is attainable, Aegerter said she will be taking her residency to slow down, appreciate where she is and develop her intimate and accurate sculptures telling one portion of the canyon’s story.

‘Sun and Stone’(Dark Angel)

‘Yule Creek’

THE PULSE

ONGOING

MONDAY

DarkSkyBrewing: Locals Monday Every Monday from 6 8 pm enjoy $2 off non barrel aged pours 10oz and higher for Flagstaff locals

MuseumClub: Open Mic Night Every Mon day night from 6 9 p m Bands welcome Many musicians have been asked back for paying gigs

OenoWineLounge: Hospitality Night Every Monday, hospitality workers get 20% off their order Proof of employment required Tappy Hour Monday Friday 12 4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

TUESDAY

Jazzercise: African Dance Class Lessons focus on the traditional dances from Guinea, West Africa 6:45 8:15 p m

MuseumClub: Line Dance Lessons Every Tuesday from 5 p m 8 p m Karaoke Every Tuesday from 9 p m to close

OenoWineLounge: Teacher Tuesday Every Tuesday educators get 15% off wines Tappy Hour Monday Friday 12 4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

WEDNESDAY

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary: Family Storytime Every Wednesday from 10:30 11:15 a m

FirecreekCoffee: Singer Songwriter Open Mic Share your original songs between 7 10 p m

GopherHole: Karaoke & Service Industry Night Happy Hour prices for service industry personnel from 6 p m until close with the singing starting at 9:30 p m

MeadHall: Trivia Night Themed categories, including visual and sound, and prizes for the winners 6 8 p m

OenoWineLounge: Warrior Wednesday All active military and first responders get 15% off Tappy Hour Monday Friday 12 4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

WeatherfordHotel: Blues Night at Charly’s Every Wednesday night from 7 9 p m

UptownPubhouse: Team Trivia Join them every Wednesday for what Flagstaffians are calling “the best trivia night in town!” 7:30 9:30 p m

THURSDAY

DarkSkyBrewing: Trivia Night TAPP’D Trivia! Thursdays 7 9 p m at the DSB Beer Garden

GopherHole: Trivia Night Doors open at 6 p m with trivia starting at 6:30 p m

MeadHall: GREENLAW Live Celtic music at the Mead Hall every Thursday at 7pm

Thursday,November 24 is Thanksgiving Day.Make sure to celebrate right

MuseumClub: Free Line Dance Lessons from 5 p m 8 p m Free Country Swing Lessons from 7 p m to 8 p m Dimes with DJ FRSH Amazing drink specials from 8 p m to close

OenoWineLounge: Wine Tastings Stop by between 5 and 7 PM to enjoy $20 wine tast ings and $5 tastings for club members Tappy Hour Monday Friday 12 4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

FRIDAY

FlagTagAZ: Family Friday Laser Tag Get two games of laser tag for only $10 per per son from 12 11 p m

Jazzercise: Casino Rueda in Flagstaff Cu ban style Salsa Dancing followed by social dancing 7:30 10 p m

LumberyardBrewery: Two Stepping Les sons and Free Dance from 9 p m 2 a m

MuseumClub: Acoustic Happy Hour Live country music from 5:30 p m 10 p m Check the schedule for shows and times Oeno Wine Lounge: Tappy Hour Monday Friday

12 4 p m All wine and beer taps are half off

SATURDAY

GalaxyDiner: Swing Dancing at Galaxy Diner All ages are welcome from 7 9 p m

LumberyardBrewery: Two Stepping Les sons and Free Dance from 9 p m 2 a m

MuseumClub: Live country dance bands every week from 8:30 p m 1 a m

SUNDAY

FlagstaffCityHall: Flagstaff Community Farmers Market Celebrate your community and the hard work of its regional small growers and small businesses at the farmer’s market every Sunday 8 a m 12 p m

DarkSkyBrewery: Pints and Poses: Yoga at the taproom every Sunday morning from 10:15 a m to 11:30 a m $15 fee per class

Sunday Funday Live music every Sunday at the DSB Beer Garden 4 6 p m

Jazzercise: Ballroom social dancing Dance lesson, open dancing from ballroom and swing to latin dance genres 5:15 7 p m

MuseumClub: Latino Night Celebrating Latino and Spanish music every Sunday from 9 p m 2 a m

OenoWineLounge: Wine Education Night A 30 minute lesson on wine topics starting at 4:30 p m $20 per person

Thu/11.3

VARIOUSEVENTS

TheatrikosTheatreCompany: “A Doll’s House”A staged reading of the 1879 play written by Henry Ibsen One night only at 7:30 p m

DuBoisCenter: Youth GONA. A cultur al based curriculum workshop focused on four themes Belonging, Mastery, Interdepen dence, and Generosity 8 a m 3 p m

Fri/11.4

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Trick Pony’s Keith Burns performs with country artist J Michael Har ter and Rob West All proceeds benefit the

COURTESY OF THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF

On Saturday,November 5,an incredible team of volunteers will help you fix just about anything from 10 a.m. 2 p.m.

