A L W A Y S
ISSUE 306 May 2022
F R E E
Goes l Medieva
UI historians shed light on the Dark Ages
Recipes and wine recs for princes and paupers
On the road with Ren faire performers
A fresh and familiar Henry V, anon!
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One of MAGA’s main foundations
A treasure trove of Middle-
She played a gender-bent Henry of
Reconquista
Spellbound
SAVE, SHARE OR RECYCLE
King Katy
is (surprise!) based on a historical
Aged books can be found in
Monmouth in 2019. What does it mean
misunderstanding.
the University of Iowa library.
now to become the man himself?
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EDITORIAL
PRODUCTION
Jester
Digital Mage
Issue 306, Volume 31
Bard-wrangler
Drew Bulman
May 2022
Genevieve Trainor
drewb@littlevillagemag.com Cover by Kaylin Butterfield
genevieve@littlevillagemag.com Traveling Mage Scribe Constable
Jason Smith
Here ye, here ye! Our wee village
Emma McClatchey
jason@littlevillagemag.com
bids wolkom to Ren faire season
emma@littlevillagemag.com
wi’ adventures in Iowa-made mead, Knight of Smooth Experience
800-year-old books, dirty doodles
Scribe of Newes
Malcolm MacDougall
and historical misconceptions.
Paul Brennan
malcolm@littlevillagemag.com
Commune with local bards, scribes
paul@littlevillagemag.com
and players herein. Full sooth, but SALES & ADMINISTRATION
Iowa ‘tis a silly place!
High Sorceress
King, Little Village, LLC
Jordan Sellergren
Matthew Steele
jordan@littlevillagemag.com
matt@littlevillagemag.com
Scribe/Mage
Merchant Constable
Katy Hahn is an actor,
Adria Carpenter
Nolan Petersen
educator and collaborator
adria@littlevillagemag.com
nolan@littlevillagemag.com
Village Crier
Advertising
Sid Peterson
ads@littlevillagemag.com Creative Services
Scribes
Website design, Email marketing,
Courtney Guein
E-commerce, Videography
courtney@littlevillagemag.com
creative@littlevillagemag.com
Lily DeTaeye
CIRCULATION
lily@littlevillagemag.com
Knight of Easy Access Joseph Servey
Valencia Scribe
joseph@littlevillagemag.com
Spenser Santos Squires Calendar/Event Listings
Justin Comer, Sam Standish,
calendar@littlevillagemag.com
Joe Roth, Bill Rogers, Joey
Christine de Pizan in her study, The Queen’s Manuscript, British Library
sid@littlevillagemag.com
WELL MET, YE MERRY BAND OF BARDIC GESTES!
based in Iowa. Kaylin Butterfield is a multicultural nonbinary artist in Iowa. They like to paint and watch birds with their catmate, Lilith. Meanz Chan is a Chinese Interdisciplinary artist in Des Moines who loves to experiment with themes like: isolation, nostalgia, miscommunication and exploration of personal identity. Michael Edward Moore
Leaming, Huxley Maxwell Corrections
distro@littlevillagemag.com
editor@littlevillagemag.com FORTS
is Associate Professor of Avery Gregurich is a writer living
Medieval and European History at
and writing at the edge of the
the University of Iowa.
Iowa River in Marengo.
Bardic guests of May
Little Village
Audrey Brock, Avery Gregurich, Darien
623 S Dubuque St
Elisabeth Chretien is an editor,
food writer and editor with a
Maxwell Sloat Robins, Elisabeth Chretien,
Iowa City, IA 52240
writer and occasional pirate based
deep passion for food, culture and
in North Liberty.
history.
John Martinek, Katy Hahn, Kaylin Butterfield, Lauren Haldeman, Lev Cantoral,
Little Village Creative Services
Meanz Chan, Michael Edward Moore, Sam
623 S Dubuque St
Locke Ward, Sarah Elgatian, Tom Tomor-
Iowa City, IA 52240
row, Victoria Harris
319-855-1474
Victoria Harris is an Iowa-based
MEDIEVAL ILLUSTRATIONS 1
Pg. 26: Arabic artist’s depiction of Pedanius Dioscorides, ca. 1229, Topkapi Palace Museum
2
Pg. 31, 63: German engraving ca. 1555, Rijkmuseum
3
Pg. 32, 49: Smithfield Decretals, southern France, ca. 1300-1340
4
Facebook @LittleVillageMag
Pg. 35: Le livre de Lancelot du Lac & other Arthurian Romances, Northern France ca. 1275-1300.
5
Pg. 41: Dragons inspired by my dogs, ca. 2022
Instagram @LittleVillageMag
6
Pg. 42: Roman de la Rose, ca. 1325-1353, Bibliothèque nationale de France
Twitter @LittleVillage
7
Pg. 46: Medieval depiction of dog, unknown origin
SOCIAL CAULDRON
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 7
LittleVillageMag.com
Top Stories Catch up on Little Village’s most-viewed headlines from last month. Read more at LittleVillageMag.com.
4/20 in 2022: Iowa GOP leaders entertaining ‘no discussion
Nonprofit Matthew 25 opens affordable grocery store in Cedar Rapids
whatsoever’ on marijuana reform
food desert
By Paul Brennan, April 19
By Malcolm MacDougall, April 25
More than a year after an Iowa Poll showed 54 percent of Iowans favor
Free-to-cheap groceries, meals and household supplies can be found in the
legalizing marijuana for recreational use and 78 percent want to see the
new Cultivate Hope Corner Store in northwest CR, whose grand opening
state’s Medical Cannabidiol Program expanded, Gov. Kim Reynolds and
Wednesday marks a victory for food access. Matthew 25 Executive Director
the Republicans who control the Iowa Legislature show no sign of doing
Clint Twedt-Ball said the community “stepped up” to make the store a reality.
either.
“We raised $1.4 million over the course of a year.”
Jill Dodds resigns from Coralville City Council following husband’s
Interview with Sara Terry, director of ‘A Decent Home’
arrest for ‘a horrible crime he didn’t commit’
Video by Jason Smith, April 27
By Paul Brennan, April 27
The new documentary A Decent Home tells the story of
Jill Dodds resigned during the April 26 council meeting, following what
mobile home park residents, including those in North Liberty’s
she called “false allegations” against her husband for “a horrible crime he
Golfview, as they try to preserve their communities and their
didn’t commit.”Jeffrey Dodds was arrested on April 18 by Johnson County
homes after the parks are bought by private equity funds
Sheriff’s deputies on two counts of second-degree sexual abuse. The
and other investors determined to maximize profits at their
Dodds own and operate Simple Abundance Child Care in Coralville, and he
expense. Ahead of its sold-out screening at FilmScene, director
is alleged to have sexually abused a child in his care.
Sara Terry sat down with Little Village to discuss what she
WATCH Interview with Sara Terry
learned during the six-and-a-half years she worked on the film.
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THANK YOU TO THIS ISSUE’S ADVERTISING PARTNERS This issue of Little Village is supported by: 80/35 (33) Adamantine Spine Moving (12) Arnott & Kirk (13) Artifacts (36) Brides by Jessa (68) Burger Haul (66) Cedar Rapids New Bohemia/ Czech Village Co-op (44) City of Iowa City (45) City of North Liberty (45) The Club Car (65) Coralville Public Library (17) Corridor Entertainment Group (64) Crowded Closet (45) CSPS (57) Dodge St. Tire (37) The Englert Theatre (4) Family Folk Machine (61) FilmScene (6) Firmstone Real Estate (63) Gallagher Bluedorn (19) Goldfinch Cyclery (46)
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LV encourages community members, including candidates for office, to submit letters to Editor@LittleVillageMag.com. To be considered for print publication, letters should be under 500 words. Preference is given to letters that have not been published elsewhere.
Photo Gallery: The pelicans’ not-sobrief stop in Iowa City (April 7) If you go out to the gorge at the Coralville Lake and Dam you can see a bunch. They try to catch fish at the spillway. So neat. —Mo H.
12 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
It was like having brunch at a live National Geographic event Sunday at the Iowa River Power Company! The Pelicans were on the river, in the sky, everywhere! It was beautiful! —Judith A.
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Saw three in the river on Rocky Shore Drive last week. Made my day. —Joan D. I wish they were staying the entire summer. So fun and cool to watch and see them flying over our house. —Bob B. Before I-235, Des Moines’ Center Street district was a bastion of Black commerce and culture (April 8) I am 60 years old, was educated in rural Iowa, and I have learned more in my adult years than I ever did when I was young and in school, that is WRONG! This article, and sooo many others, are part of this state’s history, and NEEDS to be taught! How I wish REAL history had/was being taught in schools, we miss so much when it isn’t. —Billie M.M. Fascinating article. Thank you, LV, for
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L E T T E R S digging in & writing this. CR placed 380 through Black neighborhoods too, but also targeted the Czech immigrants down near J Ave on the SW side. This history should be known & acknowledged. Keep shining light. —Genie M. Cedar Rapids to hold community vigil Wednesday, in wake of nightclub shooting (April 12) Cool. How about the mayor does something about gun violence in CR? Shots fired is becoming the city slogan. Instead of outsourcing traffic tickets on 380 maybe we can hear a plan to curtail shootings. —Paul G. Affordable housing, art and excellent tacos: Angie Jordan is leading efforts to build up Iowa City’s South District (April 7)
Oh what a wonderful story to read. Inspiring. —Yoga Nook Manchester IA She is a local hero! A true change maker. —Pam H.W. Iowa Supreme Court puts Abby Finkenauer back on the June primary ballot (April 15) I could excuse the lower court’s ruling if the ISC ruling was split. But when it comes back unanimous this certainly sends a red flag as to the lower court’s bias. —Billy B. I wouldn’t want to go against Grassley’s war chest. —Ben S. 4/20 in 2022: Iowa GOP leaders entertaining ‘no discussion whatsoever’ on marijuana reform (April 19) It’s almost refreshing to
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WO RT H R E P E AT I N G “This is a grocery store that’s for all people. You can find Malcolm organic food, MacDougall / Little Village you can find conventional food, find free food. And you can find community with people that are going to gather here and have coffee together. And I don’t know about you, but that’s what I want.” —Clint Twedt-Ball, co-founder and executive director of Matthew 25, on the nonprofit’s new Cultivate Hope Corner Store in Cedar Rapids “I think there needs via to be a Steve deterrent in Holt the law, but I understand the logic of having discussions about what the appropriate penalties should be and that sort of thing. But in terms of making marijuana legal, that is something I would never support. … This is the law, and the law exists because we’re trying to decrease what we believe is the use of something that could be harmful.” —Republican Iowa Rep. Steve Holt, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, telling the Iowa Capitol Dispatch cannabis decriminalization is off the table “Queer history matters. And the minutiae of everyday life in Iowa matters. It gives LGBTQ youth, and people who
Jason Smith / Little Village
are newly coming out, proof that we’ve always been here, and that we’ve always existed, and that we’ve always found ways to survive, regardless of what’s happening politically or culturally.” —Aiden Bettine, executive director of the LGBTQ Iowa Archives and Library
I N T E R AC T I O N S
/LittleVillage READER POLL: What medieval drawing accurately describes your weekend plans?
16.5%
7.8%
40%
35.7%
“Sadly, it’s often a tragedy like last weekend that helps us realize we can’t walk through this world alone.” —Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell on the April 10 shooting that killed two and injured 10 outside of Taboo Night Club & Lounge
hear a Republican openly admit they don’t represent the will of the people. —Ben S.
marijuana? Do they have more liberties and rights than us, or is our flag just a big fucking lie? —Yale C.
“I thought, ‘they need a place, we have land.’ We don’t have a lot of money to give as a church, but we do have that. So, it just seemed a natural thing to do, a way that we can make a difference and something they really needed.” —Rev. Leigh Brown, pastor of Coralville United Methodist, on their donation of land to the Coralville Community Food Pantry for a new, much larger building
For those who could truly benefit from it, Iowa’s existing medical marijuana program is exactly about as Goddam useful as tossing a 40 pound dumbbell to somebody drowning in a lake in the hopes that it’d at least give them something to occupy their hands with while they sank underwater. Which part of the “liberties” and “rights” boasted about on our flag is this kind of prohibition supposed to represent, exactly? Especially considering the fact that millions of other Americans already have unhindered access to both medical and recreational
Republican voters in this state just heard this clown say he doesn’t govern based on what a majority of his constituents want, and they continue to be so desperate to cling to their racism, that they ignore the fact they are voting against their own interests. Their whole political agenda is to own the libs, while cutting off their own noses to spite their face. —Harrison M.
16 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
Might as well stay at the bottom of the pile in economic development. Idiot Republicans. Ethanol! Trump! —Art B.
Seed Swap MAY 7 SATURDAY 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM CITY HALL
www.CoralvillePublicLibrary.org
Coralville Public Library will host a seed/plant swap table outside of Coralville City Hall. We also have seeds available to pick up at the library.
Summer Reading Challenge For All Ages!
Sign up begins online May 31
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I N T E R AC T I O N S Iowa City Farmers Market announces its start date, reduction in hours (April 21) One factor that may have discouraged vendors this year is that vendors must have their own liability insurance now, which means extra fees each month. This particularly impacts vendors who may not be as well established or low income vendors. While insurance would be a sound decision for vendors on the long run (especially when it gives vendors extra protection in case of law suits), in this post pandemic economy, it’s bad timing. —Ariane P. Claiming Biden’s border policies are ‘destroying our country,’ Gov. Reynolds joins a new ‘strike force’ (April 22) Good lord that’s cringe. —Jeffrey J.J. Our immigration management has been a mess for decades. It’s a tough challenge that politicians love to simplify and act tough about, but the challenge remains unmet. —Don W. Who is running against her? Seriously. I haven’t even heard, which does not bode well for us. —Richelle
RIVERSIDETHEATRE.ORG
Nonprofit Matthew 25 opens affordable grocery store in Cedar Rapids food desert (April 25) Matthew 25 is an amazing, wonderful non-profit. They are local people helping local people. Keep up the good work. —Ruth S.B. I’ve been watching the progression every day driving home. —Jamie M. Such a treat to have such good meat and produce, locally made/ grown SO close. —Kayla P. Jill Dodds resigns from Coralville City Council following husband’s arrest for ‘a horrible crime he
18 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
CELEBRATE LGBTQ EQUALITY!
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I N T E R AC T I O N S
didn’t commit’ (April 27) It’s wrong that she’s blaming law enforcement and the media. It’s also wrong that she’s being forced to resign. She wasn’t arrested or accused. —Julie J.
YOU’LL THANK YOU... ...for being your youest self.
Get the support you need to quit smoking or vaping for good.
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Her reaction is outrageous. She’s not just a spouse, she owned the daycare with him. The child was under HER care. This investigation was going for 5 months before an arrest was made - it wasn’t done without evidence. Really hoping for justice for this poor kid’s family. IF she was in the dark about what was happening, she picked the wrong side. —Becca Interview with Sara Terry, director of ‘A Decent Home’ (April 27) Thank you so much Little Village Mag
STRESS FRACTURES
/LittleVillage READER POLL: Which is the best medieval interjection?
“Zounds!” 33.3% “Egad!” 33.3% “Wellaway!” 5.6% “Fiddle-faddle!” 27.8% JOHN MARTINEK
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I N T E R AC T I O N S
B R O C K
for the opportunity to talk about my documentary A Decent Home -- and about my love of home and my hatred of greed. Our week of screenings in Iowa -- including two sold-out screenings tonight and tomorrow night at FilmScene in Iowa City -- has landed right in the midst of a lot of news coverage about some just passed legislation here in Iowa, and it’s a good time to be talking about what matters. To talk about taking this conversation away from left and right, Democrat and Republican, and to center it on people, home and the communities we love -- and how to defend fundamental American values from greed and predatory investors. —Sara Terry
ONE OF THE THINGS I love about living in Iowa City is its commitment to reducing, reusing and recycling. Most American towns this size don’t have electric buses, multiple vegan restaurants or such a strong cultural predilection toward preserving the environment. That predilection does occasionally result in things like being late to work because a bunch of hippies caused a traffic jam while picketing the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile (a thing that actually happened to me in 2016), but for the most part, it’s awesome! However, as with anything you’re passionate about, it’s easy to go overboard. So, without further ado, here is my guide to saving the planet without losing your mind.
Jake Chapman’s legacy. And he’s cheap. Only cost 500 bucks for his vote. —Taylor A.
A B O U T
T O W N
• Thrift responsibly. Buying secondhand clothes is a great way to save money, reduce your carbon footprint and avoid supporting the exploitative fast fashion industry, but it’s not for everyone. For example, the girl I saw buying sexy lingerie from the secondhand section of Ragstock. Remember that pit-stained
AUDREY BROCK 2XL Hawaiian shirts are not, in fact, appropriate for every occasion.
• Be considerate of those around you. If you want to save water, take shorter showers, not no showers. If you want to avoid exposure to chemicals, try natural deodorant, not no deodorant. If you want to reduce plastic waste, use a bamboo toothbrush, not no toothbrush. (Jason who has the cubicle next to mine, this one is for you, buddy.) • Put your health and safety first. “Liberating” discarded food from grocery store dumpsters is fine, if we’re talking about bruised apples or canned soup that’s a little past the sell-by date. Not so much when the food in question is slimy, green-ish chicken breast. Biking everywhere to save fuel is a good idea, but after two bottles of organic fruit wine, it’s probably a better one to lock it up and call a cab. I’m sure Gaia will forgive you.
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LV REVIEW Clockwise: Alyx Rush, March 13, Jason Smith; Trans Day of Visibility, March 31, Adria Carpenter; Ric Wilson, Mission Creek, the Englert Theatre, April 9, Sid Peterson
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Reemplazo, Reconquista, y el poder de narrativas falsas
the Christian kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula initiated a series of wars aimed at expanding their kingdoms. These wars constitute the Reconquista, but the narrative surrounding them
POR SPENSER SANTOS
I
n 2017, cries of “Jews will not replace us” echoed through the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia. More recently, Tucker Carlson has promoted the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, which in his words is “the replacement of legacy Americans with more obedient people from far away countries.” And Republican lawmakers use language of replacement and invasion in other contexts as well, such as banning transgender athletes from participating in sports according to their genders in order to “protect women.” The fear of replacement rests on the acceptance of so-called “natural hierarchies” such as men being physically superior to women, the white European being superior to all others, Christianity over other religions, and so on. In other words, the key elements that make fascists out of conservatives. This brings me to my subject: the Spanish Reconquista. Or rather, the way that the common, simplified narrative of the Reconquista covers up reality and serves as a template for modern attempts to rewrite history by the right wing. First, though, some context. In the year 711, Arab and Berber Muslims crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, and under the leadership of Tariq ibn Ziyad, they conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula, then the post-Roman Christian kingdom of Visigothic Hispania. They were stopped from further invasion in 732 by the Franks at the Battle of Tours. Over the next seven centuries,
Emma McClatchey 1
Matices como estos se pierden cuando ideologues simplifican y distorsionan nuestra historia para fomentar y propagandizar el odio.
Call for submissions!
has morphed over time. In 1492, the kingdom of Granada fell, and with it, the last territory on the Iberian Peninsula ruled
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by Muslims. In that same year, Ferdinand and Isabella not only authorized the Inquisition, but issued an edict demanding all Jews or Muslims in their kingdom convert or be forcibly expelled. This has, over time, led to the false narrative that the Reconquista was a deliberate, pointed military campaign specifically designed to remove Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula. The false narrative that the Muslim invasion of 711 involved the wholesale replacement of Christian Europeans by an invading force of others. The false narrative that the creation of a white, Christian ethnotheocracy was justified. These false narratives elide much, of course, and paint a purely oppositional relationship between Christian and Islamic kingdoms during the period, motivated by religious difference. The Christian kingdoms of Spain often fought amongst themselves and forged strategic alliances with Muslim leaders. King Alfonso VI of Leon and Castile married Zaida, who was the daughter-in-law of al-Mutamid, the king of Seville, according to sources from al-Andalus. The previous Visigothic aristocracy was not killed or driven off, but integrated into the new power structure. There was, in short, no replacement. But Ferdinand and Isabella, like the modern alt-right, could use the idea to achieve their political goals. Nuances like these are lost when ideologues simplify and distort history in order to promote and propagandize hate, and the end result is a “reconquest” of something that was never actually lost (and likely never existed) and a purge of enemies. That is the foundation of MAGA, and for
To submit a story idea to En Español, reach out to spenser-santos@uiowa.edu
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medievalists, this is why it is our responsibility to present as authentic and nuanced an understanding of medieval history as possible.
Replacement, Reconquista and the Power of False Narrative POR SPENSER SANTOS
E
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PRESENTED BY
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n 2017, los gritos de <<Los judios no van a reemplazarnos>> repitieron en las calles de Charlottesville. Tucker Carlson ha promovido más recientemente la teoría de la conspiración del Gran Reemplazo, que describe como <<el reemplazo de estadounidenses heredados con gente más obediente de países distantes>>. Y legisladores del Partido Republicano usan el lenguaje de reemplazo e invasión en otros contextos también, por ejemplo, en sus prohibiciones de atletas trans de participar en deportes de acuerdo a sus géneros para <<proteger las mujeres>>. El miedo de reemplazo requiere que aceptamos las supuestas jerarquías naturales. Ejemplos incluyen la superioridad física de hombres sobre mujeres, la superioridad de la gente europea blanca sobre todo el mundo, cristiandad sobre otras religiones, etcétera. Es decir, los elementos claves que hacen fascistas de conservativas. Así llego a mi tema: la Reconquista. O, con más precisión, como la narrativa común y simplificada oculta la realidad y provee un templado por intentados modernos de derecha a reescribir la historia. Primer, unos contextos. En el año 711, musulmanes arabes y bereberes cruzaron el estrecho de Gibraltar, y con su líder Tariq ibn Ziyad, conquistaron la mayoría de la península ibérica, en ese momento el reino postromano y cristiano de Hispania visigótica. Fueron derrotados en 732 por los francos en la batalla de Poitiers, y su invasión se detuvo. Por siete siglos, los reinos cristianos de la península ibérica iniciaron una serie de guerras para expandir sus reinos. Estas guerras constituyen la Reconquista, pero los siglos intermedios han distorsionado la narrativa. En 1492, ocurrió la rendición del reino de Granada, el último territorio islamico de la península ibérica. El mismo año, los reyes católicos Isabela I de Castillo y Fernando II de Aragón, no sólo autorizaron la inquisición sino también emitieron un edicto para conversar cada persona islámica o judía a cristiandad y expulsar el resto. Con el paso del tiempo, estos hechos han
Depiction of battle taken from the Cantigas de Santa Maria, Public Domain
provocado la narrativa falsa de que la Reconquista fuera una campaña deliberada y específica por la expulsión de la gente islámica de la península ibérica. La narrativa falsa de que la invasión por tropas islámicas en 711 reemplazó a la gente europea y cristiana en totalidad. La narrativa falsa de que sirve para justificar la creación de una etno-teocracia blanca y cristiana. Por supuesto, estas narrativas falsas eliden mucho y crean la impresión de una relación puramente oposicionista entre los reinos cristianos y musulman, con diferencia de religión como motivo. En realidad, los reinos cristianos de España luchaban mucho contra los otros y se aliaban con líderes musulmanes también. El rey Alfonso VI de León y Castillo se casó con Zaida, la nuera de al-Mutamid, el rey de Sevilla, según fuentes de al-Andalús. Lar previa aristocracia visigótica ni se murió ni se expulsó, pero se integró en la nueva estructura de poder. Brevemente, no era nada reemplazo. Sin embargo, Isabela y Fernando, como la derecha alternativa hoy en día podrían usar la idea para realizar sus metas políticas. Matices como estos se pierden cuando ideologues simplifican y distorsionan nuestra historia para fomentar y propagandizar el odio. Al fin, sus acciones resultan en una <<reconquista>> de algo que nunca fue perdido (y es probable que nunca existiera) y un la purga de enemigos. Esa es la fundación de MAGA, y por escolares medievalistas, es la razón por qué tenemos la responsabilidad de enseñar el entendimiento de la historia medieval tan auténtico y matizado en la medida de lo posible. Spenser Santos is Little Village’s Spanish language editor. They earned their Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, focusing on medieval literature and translation practices.
Emma McClatchey, from ‘The Lady with an Ermine’ by Leonardo da Vinci LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 29
Stuck in the Middle The medieval times of our imagination only scratch the surface. BY MICHAEL EDWARD MOORE
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A
n enormous forest extends for thousands of miles in every direction, with rivers that the traveler—whether pilgrim or trader—must cross on foot, leading a tired horse. The tracks of bears and wolves are often seen. Elk swim in the cold lakes. There is an eerie absence of people. Following the sound of someone chopping wood, the traveler might come to a monastery, with monks busy at manual labor or praying in the chapel. In the scriptorium a small, precious library is preserved, which allows for a limited, but crucial, learned culture, based on the Bible and an odd assortment of ancient writers such as Ovid, Cicero or Boethius, all in Latin. Or the traveler might happen on a small settlement in an isolated clearing. Here, a local lord rules over the village of peasants and slaves, while they labor each day to obtain a meager harvest from wheat, hogs and cattle. The community faces a constant risk of famine. Serfs work without pay, and without personal freedom, to feed the lord’s family and keep the fields, roads and bridges of his estate in good condition. In the early Middle Ages, circa 500 to 1100, Europe was also dotted here and there with cities left by the Romans—but ruined stone buildings were covered in vines and trees. The new population built wooden huts among the ancient stone columns. Nevertheless, in such a place our traveler can purchase goods in the market, obtain a fresh horse and pray in the cathedral.