Shadows Foundation Doors: 7 p m | Show: 8 p m

MOCAFandFlagBrewingCompany: Fangsgiving Weekend A two day hip hop festival at MOCAF, with over 40 artists, most local and most indigenous November 4 5 from 5 10 p m The afterparty will continue afterwards at Flag Brewing

VARIOUSEVENTS

DowntownFlagstaff: First Friday Art Walk Join us between 5 9 p m for a series of special art exhibitions from local vendors, live music and more

DuBoisCenter: Youth GONA. A cultur al based curriculum workshop focused on four themes Belonging, Mastery, Interdepen dence, and Generosity 8 a m 3 p m

Sat/11.5

MUSICEVENTS

YuccaNorth: Jason DeVore Playing some of his killer solo material and more of your favorites to sing along to Perfect Sense and Flagstaff favorites Vacant Skies open Show: 8 p m

AltitudesBar&Grill: Kaleidoscope

Redrocks Sedona multi instrumentalist sister duo playing over 50 years of classic rock, country, folk, pop, punk, rap & catchy originals from 6 9 p m

MOCAFandFlagBrewingCompany: Fangsgiving Weekend A two day hip hop festival at MOCAF, with over 40 artists, most local and most indigenous November 4 5 from 5 10 p m The afterparty will continue afterwards at Flag Brewing

MuseumClub: The Zookeepers A great night of country music and dancing from

NORTHERN ARIZONA’S DAILY EVENT LISTINGS » NOVEMBER, 2022

JED OWEN

with a tasty dinner.

THE PULSE

8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. $5 entry fee at the door

VARIOUSEVENTS

DowntownFlagstaff: Tequila Sunrise NAU’s annual homecoming tradition is back for another year of boozy excitement at the break of dawn

JoeCMontoyaSenior&Community Center: Fix it Clinic An incredible team of volunteers can help you fix just about any thing, including electronics, jewelry, clothing, bicycles and more 10 a m 2 p m

Shift: Bake Sale Stop by to purchase some baked goods from one of the best restau rants in town

OrpheumTheater: Counter Culture Cocktail Party This risqué variety show will have sideshows, flow arts, circus, burlesque, aerial performance, and more It is a narra tive driven show with a punk attitude and a black heart Doors and show: 6:30 p m

Sun/11.6

VARIOUSEVENTS

CultureConnectionAZ: 2nd Annual Indig enous Community Connection Fair In honor of Native American Heritage Month, join us for an inspiring day of presentations, work shops, artists, and more

Mon/11.7

VARIOUSEVENTS

FlagstaffPublicLibrary: From ‘Chief’ to Code Talker Laura Tohe profiles four Navajo Code Talkers and their lives before and after the war, including her own father 5:30 7 p m

Tue/11.8

VARIOUSEVENTS

FlagstaffCity-CoconinoCountyPublic Library: Climate Conversations: Food Sys tems 90 minute expert facilitated discus sions on a climate topic, news, and feelings around climate Starts at 6 p m

Thu/11.10

VARIOUSEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: House Party @ 15 W. Aspen Ave Bring your friends along for a night of dancing, games, and drink specials with our featured DJ of the night James G Doors and show: 9 p m

MountainSports: Diva Night Grab a girl friend and head down to Mountain Sports Flagstaff on Thursday, Nov 10th for our favor ite holiday event from 5 8 p m

FlagstaffCity CoconinoCountyPublic Library: Internet Basics Workshop Learn terminology and practice using the internet All technology is provided by the library Starts at 11 a m

Fri/11.11

MUSICEVENTS

4:30 p.m.on Wednesday,November 16.