LV Recommends
SACRED TEXTS
There’s always something new to learn—or unlearn— about the Middle Ages. Here are six books recommendations that serve to recontextualize medieval times.
H
arald Gormsson, a 10th century Viking king, is mostly remembered for two things: uniting various parts of
Scandinavia and appalling oral hygiene. The latter is why you’ve heard of Harald, even if you don’t realize you’ve heard of him. In 1996, Jim Kardach needed a name for a new technology that “unites” various devices, and he remembered Harald. He’d first read about Harald in Frans G. Bengtsson’s novel The Long Ships, in which an elderly (and often naked) Harald is desperate The Long Ships (NYRB, 2010) Frans
G. Bengtsson
Kardach’s name for the new tech stuck, much to his surThe Long Ships was 50 years old when Kardach picked about Vikings—it doesn’t rely on the tropes that have made the Middle Ages a favorite of white supremacists, anti-Semites and others of their ilk. Whose Middle Ages? Teachable Moments for an Ill-Used Past, a 2019 anthology prepared by leading scholars, spends 24 essays breaking down the period’s cultural legacies, and the distortions of medieval history that make it appealing to reactionaries and rightwingers, from neo-Nazis to timid shitposters. Some of the essays are boring, but the book is worth read-
Moments for an
ing, and not just because it’ll help you understand why so many
Ill-Used Past
bigots imagine themselves as heroic defenders of “the West.” It
(FORDHAM, 2019)
will also help you develop a sharper eye about your own medi-
Various authors
eval revels. Sure, no one expects the latest Arthurian movie or video game to be accurate, any more than they expect using
bluetooth to provide insights on Viking life. Those things are the cultural equivalent of junk food, just to be enjoyed. But junk food can contain some pretty toxic ingredients. Best to be aware of what you’re consuming.
—Paul Brennan
What dost thou seek to read?
Emma McClatchey 2
Kaylin Butterfield / Little Village
known as Harald Bluetooth.
it up, and remarkably for a book of its era—especially one
Ages? Teachable
What are the Middle Ages in the middle of? This is the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance: roughly speaking, the years between 500 and 1450. Historians divide the period further into an “early” and a “late” Middle Ages. This is the medieval period: medi (middle) aeval (from aevum, age or period). How to explain the fascination of the Middle Ages? It is frequently said to be “a thousand years without a bath.” Point taken. But many Italian towns had public baths, and the Emperor Charlemagne spent every winter next to his beloved hot springs. Nevertheless, millions of avid viewers stream shows about the Vikings or followed the Wagnerian drama Game of Thrones. Themes of violent conflict, devious plots and tribal hostilities are not far off the mark, although medieval communities were surprisingly good at negotiating an end to conflict. Even the Vikings could be reasoned with, if rarely trusted.
pull because he thinks it brings him luck. That tooth is why he’s
prise, and runes for Harald Bluetooth became the symbol for it.
Whose Middle
How to explain the fascination of the Middle Ages? It is frequently said to be “a thousand years without a bath.” Point taken.
to end the pain from a spectacularly rotten tooth he refuses to
A new, more A book covering positive assessment the entire period of the period: with a light touch:
An authoritative work on the early Middle Ages:
A fascinating book about the later medieval period:
The Bright Ages:
A History of the
The Rise of West-
The Autumn of
A New History of
Middle Ages,
ern Christendom
the Middle Ages (UNIVERSITY OF
Medieval Europe
300-1500
(WILEY-
(HARPER, 2021)
(ROWMAN AND
BLACKWELL, 2013)
CHICAGO, 1996)
Matthew Gabriele
LITTLEFIELD, 2008)
Peter Brown
Johan Huizinga
and David M. Perry
John M. Riddle
—Michael E. Moore LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 31
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and tribal hostilities are not far off the mark, although
medieval communities were surprisingly good at negotiating an end to conflict.
Emma McClatchey 3
Television costumes and stage sets depend on certain visual clues that speak of medieval times: village squalor, smudged faces and, for some reason, people wearing shaggy vests. Then there is the well-informed silliness of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Accounts of King Arthur and his knights have been popular ever since the Middle Ages, with unforgettable stories of bravery, self-sacrifice, sex and betrayal. The tales of Robin Hood, with a puckish sense of humor, demonstrate the foolishness and greed of the powerful, and pay tribute to the survival of the little guy in the face of an oppressive society. In my childhood, King Arthur and Robin Hood were first presented to me in books written “for boys.” Soon I graduated to Bullfinch’s Age of Chivalry (still one of my favorite books). The modern saga of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, informed by Tolkien’s experiences in World War I and II, filled my youth with a medievalizing world view, presenting complex ethical themes such as the tragic nature of evil, the vital importance of friendship, wariness in the presence of the powerful and the journey of self-discovery. None of those things were being taught in school! Tolkien’s epic filled my heart with the idea of hiking and adventure in the wilderness, and so I became an avid backpacker. Perhaps a time will come when Europe’s later Middle Ages (1100-1450) will find its own popular audience. This is when the great universities were born (dear to the heart of any professor), Vikings were gone and the cities of Europe staged a renewal of urban life, mercantile activity and banking, 32 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
road-building, long-distance trade and greater connection among communities. In the late Middle Ages, the good and evil of society stood in glaring contrast: the Jews were plundered, killed and often expelled. European society was stunned by the twin disasters of the Black Death and the Hundred Year’s War. Superstition and rumors spread easily. So-called heretics were treated with unbelievable cruelty. On the other hand, this was a society that offered greater ease and prosperity for some. It was an age of good literature. Popular works were written by wonderful authors such as Chaucer and Boccaccio. These entertaining books were composed in the vernacular languages of Europe, as literacy became more common in late medieval cities. The roles offered to women were expanded to some degree, under the patronage of the increasingly popular Virgin Mary. The tidy enclaves of the Beguines provided a refuge for the literate
piety, and flower-gardening, of women in northern cities. The fascinating, independent-minded Christine de Pizan became a bestselling author. The early Middle Ages seem primitive and made up of simple components: lord and peasant, church and castle, and conflicts that are exciting and easy to stage in the imagery of cinema, novels and legends, while the later Middle Ages appear to be a period of greater complexity and civilization, and of large-scale violence. The later Middle Ages are closer to our own time, but they reward the student with literature and works of art that still captivate. Take my advice, dear reader, and visit your public library in pursuit of the Middle Ages! Michael Edward Moore is Associate Professor of Medieval and European History at the University of Iowa. He has traveled and studied widely in Europe. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and canoeing in the wilderness.
Chartres Cathedral, Olvr, Wikimedia Commons
Themes of violent conflict, devious plots
A Medieval Monument to Learning The Cathedral of Chartes brought science and religion together. BY MICHAEL EDWARD MOORE
T
he Cathedral of Chartres is instantly recognizable, with its two towers of differing heights, each having a unique shape, framing the rose window perfectly placed in the center of the façade. The cathedral was built between 1194-1260 as one of the first examples of gothic architecture, with its soaring central nave, pointed arches and vaulted ceiling, and more than a hundred stained-glass windows depicting a bewildering array of Bible stories. From the moment of its creation by the master masons of northern France, Chartres remained the paragon of gothic cathedrals. “Every subsequent cathedral was affected by her, though none was ever so complete as she,” historian Vincent Scully remarked in his book Architecture:
LittleVillageMag.com
Ssolbergj, Wikimedia Commons
the accompanying picture you can follow the path of the Labyrinth of Chartres with your eyes. Notice that the path takes you close to the center, then defeats you and sends you back to the outside again. It is like so many situations we meet in life. To follow the labyrinth was like going on a small-scale pilgrimage, undertaken inside the church rather than over the dusty roads and
mountains of Europe. The center of the labyrinth represented the Divine, or personal salvation, reached after all the winding adventures and misadventures of our lives. But today the labyrinth may suggest additional values: the desire to find our purpose in life, the search for wisdom and scholarly knowledge, and the attempt to arrive at our higher self. —Michael Edward Moore
While there were labyrinths in other
churches of France, this was the largest and the most renowned.
the Natural and the Manmade. Visitors to the cathedral are still amazed at the great labyrinth built into the floor of the church, made of light-colored stone and worn smooth by the feet of pilgrims who have visited this place over the past 800 years. What was the purpose of the labyrinth? And what possible connection did it have to the Christian nature of the building? To understand the Labyrinth of Chartres, we first have to consider the intellectual life of the cathedral. Chartres Cathedral once harbored a famous library and school, which became one of the most advanced centers of learning in all of Europe. The illustrious teachers of this school, such as Bernard of Chartres and John of Salisbury, revived the philosophy of Plato and taught a complete curriculum of the seven liberal arts: grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music. The Cathedral was a place of architectural and intellectual brilliance. At a time when the sword seemed mightier than the pen, and forces of disorder threatened the creative potency of civilization, the clergy and scholars of Chartres were justly proud of their scholarly legacy. They trumpeted their achievement by adorning the front of their cathedral with statues portraying the liberal arts – Pythagoras represented mathematics, Ptolemy astronomy and Aristotle philosophy. The labyrinth inside the church is ultimately connected to the scholarly and religious nature of Chartres. While there were labyrinths in other churches of France, this was the largest and the most renowned. There are several ways in which we can understand it. The labyrinth was large enough that a person could meditatively walk along its paths, following the cream-colored stones, moving around the semi-circular track, going back and forth until reaching the center. With LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 33
The University of Iowa’s Special Collections paints a colorful picture of medieval books. BY EMMA MCCLATCHEY
W
hen one imagines a book from the Middle Ages, they likely picture a hefty religious tome, calligraphed by quill-clutching monks and featuring the kind of gilded, illustrated initials that inspired that one episode of Spongebob. But old books don’t have to glitter to be gold, according to Eric Ensley, medieval scholar and curator of Rare Books and Maps at the University of Iowa’s Special Collections library. One of the jewels of their Middle Ages collection is a stained, crumpled manuscript full of doodles and scribbles, wrapped in an old piece of parchment folded into an envelope, which Ensley compared to a Trapper Keeper. “This is probably a university textbook,” Ensley said—a “cheap copy” of Cicero’s Ad Herennium, a treatise on rhetoric. “This is one that I just can’t believe we have here at Iowa … books like this don’t survive in huge numbers because they were
34 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
used to death.” The book was likely made in the 14th century (the owner wrote down the date, but a bookworm ate a hole right through it) and owned by a student in southern Italy, where Greek, Viking and Middle Eastern cultures collided. “The paper suggests that they had contact with Arab empires at that time because that’s where paper was coming from,” said Ensley, noting paper hadn’t caught on in Europe yet. “So it’s also telling a story of cultural intermixing in the Middle Ages.” As for the marginalia, “Students have been doodling in their notebooks forever.” Ensley fell in love with historic books while working towards his Master’s in library science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He chose Yale to pursue his Ph.D. in English, focusing on history and rare books. His goal is to “humanize the Middle Ages” for students researching the era. “I think when we start to think about people 1,000 years ago, it’s kind of hard to imagine them as human, that they are functioning in a world not so different from our own, that they [had] thoughts and feelings,” he explained. “These were real people with real lived lives. Not everything was gilded letters or really fancy writing. Some of it was really ugly, but cool.” There’s little about the Middle Ages collection at UI that’s ugly; even a French nun’s hand-sized book of funerary chants is made more fascinating by a burn near its binding, suggesting she may have leaned too close to a candle while reading. “We have over 100 medieval items,” Ensley
Visit Special Collections
Emma McClatchey / Little Village
Doodles, Scribbles and Goldleaf
Have a question on medieval books? Email the expert at eric-ensley@uiowa.edu Everyone, not just University of Iowa students and staff, is welcome to visit Special Collections on the third floor of the Main Library, or explore the materials online. Scan the QR code above for the visitors’ guide. Follow @uispeccoll on Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr to see more!
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Europe. The pages (paper, not parchment) have a boasted. “We have a huge collection of early printglossy feel, all the better to print clear, crisp lettered books—probably one of the best among Big 10 ing, detailing the constitutions of Pope Clement universities. I would put it up against Michigan’s VII—making it, essentially, a dull law book. Still, happily, and probably say ours is better, richer.” the printers hired artists to hand-illustrate initials He picked up a Latin prayer book bound in imand decorate pages with goldleaf like a mediepeccably preserved brown leather, a unicorn visval Catholic missal. Its deerskin binding—today ible in the embossing, its crisp parchment pages a light tan color, dotted with worm holes—was decorated with vibrant illustrations. likely dyed a vibrant pink, according to Ensley. “This is like the quintessential item from the “It’s not until the 1500s and early 1600s that Middle Ages,” he said. While it was probably purbooks start to really look the way we think of chased by a wealthy English family in the early books looking today,” he said. But at the time Middle Ages as, essentially, an expensive coffee this tome was printed and table book, the matriarch of bound, the makers “still the family would likely have wanted to have somebody read prayers from it to her come in and make it pretty.” children. hese were Not all pretty things can “[Books] were status real people survive over 500 years and symbols, but they were also thousands of miles of travtestaments to family, as with real lived el. Historic books at UI well.” lives ot are live in a room kept at It resembles a 12th centu70 degrees Fahrenheit and ry Arabic copy of the Quran everything was 50 percent humidity, and also in the UI collection, gilded letters students and instructors in leatherbound with beautithe UI Center for the Book fully adorned pages. Ensley or really fancy help with any needed realso showed me a palm leaf writing ome pairs. One MFA candidate, manuscript, one of the most Madison Bennett, studied common methods of written of it was a rare method of making communication in South ultra-thin parchment in the Asia dating back to the 5th really Center for Book, and has century B.C.E. Words and ugly recently become one of the images were scratched into world’s leading experts on dried palm leaves and strung but the centuries-old artform. together into skinny and relcool The tactile aspects of atively durable little books. Emma McClatchey studying books and book“In the past, when we making of the Middle Ages study the Middle Ages, the can help make the time peidea was that technology is riod, and the people of the time, more real for stualways moving forward, and the printing press is dents, Ensley says. better than the handwritten manuscripts,” Ensley “One of the people I studied for my dissertation said. “This kind of blows that up, because in the is a poet named Thomas Hockley, who was also Arab and Muslim world, the printing press didn’t a bookmaker. He was writing for the king at the catch on until the 1900s. They were still making time. And he talks a lot about scribal labor and manuscripts in huge numbers. The Turks had a how hard it is—the pain he felt, problems with very cosmopolitan and intellectual empire based his eyesight, he didn’t make enough money. And on manuscripts and not really on print.” these are all very real problems to us today, too,” Even as technology seemingly progressed in Ensley said. “There’s a moment in one of his poEurope, readers and bookmakers held onto some ems where he says that he had a mental breakof the most medieval of scribal traditions. Take a down, which is stunning in the Middle Ages to late Middle Ages book in the UI collection, made have somebody say, and he calls it his ‘infirmity.’ in the first few decades of the printing press in
“T
.N
.S
,
.”
4
Dost not thou require gloved hands?
From the University of Iowa Visitor’s Guide to Special Collections & Archives: Generally, you will not be required to wear gloves to view Special Collections materials. Gloves can sometimes cause damage to fragile items. As always, we will require that you wash your hands before handling any materials and prefer this to hand sanitizer, which can leave behind a harmful residue. Staff will direct you and provide gloves for the rare exception, such as metals or photographic materials.
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He looks in the mirror, and he’s trying to move his face around to make it match so that people would think that he was happy. And when students read this, they’re just like, ‘Oh, my God, this is like me,’ you know, ‘I’ve had times like this, I’ve had depression, I’ve had anxiety.’” It’s all part of humanizing the oft-mythologized, oft-misunderstood Middle Ages. And while the University of Iowa’s original rare-book library—with an attached chapel and grand stained-glass window—burned down after a lightning strike in 1897, UI curators have spent the last century building a treasure trove of historic tomes. But if he stumbled upon a time capsule from the Middle Ages, there’s something Ensley would like to find inside more than books: “letters, letters, letters.” “Imagine a world in which we had so many more letters that we could see what people were interested in—not just what they wrote down in books, but what they scribbled,” he said. “That’s what I want more of, is scribbles.” Emma McClatchey needs to get herself a girdle book.
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36 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
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Bread & Butter
Try these three simple recipes to get a taste of the Old World. And, whether you’re embodying the upper crust or the humble peasantry, it’s proper form to eat among friends and family.
• 1 tsp. salt • 1 tsp. chopped rosemary • 1 tsp. chopped thyme • 1 tsp. ground savory
Mutton Stew Meanz Chan / Little Village
• 1 Tbsp. chopped parsley
• ½ tsp. ground ginger
Research indicates that mutton stew and other
• ½ tsp. ground cumin
meat and vegetable stews were popular among
• ½ tsp. ground coriander
peasants in the Middle Ages. A humbling and
• 2 eggs
warm dish, mutton stew captures the hearty and
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
earthy flavors of the land in which they grew vegDIRECTIONS
etables and raised their livestock.
Add bone broth and wine to a large Dutch oven
Recipes
Eat like a Queen (or a peasant)
INGREDIENTS
and bring to a boil over high heat.
• 2 lbs. boneless mutton or lamb stew meat
Add mutton or lamb and return to a boil over
• 2 cups beef bone broth
medium-high heat. Once boiling, add onions, salt
• 1 cup dry white wine (such as Chardonnay or
and herbs.
Sauvignon Blanc)
Reduce heat to low and cover for 1-2 hours, or
• 2 cups chopped yellow onion
until meat is tender. Crack eggs into a small bowl and whisk together with lemon juice. Remove dutch oven from heat and add egg mixture, whisking constantly until fully incorporated
BY VICTORIA HARRIS
and slightly thickened. Serve hot.
Cherry Pottage
A dish enjoyed among the wealthy, cherry pottage was known as a more prestigious side or Medieval tapestry
M
eals in medieval Europe were often determined by one’s socioeconomic status. The wealthy— who could afford feasts of venison, custards, red wine and exotic spices like saffron and ginger—ate very differently from the poor or peasants, who often cooked dishes with local, accessible ingredients, washed down with ale.
dessert because of its use of fresh fruit, white bread and sugar. This warm, almost bread pudding-like recipe, is rich in flavor with a sweet finish. The texture of pottage is porridge-like and full-bodied. Add fresh whipped cream and mint
Guide to Imbibe: Bootleg Hill Honey Meads, Davenport
Genevieve Trainor
A
s a long-time Renaissance faire aficionado, I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for mead, the ancient drink referenced in writings as early as 1700 B.C.E. (The Rigveda); popular throughout the histories of Europe, Asia and even Africa; associated with heroism and poetry; and a staple of drinking horns raised at faires near and far. I was thrilled to learn recently that Iowa is home to no less than three meaderies (as well as some wineries that dabble). Bootleg Hill Honey Meads, based in Davenport, has bottles available on grocery shelves across Iowa, and I swung by John’s in Iowa City to get some to try. I went home with three flavors. Although mead is often referred to as honey wine, it’s its own thing (wine is fermented fruit). That’s a useful shorthand for novices, though, and Bootleg Hill keeps the comparison alive with their 321 Dry Traditional Mead, which hits the palate like a crisp Chardonnay. As such, it’s better with a bit of a chill to it. (Mead can be enjoyed per the drinker’s preference, and the wide variety means that some are nice cold, others warm; some can be chugged from a horn, others sipped from an aperitif glass.) The Ginger Orange, which I was most anticipating, had the perfect spicy kick for a hot afternoon at a Ren faire—a drink to be enjoyed, certainly, but which will remind you as you’re drinking it that you should make certain to drink plenty of water, too. It’s versatile, and would pair well with the sort of hefty, “on a stick” foods served at faires. But it also has subtleties that are pleasant to sip and savor. The one that really hit my sweet spot, though, was the Paint It Blackberry. This is a drink made for swigging, but without lacking complexity. Visually, I appreciated the slight ruddiness of the color. It’s refreshing enough to carry along in a hip flask while exploring a faire, but elegant enough to pour out and share. The blackberry flavor is a perfect complement to the honey, its fullness enriching Bootleg Hill Bootleg Hill Bootleg Hill the honey’s sweet specificity (where in the drier varieties, the alcohol almost flattened it). 321 Dry Ginger Paint It I look forward to trying more of Bootleg Hill’s offerings in the future. Huzzah! —Genevieve Trainor Traditional Orange Blackberry 38 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
LittleVillageMag.com/Dining
Once melted, add cherry mixture, remaining ½ cup red wine, remaining ½ cup sugar, cubed bread, clove and salt. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until mixture thickens. Tacuinum Sanitatis, Sour Cherries
Divide mixture into serving dishes and sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Serve warm.
Mulled Wine or Piment
Mulled wine, favored for its medicinal properties, was popular at the end of the 13th century and beginning of the 14th century. The wealthy typically enjoyed this beverage for its heavy use of spices, and would drink mulled wine from a silver drinking glass, also called a Lacock cup. In modern times, mulled wine is a popular drink during
for a modern twist.
the holiday season. It can be cooked traditionally INGREDIENTS
on the stovetop or in a Crockpot for an easier
• 4 cups pitted cherries
cooking method.
1-4pm 225 N. Gilbert print sale hands-on demos studio tours
• 3/4 cups dry red wine, divided (such as merlot Li livres dou santé by Aldobrandino of Siena. British Library, Sloane
or cabernet sauvignon) • 1 cup granulated sugar, divided • ¼ cup unsalted butter • 1 cup cubed bread (such as sourdough, French baguette or Italian loaf) • ½ tsp. ground clove • ¼ tsp. salt DIRECTIONS Add cherries, ¼ cup red wine, and ½ cup sugar to a blender. Process until smooth. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium Cont. on Pg. 40 >>
heat.
Bodkin Wines, Sonoma County, CA
via Bodkin Wines
C
hris Christensen has had a soft spot for Shakespeare’s Henry V since his English teacher introduced it to him at Cedar Rapids Washington High School. After graduating from Wash, then Stanford University; falling love with the art and science of wine-making; and honing his craft at vineyards from California to Australia, Christensen paid tribute to the Bard when it came to naming his own winery in 2011. He called it Bodkin, a reference to the arrowheads used by Henry V’s peasant archers to defeat French aristocrats in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, depicted in Shakespeare’s play. The business’s motto, “We few, we happy few,” is a line from Henry V, and medieval references can be found everywhere from the red cross patteés gracing the labels to the wines themselves, with names like Hotspur Cuvée and The Victor’s Spoils. A willingness to try new things and determination to make winemaking a more diverse, egalitarian industry have garnered Christensen a following. “Winemaking is agriculture and wine is made by people,” he said. “We need to see more of the people who actually get wine made and less of owners.” Bodkin Wines Sparkling Rosé Hotspur Cuvée
Read Tiffani Green’s full feature interview with Chris Christensen in the 2022 edition of Bread & Butter magazine, out in August.
8:30-10:30p 538 S. Gilbert time-based projects video projection performances
with support from the Iowa City Public Art Advisory Committee Matching Grant
more info:
publicspaceone.com 39 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022
Bread & Butter LittleVillageMag.com
INGREDIENTS • 8 cups dry red wine (such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon) • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon • 1 tsp. ground ginger • 1 tsp. ground cloves • 1 tsp. ground marjoram • 1 tsp. ground nutmeg • 1 tsp. ground cardamom • 1 tsp. ground black pepper STOVETOP DIRECTIONS Add wine to a large saucepan and simmer over medium heat. Add sugar and whisk until dissolved. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, ginger, cloves, marjoram, nutmeg, cardamom and black pepper. Add half of the spice mixture to the saucepan of wine and stir. Taste and add more of the spice mixture if desired. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes and remove from heat. Run mulled wine through a fine sieve and serve warm. CROCKPOT DIRECTIONS Add wine, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, marjoram, nutmeg, cardamom and black pepper to a crockpot. Cook on low for 1-2 hours. Run mulled wine through a fine sieve and serve warm.
Victoria Harris is an Iowa-based food writer and editor. She received her Masters of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University. Throughout her travels and living abroad, she has developed a deep passion for food, culture and history.