Mon/11.14

VARIOUSEVENTS

CoconinoCenterfortheArts: John Crai gie Singer songwriter and storyteller whose folk influences, comedic style and commit ment to living on the road make him a true, modern troubadour Doors: 7:30 8:35 p m

YuccaNorth: Through the Roots Reggae rock and pop band with Cali vibes and inspir ing messages infused into their music Show: 7:30 p m

Sat/11.12

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Viola & the Brakemen, Pilcrowe & Toxic Positivity A night of musical variety with a trio of delightful up and com ing bands Doors: 7 p m | Show: 8 p m

MuseumClub: Stateline A great night of country music and dancing from 8:30 p m to 1 a m $5 entry fee at the door

VARIOUSEVENTS

EastFlagstaffCommunityLibrary: Science Cafe Monthly science talks for adults, teens, and families from local science leaders coffee provided, just bring your questions 10 11:30 a m

Sun/11.13

MUSICEVENTS

CoconinoCenterfortheArts: Master Chorale of Flagstaff a concert of human journeys through music in collaboration with the opening of the new exhibit “25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee” First show: 2 p m | Second show: 4 p m

FlagstaffCity CoconinoCountyPublic Library: Flagstaff’s Path to Carbon Neutral The Carbon Neutrality Plan (CNP) estab lishes a vision for how Flagstaff will create a carbon free future Starts at 6 p m

Tue/11.15

VARIOUSEVENTS

FlagstaffCity CoconinoCountyPublic Library: Cyber Security Workshop Learn how to avoid scams and protect your privacy when visiting websites, creating passwords, and using technology during this free work shop Starts at 2 p m

Wed/11.16

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: The White Buffalo Folk country singer songwriter famous for his musical contributions to the“Sons of Anarchy” TV show Doors: 6:30 pm | Show: 7:30 pm

VARIOUSEVENTS

FlagstaffCity CoconinoCountyPublic Library: Senior Coffee Hour. Join us at the Downtown Library for coffee, pastries and a conversation about a special topic! For older adults age 55+ Starts at 10 a m

BuffaloPark: “Step Into Health” Walking Club Every third Wednesday of the month, join North Country HealthCare for a walk between 3:30 and 4:30 p m

DowntownFlagstaff: Geology Rocks Tour Monthly 45 minute walking tour showcasing Flagstaff’s geological history 1 2 p m

Thu/11.17

VARIOUSEVENTS

Coconino Community College Lone Tree Campus: Social Powwow A routine known as “Dancing in Beauty” celebrates Indigenous culture and is free to the public. 4:30–7 p.m.

Fri/11.18

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: An Evening With Big Head Todd & The Monsters Colorado based rock group with a sizable live show following A portion of ticket sales will go directly to the Poore Medical Clinic Doors: 7 p m | Show: 8 p m

VARIOUSEVENTS

Bookman’sEntertainmentExchange: Queer Board Game Night A night of gaming fun for allies and LGBT+ community mem bers 6 8 p m

Sat/11.19

MUSICEVENTS

MuseumClub: The Zookeepers A great night of country music and dancing from 8:30 p m to 12:30 a m $5 entry fee at the door

Sun/11.20

MUSICEVENTS

YuccaNorth: Supersuckers American rock band whose music ranges from alternative rock to country rock to cowpunk Show: 7 p m

Fri/11.25

VARIOUSEVENTS

TheatrikosTheatreCompany: “Miracle on 34th Street”A staged performance of the classic 1947 film about a Macy’s Santa called Kris Kringle who may or may not be the one and only Santa Claus Starts at 7:30 p m

Sat/11.26

MUSICEVENTS

MuseumClub: Hopi Clansmen A great night of country music and dancing from 9 p m to 1 a m $5 entry fee at the door

VARIOUSEVENTS

TheatrikosTheatreCompany: “Miracle on 34th Street”A staged performance of the classic 1947 film about a Macy’s Santa called Kris Kringle who may or may not be the one and only Santa Claus Starts at 7:30 p m

Sun/11.27

VARIOUSEVENTS

TheatrikosTheatreCompany: “Miracle on 34th Street”A staged performance of the classic 1947 film about a Macy’s Santa called Kris Kringle who may or may not be the one and only Santa Claus Starts at 2 p m

Mon/11.28

MUSICEVENTS

OrpheumTheater: Jake Shimabukuro Uku lele master and jolly ambassador of aloha performs his highly anticipated holiday show, Jake Shimabukuro Christmas in Hawai’i Doors: 7:30 p m | Show: 8:30 p m

Thursday, November 3, 2022 | flaglive com | 21

RACHEL GIBBONS, ARIZONA DAILY SUN

Take a walk on Lower Oldham Trail during North Country HealthCare’s“Step Into Health”Walking Club between 3:30 and

On Monday,November 28,Jake Shimabukuro will be performing his highly anticipated holiday show,Jake Shimabukuro – Christmas in Hawai’i.

NORTHERN ARIZONA’S DAILY EVENT LISTINGS » NOVEMBER, 2022

the y c an ta lk .