40 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
Community
LittleVillageMag.com Iowa Dispatch
Faire Play My life among the traveling knights, pirates, fairies and mermaids. BY ELISABETH CHRETIEN
S
pring has come around again! That can mean different things to different people; for me, spring signals the return of Renaissance faire season. I have been a member of Pass Four Productions since 2014. We are a troupe of actors who perform short, one-act comedy skits with choreographed stage combat at Ren faires across Iowa and the Midwest. Or, as I prefer to put it: I get to hit my friends with swords for applause and tips. Most people might visit a Renaissance faire once or twice in their life. It’s an enjoyable day of eating turkey legs, watching the joust, listening to some uncommon music and watching a lot of delightfully silly folks in costumes turn a field into a medieval (or fantasy medieval) festival for a few hours. I still remember my first Renaissance Faire. It was in Omaha, Nebraska, in the mid-’90s, when I was a preteen. I clearly recall looking around at all the adults in costumes—adults! in costumes!— and immediately falling in love with the silliness and the spectacle. I thought, “I can’t believe there are people who actually do this!” For some, those first encounters turn into a lifelong hobby. They spend money on costumes and visit multiple faires in the region every year. They are what is known as “play-trons,” people who come to Renaissance faires in costume and play a part, though they are not officially part of the faire cast or crew. These individuals play a vital role in bringing the magic of the faire to life. And then there are those of us who take it one step further: the official hired performers and vendors at Renaissance faires. Some performers are hired directly by these festivals to be part of an ensemble cast that tells an interactive story throughout the entire weekend. Others form troupes of actors, musicians, acrobats, dancers or any other act you can imagine and are hired to put on shows on stages at certain times. That is what I have been doing since 2014, though I also passed through the play-tron stage. Along the way, I have sought to create for others that same magic that first enchanted me. These days, depending on the faire, I step out on stage
Pass Four Productions, a comedy stage combat troupe, takes a nap backstage between shows at the Iowa Renaissance Festival, Amana, IA, 2019. Elisabeth Chretien
(often just a roped-off patch of grass) three or four times a day with Pass Four, to perform 20-to-25minute plays about pirates or Vikings or fairies or Robin Hood or whatever. They all culminate—
We’re a community on wheels, coming together in one city for a weekend, going back to our regular lives on Monday morning,
and then reuniting in a different city a few weeks later.
Emma McClatchey 5
and often begin—with us drawing our swords and engaging in carefully choreographed combat that we have spent months rehearsing. For me, Renaissance faires are a natural progression in my performance career. I’ve been on
stage since the age of 4 as a dancer, actor and musician. My work with Pass Four is the logical combination of that lifelong hobby and my magical moment of Renaissance faire discovery as a child. What I didn’t fully expect when I started was the sense of family and camaraderie found among Renaissance faire performers. I think this develops because most performers don’t just perform at one faire a year. No, we migrate. Some make this kind of work their career, traveling across the country all year with the weather to perform at faires across the nation. Others are weekend warriors like me, holding down day jobs during the week and then morphing into a pirate onstage during the weekend. We’re a community on wheels, coming together in one city for a weekend, going back to our regular lives on Monday morning and then reuniting in a different city a few weeks later. At our troupe’s “home faire,” the Iowa Renaissance Festival in Amana, we have shared a stage with an improv troupe from Grinnell for many years, and they have become close friends even outside the festival gates. We’re always overjoyed to reconnect with a troupe of musicians— also now friends—from Des Moines. I have a long-standing friendship with a belly dancer from Lincoln, Nebraska, and a newer friendship with a mermaid from Omaha. We’re also a community forged by the tough realities of performing outdoors in all kinds of weather. I’ve huddled under cloaks with friends during late-spring and early-fall snow; shared water and shade during scorching mid-summer heat; and taken shelter with strangers during powerful thunderstorms. I’ve loosened the corset of a LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 41
Community
LittleVillageMag.com/Calendar
Elisabeth Chretien is a freelance editor and writer by day and an actor, dancer and musician by night. This season, you can catch her with Pass Four Productions at the Iowa Renaissance Festival in Amana playing both the world’s greatest pirate hunter and a talkative unicorn.
Take a Journey to a Tourney Hear ye, hear ye! Renaissance season is upon us! Whether you’re planning a whole summer of costumed frivolity or just looking for that one can’t-miss event, we’ve got Iowa covered for you here.
Darien Maxwell Sloat Robins
stranger during a 112-degree day. I’ve helped a pirate get to shade and received water from a mermaid. I’ve applied sunscreen to the back of a fairy and brought an inhaler to a knight. It doesn’t matter what city or state I’m in; the story is always the same. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it meant that the 2020 Renaissance faire season didn’t really happen. Some events went on, but with reduced numbers of patrons, vendors and performers. I didn’t take the stage at all that year. I didn’t get to see my friends. Even the 2021 faire season was slow to get off the ground, since some faires required commitments from vendors and performers before vaccines were widely available. My return to performing at Renaissance faires was delayed until August 2021. And, like my very first faire, that took place in Omaha, Nebraska. It was my first time seeing many friends—some who live right here in Iowa City and some who live a few states away—since the end of the 2019 season in Sioux City. There were smiles and laughs and hugs before we rushed away to our respective stages to sing and dance and act and sword fight. It was a true homecoming, back in a community far from our respective homes, yet a home in its own right. And of course, that weekend ended with familiar-sounding exchanges: “Will I see you in Des Moines next month?” “No, but we’ll be back in Amana the month after that. Seen you then.” Until next time, my friends.
Spring Fling Celebration of
Iowa Renaissance Festival
Former LV staffer Celine
Mothers (at Sleepy Hollow)
Lenox, IA (Amana Colonies)
Robins chows a turkey leg at
Des Moines, IA
May 28-June 5
the Iowa Renaissance Festival,
May 7-8
$15-22 ages 14+; $8-12 ages
June 2021
Free admission!
6-13; 5 and under free with
Mother’s Day brunch: $20.99
adult
Greater Quad Cities
ages 13+; $15.99 ages 5-12; 4
Family pack: $80 (two adult,
Renaissance Faire
and under free with adult
two children, two collector
Davenport, IA
mugs, $20 food voucher)
Sept. 24-25
Pillage the Village Pirate Fest
All current or retired military
$15-21 ages 14+; $8-11 ages
(at Sleepy Hollow)
admitted free with ID on
5-13; 4 and under free with
Des Moines, IA
Memorial Day
adult
May 14-15
$2 discount to military
$12 ages 13+; 12 and under
Midlands Renaissance Revel
free with adult
(summer) Council Bluffs, IA
Riverssance
Renaissance After Dark (at
Aug. 20-21
Sioux City, IA
Sleepy Hollow)
$15-22 ages 14+; $8-12 ages
Oct. 1-2
Des Moines, IA
6-13; 5 and under free with
(tickets not yet available)
May 14 at 6 p.m.
adult Iowa Renaissance Festival
21+ only; $27 (includes Pillage The Renaissance Faire at
Lenox, IA (Amana Colonies)
Sleepy Hollow
Oct. 8-9
Midlands Renaissance Revel
Des Moines, IA
$15-22 ages 14+; $8-12 ages
(spring)
Sept. 3-18
6-13; 5 and under free with
Council Bluffs, IA
$19 adult; $8 child
adult
ticket)
Emma McClatchey 6
May 21-22
Family pack: $80 (two adult,
$15-22 ages 14+; $8-12 ages
two children, two collector
6-13; 5 and under free with
mugs, $20 food voucher)
adult 42 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
personnel with ID
Culture
LittleVillageMag.com
LittleVillageMag.com/Calendar
A-List
The King Abydeth
Once more into the breach! Katy Hahn on playing a war hero in Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ BY KATY HAHN
I
n Riverside Theatre’s upcoming return to Lower City Park (June 17-July 3, free), I will revisit a role I played first in 2019: Henry Plantagenet, who will have graduated from Prince of Wales (Henry IV Part 1) to King of England (Henry V), a position he held from 1413-1422. Unlike last time, this summer I will play Henry as a man. Several major plot points in this play, as opposed to Henry IV Part 1, hinge on Henry being male. So, why cast a woman to play him then? Well, why not? First of all, Shakespeare probably would not be overly concerned with the gender of the actor matching the gender of the character, as all women’s roles in Shakespeare’s time would have been played by men. Second of all, Shakespeare wrote these plays not to be historically accurate, but to be well-received by his audiences, which included the subjects of Elizabeth I as well as the Queen herself. He had every reason to make the heroes of the past resemble the leader of the present, and it would not shock me if some of the qualities he gives the fictional Henry V had more to do with Elizabeth than Henry. Finally, if the above speculation does not satisfy, consider that the play’s prologue practically begs for nontraditional casting in this section:
Shakespeare in Various Parks
Indoor Barding
Riverside Shakespeare Festival
Iowa City
Lower City Park Festival Stage, Iowa City
Community Theatre
Henry V, June 17-July 3, Free
Johnson County Fairgrounds, Iowa City
Genesius Guild
Romeo & Juliet
Lincoln Park, Rock Island (Illinois)
May 6-15, $9-17
Romeo & Juliet, June 18-26, Free A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Des Moines Metro Opera
July 16-24, Free
Blank Performing Arts Center, Indianola
Shakespeare on the Lawn
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Salisbury House, Des Moines
July 2, 10, 15 & 23, $25-125
King Lear, July 13-17, Free-$35
Henry V, unknown artist, adapted by Jordan Sellergren
“... But pardon, and gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that have dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object: can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt? O, pardon! since a crooked figure may Attest in little place a million; And let us, ciphers to this great accompt, On your imaginary forces work. Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now confined two mighty monarchies, Whose high upreared and abutting fronts The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder: Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts; Into a thousand parts divide on man, And make imaginary puissance; Think when we talk of horses, that you see them Printing their proud hoofs i’ the receiving earth; For ‘tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings, Carry them here and there; jumping o’er times, Turning the accomplishment of many years Into an hour-glass: for the which supply, LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 43
Culture
Admit me Chorus to this history; Who prologue-like your humble patience pray, Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.” If we can imagine that the “wooden O” (a reference to the shape of the Globe Theatre that also conveniently describes our outdoor festival stage in Lower City Park) is a battlefield in France, can we dare to imagine a woman as King Henry V? For me, the question then becomes “Can I imagine myself as this man?” The answer might have to do with an event in Henry’s life that was never shown onstage. During the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, as King Henry IV staved off Hotspur’s rebel army, the real Prince Hal took an arrow to the face, yet continued fighting. While England’s overall victory read as a sign God was on their side, the arrow seemed to be a holy warning that the prince was not meant to survive and inherit the throne. Henry V’s scar from that arrow became a lifetime reminder of his fallibility. Like his father, Henry V’s survival, power and
LittleVillageMag.com
Shakespeare’s Henry V can read as a chauvinistic celebration of one of
England’s greatest war heroes with its
speeches romanticizing
masculinity (“Once more unto the breach!”) and brotherhood (“We few,
we happy few, we band of brothers”), but I think the most fascinating
part of any hero’s story is when they have to
confront their weakness.
legacy all depended on his followers believing in his divine right to the throne. He led troops into battle at Harfleur and Agincourt, believing his kingly ambition to be backed by God—or at least projecting this image as well as he could. This might be the ultimate example of “fake it ‘til you make it.” Fortunately for him, he triumphed. With its epic speeches romanticizing rugged masculinity (“Once more unto the breach!”) and brotherhood (“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”), Shakespeare’s Henry V can come across as a chauvinistic celebration of one of England’s greatest war heroes. Shakespeare’s focus on Henry’s bravery and leadership, without much mention of his vulnerability, is in line with the ideals of patriotism and enthusiasm that permeated much Elizabethan literature. But perhaps Henry’s underlying fear is that he is somewhere he has no right to be. That would make this a play about war, yes, but also about the lengths one person will go to in an effort to overcome—or maybe harness the power of—their own impostor syndrome.
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NOW AVAILABLE:
2021 Iowa City Water Quality Report
Remarkable Rigs May 14, 10 a.m. to noon Meet the trucks and the people who keep the city going. Playground Crawl May 21, 2 to 5 p.m. Special activities help you explore the city’s playgrounds. Ranshaw House Concert Series June & July, 7 to 8 p.m. Catch up with friends amid live music each Friday. Let Love Fly June 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mega kites soar above the park for a community celebration of love. North Liberty Blues & BBQ presented by Veridian Credit Union
July 9, 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. The summer tradition is back! Live music, craft beer, barbecue and kids’ fun. Event details and more at northlibertyiowa.org/cityslate
Every City Slate event is free to attend thanks to our sponsors: MidWestOne Bank | Veridian Credit Union Hills Bank | Adam Schechinger State Farm Shive-Hattery | Eastern Iowa Airport – CID GEICO Philanthropic Foundation South Slope Cooperative Communications Centro, Inc. | University of Iowa Health Care
Culture
LittleVillageMag.com
As a woman in a position of leadership, I have spent decades trying to prove to myself and others that I have a right to be where I am. My own impostor syndrome largely stems from a lifetime of dealing with sexism. Eventually I got to the point where I decided I could respond to the thought, “Am I inferior?” by asking myself, “Whether I am or not, does it serve me to think so?” I am a big believer in doing the things that scare me or intimidate me. Nothing is better at showing me what I can handle, and my greatest strengths and proudest accomplishments are connected to the adversity I have overcome. So many of us have been hit by our own version of an arrow to the face. We have our scars that remind us what we have survived. Perhaps it’s not a question of gender after all. Maybe anyone with an “arrow-scar” has the right to play this king. Riverside will soon invite audiences to willingly suspend their disbelief and use their imaginations to transform our festival stage into medieval Europe. A man who was perhaps never meant to be king will be played by a woman who was perhaps never meant to speak these words on a stage, and we will see how far a lot of rehearsal and a little faith can take us! We hope you join us in the park this summer. Katy Hahn (she/her) is an actor, educator and collaborator who lives in Atkins, Iowa with her husband Bill and children Jack and George. She teaches theater as an adjunct professor at the University of Northern Iowa and Coe College. Katy also acts, directs and coaches dialects at theaters and schools across the state of Iowa. For more information, please visit katyhahn.com.
Emma McClatchey 7
46 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
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IMAGINE. CREATE.
PLAY! DISCOVER. EXPLORE.
TAKE PLAY TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FACILITY RENTALS & MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP
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LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/CALENDAR
EVENTS: May May 2022
Planning an event? Submit event info to calendar@littlevillagemag. com. Include event name, date, time, venue, street address, admission price and a brief description (no all-caps, exclamation points or advertising verbiage, please). To find more events, visit littlevillagemag.com/calendar. Please check venue listing in case details have changed.
The Fairy of Springtime, 1902
Friday, May 13,
Brinton Surprise Olympic South Side Theater, Cedar Rapids, at 8 p.m., $30 Red Cedar Chamber Music presents a multimedia
delight. Violinist Miera Kim and cellist Carey Bostian will be joined by guitarist John Dowdall and flutist Claudia Anderson to play newly composed scores for classic silent films from the Brinton collection. The evening includes Philip Wharton’s score for 1902 hand-painted French film The Fairy of Springtime; Michael Kimber’s score to accompany Venetian Tragedy; and an exploration of the life of Georges Méliès from French composers JeanFrancois Charles and Nicolas Sidoroff. Brinton collector Michael Zahs will join the performance. Can’t make this screening? The 90-minute program is touring the state, including an event at FilmScene (see below) and dates in Winterset, Williamsburg, Central City and Muscatine.
Films In Focus Saturday, May 7 at 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. This
Open Air Media Festival, Public
Much I Know To Be True, Film-
Space One: Close House, Iowa
Scene—Chauncey, $9.50-12
City, Free Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and Tuesday and Thursday, May 10
15 at 11 a.m. The Picture Show: Lilo
and 12 at 7 p.m. May in May: A
& Stitch, FilmScene—Chauncey,
New Leaf, FilmScene—Chauncey,
Free-$5
$9.50-12
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022 PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AROUND THE CRANDIC
OPEN CALLS! Looking for a way to plug into your community? Look no further for auditions, submissions and more in Central Iowa and around the state!
Iowa City Area Home Builders Association is accepting submissions for its Lego Parade of Homes event ‘Temblores’
from May 5 through May 20. The contest is open to children ages 17 and under. Kids are invited to build their dream home out of Legos, then upload photos and a creative description to Saturday and Sunday, May 14
Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m.
iowacityhomes.thegazette.com/lego-
and 15 at 9 p.m., and 7 p.m.
Science on Screen: Double
The Collins Story: Live From
tour. Prizes will go to 1st through 3rd
Classics: Inland Empire, Film-
Indemnity, FilmScene—
The Moon & Moon Talk, CSPS
place winners in the categories Building
Scene—Chauncey, $9.50-12
Chauncey, $5
Hall, Cedar Rapids, Free
Excellence and Creative Description, and there will also be a prize awarded
Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25 at 7
Brinton Surprise, FilmScene—
p.m. On the Divide, FilmScene—Chauncey, Free
Chauncey, $25-30 3
to the People’s Choice top winner. Theatre Cedar Rapids announces auditions for their outdoor summer
Tuesday and Thursday, May
productions at Brucemore. The
Saturday and Sunday,
24 and 26 at 7 p.m. May in
company will produce Elephant and
The Heartbreak Kid, Film-
May 21 and 22 at 9:45 p.m.,
May: Mikey and Nicky, Film-
Piggie’s “We Are In a Play!” (opening
Scene—Chauncey, $9.50-12
and 4 p.m. Classics: Monty
Scene—Chauncey, $9.50-12
July 8, dir. Lisa Kelly) and Once
Tuesday and Thursday, May 17 and 19 at 7 p.m. May in May:
(opening Aug. 26, dir. Angie Toomsen).
Python and the Holy Grail, Thursday, May 19 at 3:30
FilmScene—Chauncey,
Saturday, May 28 at 9 p.m.
A wide variety of ethnicities and
p.m. The Picture Show: Lilo &
$9.50-10.50
SotA Free Movie Series: Free
gender expressions are being sought.
Guy, Iowa City Municipal
Once requires that two leads also play
Airport, Free
instruments (Girl: piano; Guy: guitar).
Stitch, FilmScene—Chauncey, Free-$5
Saturday, May 21 at 8:45 p.m. Summer of the Arts
Auditions will be held May 7 from
Free Movie Series: Field of
Tuesday and Thursday, May
1-4 p.m. and May 8 from 6:30-9:30
p.m. Pride at FilmScene: Tem-
Dreams, Napoleon Park,
31 and June 2 at 7 p.m.
p.m. Callbacks are scheduled for the
blores, FilmScene—The Ped
Iowa City, Free
May in May: Ishtar, Film-
evening of May 10. See theatrecr.org for
Scene—Chauncey, $9.50-12
additional details.
Thursday, May 19 at 6:30
Mall, $9.50-12
Applications are now open for the Iowa City Sculpture Showcase. The city’s Public Art Advisory Committee is offering paid commissions for eight locations; selected sculptures will be on display for one year. Work must be ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’
able to be secured to a 4’ x 4’ cement pad and be able to withstand adverse weather conditions. Deadline for submission is May 20.
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 49
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022 PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AROUND THE CRANDIC
Saturday, May 21
Author Fair, Swamp Fox Bookstore, Marion, at 9 a.m., Free
The Marion Arts Festival, celebrating its 30th iteration this year, is renowned for offering something for everyone. This offering from Swamp Fox is a delightful addition, as seven area authors gather outside the store to greet readers and discuss their work. Meet Tricia Andersen, Erin Casey, Mary Chalupsky, Dale J. Kueter, Dennis Maulsby, Kristine Plum and ML Williams during two sessions (9-11:45 a.m., 12-3 p.m.; Andersen and Plum will be at the morning session only; Casey and Chalupsky only in the afternoon). Swamp Fox Bookstore & Swamp Fox Kids recently shifted their inventory over to building 6 at the Shops at West End, a delightful district nestled on 6th Avenue in Marion. The move allows the main bookstore and the children’s shop to live under one cozy, welcoming roof. Stop inside while you’re there for the full experience with the gracious staff (and to pick up work by the authors!). Literature Luxuries Thursday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 9 at 8:30 p.m.
Iowa Literary Legends: T.C Boyle,
Writers of the Flames Reading,
Englert Theatre, Iowa City, Free
Sanctuary Pub, Iowa City, Free
Friday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Michelle
Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. Jen
Herman w/Joshua Jay, Prairie
Silverman w/Julia May Jonas, Prai-
Lights, Iowa City, Free
rie Lights, Online, Free
Saturday, May 7 at 4 p.m. After-
Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 at 5 p.m. Iowa
Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. Con-
noon w/Rachel Mans McKenny,
Conversation & Signing w/Ash Da-
Youth Writing Project Presents:
versation & Signing w/Katie Runde
Sidekick Coffee & Books, Iowa
vidson & Virginia Hayes, Sidekick
Field Marks, Cangleska Wakan,
and Claire Lombardo, Sidekick
City, Free
Coffee & Books, Free
Solon, $50
Coffee & Books, Free
Sunday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. Non-
Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. Mary
Sunday, May 22 at 3 p.m. Melissa
Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
fiction Fellow Reading: Ilana Bean,
Allen w/Patricia Foster, Prairie
Febos w/Donika Kelly, Prairie
Reading and Q/A w/Alexander
Englert Theatre, Free
Lights, Free
Lights, Free
Maksik, Prairie Lights, Free
Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. Geoff
Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. Kate
Monday, May 23 at 7 p.m. Ada
Dyer w/Lucas Mann, Prairie
Folk w/Jamel Brinkley, Prairie
Limón w/Jennifer L. Knox, Prairie
Lights, Online, Free
Lights, Free
Lights, Online, Free
Become an LV Distributor
Professional Printers for 65 Years 408 Highland Ct. • (319) 338-9471 bob@goodfellowprinting.com 50 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
Contact:
distro@littlevillagemag.com
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022 PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AROUND THE CRANDIC
Saturday, May 21
Valerie June w/ Chastity Brown, Englert Theatre, Iowa City, at 7:30 p.m., $15-40
You’ve never heard a voice like this before. Once you sink into the plush, woven sounds of Valerie June’s silky, throaty Tennessee drawl, you won’t want to rise back out. An indelible mix of Mary Wells and Janis Joplin, June deserves to be added to your constant rotation, especially her latest, 2021’s The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers. Chastity Brown, also originally from TN (now based in Minnesota) brings her Americana/ soul Red House Records stylings to the opening slot. Together, they’ll make for an evening at the Englert not to be missed.
courtesy of the Englert Theatre
Musical Marvels Thursday, May 5 at 6 p.m. Jordan Seller-
Friday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Summer of
Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. David Zollo & The
gren, Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, Iowa City,
the Arts Friday Night Concert Series: Iowa
Body Electric with The Bernemann Broth-
Free
Steel Band, Iowa City Ped Mall, Free
ers, Olympic South Side Theater, Cedar
Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Circuit Des Yeux
Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. Beatallica, Wild-
w/Hadiza, Englert Theatre, $10-20
wood BBQ & Saloon, Iowa City, $15
Friday, May 6 at 8 p.m. Maaaze & Penny
Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. Punk Show w/
Peach, CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids, $10-12
SHROUD, Public Opinion, Bovinophobic
Rapids, $10-15 Friday, May 20 at 9 p.m. Feed Me Weird Things: Maurice Louca, Trumpet Blossom
Saturday, May 7 at 1 p.m. Alyx Rush, Lily De-
Bile Puddle & Pest House, PS1 Close House,
Saturday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. Avey Grou-
Iowa City, $5-10
ws Band & Kris Lager Band, Olympic South Side Theater, $15-18
Taeye, Penny Peach, Willow Creek Theatre Company, Iowa City, Free Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Las Cafeteras,
Saturday, May 14 at 3 p.m. Family Folk Machine Spring Concert, Englert Theatre,
Sunday, May 22 at 2:30 p.m. Orchestra
Free
Iowa Masterworks IV: Musical Pranks, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts,
Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, $10-45 Sunday, May 15 at 8 p.m. Dizzy Wright, Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. Miles Nielsen and
Cafe, $10-15
$16-56
Gabe’s, $20-70 Sunday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. Janis Ian,
the Rusted Hearts, Jeremy Pinnell, J. Jeffrey Messerole, Codfish Hollow Barnstomers,
Wedneday, May 18 at 8 p.m. Sam Lewis w/
Maquoketa, $25-30
Brian Johannesen, Trumpet Blossom Cafe, Iowa City, $12-15
Saturday, May 7 at 9 p.m. FemmeDecks
Englert Theatre, $15-45 Tuesday, May 24 at 9 p.m. Feed Me Weird Things: MOPCUT, Trumpet Blossom Cafe,
& iHearIC: Wangzoom, Dropbear, Maul of
Thursday, May 19 at 8 p.m. Southern
America, David Hurlin, Angelia and Alter-
Culture on the Skids, Wildwood BBQ &
nate Project Name, Gabe’s, Iowa City, $10
Saloon, $15-25
Thursday, May 12 at 6 p.m. Kevin Burt, Wil-
Friday, May 20 at 6:30 p.m. SotA Friday
Coralville Center for the Performing Arts,
son’s Orchard & Farm, Free
Night Concert Series: West High, Liberty
$37-57
$10-15 Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. Beatles vs. Stones—A Musical Showdown,
High and City High Jazz Ensembles, Iowa Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Intro to Audacity, Iowa City Public Library, Free
52 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
City Ped Mall, Free
Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. Cedar County Cobras, Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, Free
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM
via Feed Me Weird Things
Thursday, May 26 at 9 p.m. Feed Me Weird Things: Chihei Hatakeyama w/Jordan Reyes and Claire Nunez, Trumpet Blossom Cafe, $10-15 Friday, May 27 at 6:30 p.m. SotA Friday Night Concert Series: The Recliners, Iowa City Ped Mall, Free
IOWA CITY
DOWNTOWN
DISTRICT
Friday, May 27 at 8 p.m. John Primer & The Real Deal Blues Band, CSPS Hall, $25-150 Friday, May 27 at 8 pm. Damien Jurado, Codfish Hollow Barnstormers, $35 Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m. David Huckfelt, Pieta Brown and Erik Koskinen, Codfish Hollow Barnstormers, $25 Saturday, May 28 at 8 p.m. Fauvely w/Sean Tyler, Lexo Leto and Sarahann Kolder, Gabe’s, $10
FIND MORE EVENTS
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 53
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022 PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AROUND THE CRANDIC
Friday-Sunday, May 27-29,
Unfinished Business, Englert Theatre, Iowa City, $1050 Performers Melinda Jean Myers and Kurt Chiang offer
a collaborative exploration, through theater and dance, of the notion of unfinished business, and how it connects to both art and life. Myers is a dance artist, choreographer and assistant professor of the same at the University of Iowa. Chiang, a playwright and performer, served as the first full-time artistic director of the Neo-Futurist Theater in Chicago from 2015-19. The pair are doing three performances at the Englert, at 7:30 p.m. on May 27 and 28, and at 2 p.m. There is also a workshop component: At 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, participants will engage with movement improv, writing and storytelling. The workshop is $50 and includes admission to the performance of the student’s choice. courtesy of the Englert Theatre
Theatrical Thrills Through May 8 Natasha, Pierre, & The Great
Opening Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Romeo
Friday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Northside Comedy
Comet of 1812, Riverside Theatre, Iowa City,
and Juliet, Iowa City Community Theatre, $9-17
Showcase, The James Theater, Iowa City, $1520
$15-40 Opening Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. Legally Through May 29. The Sound of Music, Theatre
Blonde the Musical, Coralville Center for the
Friday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids, $22-46
Performing Arts, $14-29
Opera: La Voix Humaine, CRST Building, Cedar Rapids, $45
Thursday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m. Theatre Cedar
Opening Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. Mirror-
Rapids Luncheon: Here We Go Again, Cedar
box Theatre Presents Private, Theatre Cedar
Opening Friday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. For Peter
Rapids Country Club, $75-850
Rapids, $20
Pan on Her 70th Birthday, Brucemore, Cedar
Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. Improv First Thurs-
Opening Thursday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. The
days, CSPS Hall, Cedar Rapids, Free-$5
Complete Works of Jane Austen: Abridged,
Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 at 8 p.m.
Riverside Theatre, $15-30
The Roaring 20s: Annee Folles, CSPS Hall, Ce-
Rapids, $15-25
dar Rapids, $25-30 Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. Tyler Ross, Joystick Comedy Bar & Arcade, Iowa City, $5 Saturday, May 14 at 8 p.m. Luther Bangert: Distillations Premiere, Chauncey Swan Park, Iowa City, Free Friday, May 20 at 6 p.m. Luther Bangert: Distillations, Mercer Park, Iowa City, Free Friday to Sunday, May 20 to 22. One Act Showcase, Run of the Mill Theatre, The Artifactory, Iowa City, $12 Sunday, May 22 at 4 p.m. Luther Bangert: Distillations, Willow Creek Park, Iowa City, Free courtesy of Luther Bangert
54 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
Does the University of Iowa have Black Hawk’s remains?
Wednesday, May 4, 7pm Local History Genealogy Resources at Icpl
Tuesday, May 10, 10:30am More than a just a golf course: The Finkbine Story
Thursday, May 12, 7pm Preschool Stories & More with Mari: Weber Days!
Thursday, May 19, 10:30am Weber Days: Your Old House
for more events go to:
Wednesday, May 25, 7pm
icpl.org/weber
Monday, May 16 7 - 8:30pm Digital Media Lab
Adults and teens: join us in the Digital Media Lab for some analog creativity! Bring your own portable craft project (such as knitting, paper crafts, embroidery, drawing, etc.) and make some progress in the company of other makers and craft-loving library staff members.
Kick Off Summer at “The Shore” on The Chauncey Rooftop Friday, June 3 | 5:30 - 8pm
Photo credit Rebecca Sanabria
(319)356-5200 icpl.org/calendar
Rave reviews are coming in for The Shore, Katie Runde’s debut novel out in late May. Everyone is invited to The Shore’s publishing party featuring Runde in conversation with Lyz Lenz, another brilliant Iowa author, on The Chauncey building rooftop.
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022 PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AROUND THE CRANDIC
Saturday, May 21,
Cedar Rapids Beer Summit 2022, DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, at 5 p.m., $40-280
Over 100 craft brews from more than 50 breweries will be available for your tasting pleasure at this event from national beer fest specialists America On Tap. You’ll also find vendors, food for purchase and music from Cedar Rapids country rockers Boot Jack Band. The event is strictly 21+; designated driver tickets are $10 and available at the door only. The $40 general admission ticket gets you three hours of unlimited sampling and a souvenir glass; for the $50 VIP pass, you get an additional hour of sampling and a meal voucher. There are also a very limited number of hotel packages available, for $270 general admission (four left, as of this writing) and $280 VIP (three left, as of this writing). Book your spot and sip the night away! courtesy of America On Tap
Community Connections Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. First Annual
Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m. Marion Arts
Sunday, May 22 at 12 p.m. Vinyl Market,
Tulip Festival, Wilson’s Orchard & Farm,
Festival, City Square Park, Free
Big Grove Brewery, Iowa City, Free
Iowa City, Free Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. Iowa Pop Art
Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. Cocktail Clas-
Saturday, May 7 at 1 p.m. Print Day in May,
Festival, NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids,
sic, NewBo City Market, $45
Iowa City Press Co-op, Free
Free
Friday-Sunday, May 13-15. Houby Days,
Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m. Typewriter 101,
Action for Youth Festival of Flowers,
Czech Village, Cedar Rapids, Free
PS1 Close House, Iowa City, Free; dona-
Johnson County Fairgrounds, Iowa City,
tions
$50-375
w/Queer Hikers Group, Wickiup Hill Learn-
Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m. Puttin’ Around
Saturday, May 28 at 1 p.m. Diversity Mar-
ing Center, Toddville, Free
Downtown, Iowa City Downtown District,
ket, Pepperwood Plaza, Iowa City, Free
Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m. United
Saturday, May 14 at 9:30 a.m. Spring Hike
$55 Sunday, May 29 at 2 p.m. My Return:
Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m. Small Farm Summer Open House, Phoenix Farm, Iowa
Saturday and Sunday, May 21 and 22.
2x2xU Community Art Exhibit, Olympic
City, Free
Women/Trans*/Femme Bike Touring, Iowa
South Side Theater, Cedar Rapids, Free
City Bike Library, Iowa City, Free
THE WEEKENDER YOUR WEEKLY EDITOR-CURATED ARTS COMPENDIUM, A.K.A.
st uf f to do IN YOUR INBOX EVERY THURSDAY LittleVillageMag.com/Subscribe
56 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 57
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022
PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
DES MOINES
via DSM Metro Opera, Amee Ellis
Sunday, May 22,
DSM Metro Opera: The Land in Transition, Hills and Valleys, Whiterock Conservancy, Coon Rapids, at 1:30 p.m., Free In anticipation of the July 9 premiere of A Thousand
Acres, a new opera based on the Jane Smiley novel of the same name, Des Moines Metro Opera is exploring the confluence of art and land stewardship. This program kicks off with remarks from Whiterock Conservancy’s Niki Reynolds and Michael Egel of Des Moines Metro Opera, followed by a series of performances highlighting a connection to the land. Annie Chapman Brewer’s horn composition created through an AgArts Residency at Whiterock; Mary Swander’s one-woman play Map of My Kingdom; a Q&A with Beth Hoffman, author of 2021 memoir Bet the Farm; and finally, a sneak-peek aria from A Thousand Acres. Registration is requested; a free shuttle from Des Moines will be available.
Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Wid-
Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. Colleen
owspeak, w/ Dan Wriggins and
Green, Karen Meat, Poly Mall Cops,
Treesreach, xBk Live, $13-15
Gaslamp, Des Moines, $15
Friday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Film
Sunday, May 22 at 2 p.m. Jazz w/
Screening: The Automat, Des
Andrea Domenici & Francesco
Moines Art Center, Free
Cafiso, Caspe Terrace, Waukee, $30-35
Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. Chicago Comedy Showcase, Teehee’s Com-
Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. June-
edy Club, $15-20
teenth: The Movement 2022 (Live Taping), xBk Live, $25
Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m. No Shame Theater, Teehee’s Comedy
Tuesday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Club, Free
Indigo Girls, Hoyt Sherman Place, $45-75
Opening Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. Hamilton, Des Moines Civic
Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m.
Center, $89-129
AViD Author: Jason Mott, Central Library, Des Moines, Free
Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. Story-
Dynamic DSM
house Bookpub: The Author After-
Friday, May 27 at 7 p.m. Plumero
party w/Rachel Yoder, Raygun, $6
EP Release Show, xBk Live, $10-15
Friday, May 6 at 5 p.m. First Fri-
Sunday, May 8 at 2 p.m. Botanical
day: City Sounds Season Opener
Watercolor Workshop w/Claire
Saturday, May 21 at 5 p.m. Cedar
Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m. Em-
& Piano Unveiling, Mainframe
Sedovic, Mainframe Studios, $50
Rapids Beer Summit, DoubleTree
mett Phillips’ Community Celebra-
by Hilton Cedar Rapids Conven-
tion, xBk Live, $10
Studios, Des Moines, Free Thursday, May 12 at 6 p.m. Brian Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. Spring
Herrin Band, Jasper Winery, Des
Garden Festival, Greater Des
Moines, Free
Moines Botanical Garden, Free
tion Complex, $40-280 Monday, May 30 at 7 p.m. Ezra Saturday, May 21 at 6 p.m. A Night
Furman w/Grace Cummings, Gas-
of Resilience with Geneviève Sal-
lamp, $20-22
amone, xBk Live, $20
58 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
Enter a seemingly empty space with abstract symbols on the walls, but watch them come to life using the Czech Innovation Expo Augmented Reality (AR) app to explore Czech inventions and scientific discoveries.
Open through June 26 Learn more at NCSML.org/exhibits DOWNLOAD THE INTERACTIVE AR APP USING THE QR CODES BELOW TO TRY ON THE SYMBOLS ON THIS PAGE!
LOCAL SUPPORT THANKS TO
Czech Innovation Expo (CIE) was prepared by the Czech Center network together with the Czech Academy of Sciences.
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 59
EDITORS’ PICKS: May 2022
CEDAR FALLS / WATERLOO
Friday, May 20,
RiverLoop Rhythms: Avey Grouws Band, RiverLoop Amphitheatre & Expo Plaza, Waterloo, at 5:30 p.m., Free
Erik Dutcher
RiverLoop Rhythms concert series returns! First up in Waterloo Center for the Arts May-August series is Quad Cities blues rockers the Avey Grouws Band. Their sophomore album, The Tell Tale Heart, debuted at number seven on the Billboard Blues Album chart last September, and they’ve kept a full touring schedule since. Next up in the RiverLoop Rhythms series is Waterloo’s own Katie & the Honky Tonks on June 3, with the rest of the summer as yet unannounced. With those two groups kicking things off, it’s bound to be a summer to remember!
Friday, May 6 at 9 p.m. Chuckie
Tuesday, May 17 at 7 p.m.
Campbell, DJ No Relation, Soultru,
Release Reading w/Jim O’Lough-
Dead Silent, Octopus, Cedar Falls,
lin, Octopus, Free
$10 Friday, May 20 at 8 p.m. Bent
Wildest W’loo + more!
Opening Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
Scepters and 10 Watt Robot,
Clue, Waterloo Community
Octopus, $10
Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. Red
Friday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. Metal
Herring Theatre: Amy and the Or-
In the Pavilion w/ Alborn, Guilty Of
phans, Hearst Center for the Arts,
Treason & More, Cattle Congress
Saturday, May 14 at 9 a.m. The
Spectrum JamFest, River Place,
Cedar Falls, Free
Pavilion, Waterloo, $10
Bridges Ride, Cedar Valley Nature
Cedar Falls, Free
Playhouse, $10-25 Saturday, May 21 at 2 p.m.
Trail, Free
I’m Brandi and I’m honored to be connecting Iowa City neighbors to ImOn's advanced Fiber
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PRESENTED BY THE IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
Friday, May 6,
Friday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. Empower
Opening the Box: Local Black History Research Collections,
Hour for Reproductive Access, Unimpaired, Davenport, Free Saturday, May 14 at 6 p.m. Frog & Toad Chorus, Wapsi River Center, Dixon, Free (Registration required)
Davenport Public Library Special
Sunday, May 15 at 12 p.m. Free Family Day, Figge Art Museum, Davenport,
Collections, Virtual, at 2:30pm,
Free via Davenport Public Library
Free From the monthly series on researching using archives
and manuscripts with the Davenport Public Library, May’s collection will feature important and forgotten documents from local Black history. Davenport librarians will work with attendees to assist with their research projects. Archives come from the RichardSloane Special Collections Center. Each edition of the series is free and open to the public via Zoom.
QUAD CITIES
Thursday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. Rock Island County Children’s Advocacy Saturday, May 7 at 1 p.m. Mindful
Center Paint Party, Moline Viking Club,
Movement for Musicians, Deanery
$40
School of Music, Davenport, $50 Friday, May 20 at 7 p.m. Factory of Tuesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. Teen
Fear Infection: Oops All Shango, Fac-
Advisory Board, Fairmont Library &
tory of Fear, Moline, $25
Quintessential QC
Zoom, Free
Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. Free Comic Book Day at The
Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Kitten Shower, Rock Island County
ComiQ Rack, Rock Island, Free
Roller Derby Boot Camp, Eldridge
Animal Care, Moline, fundraiser
Saturday, May 21 at 12 p.m. QC Paws
Community Center, $30+
—Sarah Elgatian
2022
PLAY PLAY MAKE
YOUR YEAR TO
INDIVDUAL AND GROUP LESSONS, ALL AGES
Play now. Play for life.
319-351-2000 westmusic.com/lessons LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 61
IOWA CITY NORTHSIDE MARKETPLACE
George’s
est. 1939
312 E Market St | 351-9614
IC’s original northside tap, serving up cold brews, lively conversation, & our award-winning burgers.
BEER GARDEN
Mon-Sat 11am-midnight Sunday noon-midnight 62 May 2022 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306
DEAR KIKI
NEWS YOU CAN TRUST.
90.9
FM
NEWS | STUDIO ONE
910
NEWS
Stream online: IowaPublicRadio.org or the IPR app.
AM
LittleVillageMag.com/DearKiki
D
ear Kiki, I work a full time job but I’m an artist on the side, and I make my own stuff from scratch. I’ve been doing this a really long time and it’s taken years of practice to reach my level of skill. But I have a friend that got sucked into an MLM selling kitschy, mass-produced tchotchkes and tries to sell them at some of the same art fairs I attend. Some of these fairs are good at catching and restricting MLMs, but hers sometimes slip through the cracks because the products “look homemade.” I don’t think it’s fair for her to sell cheap, made-in-China stuff posing as a small business owner, when the people around her are putting their time, money and resources into their own crafts. Especially when her things draw away customers. My question is: How do I approach her about this and tell her that it’s not OK? I’ve tried to explain to her that she’s basically in a pyramid scheme, but she actually makes a small profit so she’s not willing to stop. I’d hate to make an enemy of her since we have a lot of mutual friends, but she’s kind of making an enemy of the artists around her. How should I handle this? Sincerely, Aggravated Artist
D
ear Aggravated, The social situation you’ve found yourself in is not an easy one, but the challenge for your overall industry is becoming increasingly common. It’s hard to impose strict regulations on opportunities for independent artists, not least because, as you note, enforcement can be difficult. The folks running craft fairs are seldom bringing in the big bucks themselves, and if you were to raise the issue with the organizers (the easiest way to address this without raising your acquaintance’s ire), you’d probably find yourself cordially invited to volunteer as the product police for future events. If that’s your jam, then go for it! Your fellow artists will thank you. But with a full-time job and your art besides, chances are you haven’t got the time for that sort of unpaid task. Hence, your question. Here’s the thing: As any 15-year-old playing UNO will assure you, it’s only cheating if you get caught. More people than you’d think carry that philosophy over into adulthood with them, to one degree or another (’fess up: How often do you actually go between 40 and 65 mph on the interstate?). If it’s truly the case that she just “slip[s] through the Emma McClatchey 2
cracks” and she’s not actively misrepresenting her product to buyers or explicitly breaking fair rules, you’ll be hard pressed to appeal to her sense of moral rightness. After all, if they don’t tell her to leave, then there’s nothing “wrong” with her being there. Per se. Officially. Where you might be able to find an in is through her sense of community. I don’t mean by pointing out to her that she’s making enemies; that kind of rhetoric tends to come off as a threat or a challenge, and it often makes people dig in harder. But the thing is that more and more MLM proprietors are finding opportunities to create their own fairs. See if you can track one down in your area (pro-tip: They’re often held in the open space in malls). Recommend it to her; maybe even make a friend date to check it out together. She’ll find better companionship and camaraderie with other folks in her same line of work. And chances are she’ll find their conversations about business, rather than craft, both more interesting and more valuable to her. Remember, too, Aggravated, that most people already have their minds made up about MLMs, and they aren’t likely to budge. I share your ethical quandary on this, Aggravated. I believe that healthy competition should improve everyone’s lot, and that luring customers with bargain-basement prices is harmful to all commerce, even if she were crafting the goods herself. That might be a gentle way to explain things to her, if you do want to take a direct approach. But the fact is that not everyone feels that way. Some people think that every penny they make matters, even if they could make more by respecting their fellow entrepreneurs. If your views are that far apart, it may be worth re-thinking the friendship. xoxo, Kiki
KIKI WANTS QUESTIONS! Submit questions anonymously at littlevillagemag.com/dearkiki or non-anonymously to dearkiki@littlevillagemag.com. Questions may be edited for clarity and length, and may appear either in print or online at littlevillagemag.com. LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 63
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Imagining anything is the first step toward creating it,” wrote author and activist Gloria Steinem. “Believing in a true self is what allows a true self to be born,” she added. Those are excellent meditations for you to focus on right now, Taurus. The time is ripe for you to envision in detail a specific new situation or adventure you would like to manifest in the future. It’s also a perfect moment to picture a truer, deeper, more robust version of your beautiful self—an expanded version of your identity that you hope to give birth to in the coming months.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A Tumblr blogger named Af-70 gives copious advice. From his wide selection of wise counsel, I have selected six tips that are right for your needs in the coming weeks. Please study the following counsel. 1. “Real feelings don’t change fast.” 2. “Connect deeply or not at all.” 3. “Build a relationship in which you and your ally can be active in each other’s growth.” 4. “Sometimes what you get is better than what you wanted.” 5. “Enjoy the space between where you are and where you are going.” 6. “Keep it real with me even if it makes us tremble and shimmer.”
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Gemini author William Butler Yeats won a Nobel Prize for Literature, so I conclude he had considerable talent and wisdom. But he cultivated interests and ideas that were at variance with most other literary figures. For example, he believed fairies are real. He was a student of occult magic. Two of his books were dictated by spirits during séances. In the coming weeks, I invite you to draw inspiration from his versatile repertoire. Welcome knowledge in whatever unusual ways it might materialize. Be eager to accept power and inspiration wherever they are offered. For inspiration, here’s a Yeats’ quote: “I have observed dreams and visions very carefully, and am certain that the imagination has some way of lighting on the truth that reason has not, and that its commandments, delivered when the body is still and the reason silent, are the most binding we can ever know.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Consider putting a sign on your door or a message on your social media that says something like the following: “I’ve still got some healing to do. While I’m making progress, I’m only partway there. Am open to your suggestions, practical tips, and suggestions for cures I don’t know about.” Though the process is as yet incomplete, Sagittarius, I am proud of how diligent and resourceful you have been in seeking corrections and fixes. My only suggestions: 1. Be bold about seeking help and support. 2. Be aggressive about accessing your creativity. Expand your imagination about what might be therapeutic.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): You know what’s always good for your well-being? Helping people who are less fortunate and less privileged than you. To enhance your health, you can also fight bigotry, campaign against the abuse of animals, and remedy damage to the natural world. If you carry out tasks like these in the coming weeks, you will boost your vigor and vitality even more than usual. You may be amazed at the power of your compassion to generate selfish benefits for yourself. Working in behalf of others will uplift and nurture you. To further motivate you, here are inspirational words from designer Santiago Bautista: “I am in love with all the gifts of the world, and especially those destined for others to enjoy.” LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “There is a moment in each day that Satan cannot find,” wrote author and artist William Blake. Here’s how I interpret his poetic words: On a regular basis, you become relatively immune from the debilitating effects of melancholy, apathy, and fear. At those times, you are blessed with the freedom to be exactly who you want to be. You can satisfy your soul completely. In the next six weeks, I suspect there will be more of these interludes for you than usual. How do you plan to use your exalted respite from Satan’s nagging? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Louis Little Coon Oliver (1904–1991) was a member of the indigenous Mvskoke people. He declared, “I do not waste what is wild.” That might mean something different for him than what it would mean for you, but it’s an excellent principle for you to work with in the coming weeks. You will have more access than usual to wildness, and you might be tempted to use it casually or recklessly. I hope that instead you harness all that raw mojo with precision and grace. Amazingly, being disciplined in your use of the wildness will ensure that it enriches you to the max and generates potent transformative energy. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I suspect you will have the skills of an acrobat in the coming weeks—at least metaphorically. You will be psychically nimble. Your soul will have an exceptional ability to carry out spry maneuvers that keep you sane and sound. Even more than usual, you will have the power to adjust on the fly and adapt to shifting circumstances. People you know may marvel at your lithe flexibility. They will compliment you for your classiness under pressure. But I suspect the feats you accomplish may feel surprisingly easy and breezy!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “To uncover what is hidden in my soul might take me a week or two,” my friend Allie told me. I told her she would be lucky if her brave and challenging exploration required such a short time. In contrast, some people I know have spent years trying to find what is buried and lost in their souls: me, for instance. There was one period of my life when I sought for over a decade to find and identify the missing treasure. According to my astrological analysis, you will soon enjoy multiple discoveries and revelations that will be more like Allie’s timeline than mine: relatively rapid and complete. Get ready! Be alert! AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A Thai cook named Nattapong Kaweenuntawong has a unique method for cooking the soup served in his Bangkok restaurant. At the end of each night, he saves the broth for use the next day. He has been doing that daily for 45 years. Theoretically, there may be molecules of noodles that were originally thrown in the pot back in 1977. In accordance with current astrological omens, I urge you to dream up a new tradition that borrows from his approach. What experience could you begin soon that would benefit you for years to come? PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Pisces-born Casimir Pulaski (1745–1779) was a Polish nobleman and military commander. As a young man, he fought unsuccessfully to free Poland from Russian domination. Driven into exile, he fled to America, arriving during the Revolutionary War with Britain in 1777. General George Washington was impressed with Pulaski’s skills, making the immigrant a brigadier general. He distinguished himself as a leader of American forces, exhibiting brilliance and bravery. For that excellence, he has been honored. But now, over two centuries later, his identity is in flux. DNA analyses of Pulaski’s remains suggest he was an intersex person with both male and female qualities. (Read more: tinyurl.com/PulaskiSmithsonian.) I bring this to your attention, Pisces, because the coming months will be a favorable time to question and revise your understanding of your identity. May you be inspired by Pulaski’s evolving distinctiveness. ARIES (March 21-April 19): I recommend you adopt a limitation that will enable you to claim more freedom. For example, you could de-emphasize your involvement with a lukewarm dream so as to liberate time and energy for a passionate dream. Or you could minimize your fascination with a certain negative emotion to make more room for invigorating emotions. Any other ideas? You’re in a phase when increased discipline and discernment can be liberating. LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV306 May 2022 65
LO C A L A L B U M S
Bob Bucko Jr. and Samuel Locke Ward Discount Sacrifice At The Altar Of Bargains ALREADYDEADTAPES.BANDCAMP.COM
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can’t stop thinking about this album. When it dropped in December of last year, I’d kind of resigned myself to not writing about it, just given the way our coverage schedule usually falls out. Typically, I avoid running reviews of albums that dropped in the previous calendar year. Really, though; that’s a rather arbitrary cut-off. And this album, this goddamned album. It simply won’t let me go. (Obligatory disclaimer that Samuel Locke Ward is a long-time cartoonist for Little Village.) When I was young, I was cool. I was never in the band, but I was always with the band. The doormen at the Brighton Bar in Jersey knew me, because my friends’ bands played there all the time. It was our place. Then I moved to Iowa. I was in my early 20s, with an infant to care for and a partner gregarious enough to do all the peopling for us both. I was comfortable hiding behind him and losing myself. “This was gonna be my lucky break. Nobody knew they were fucked.” This review isn’t about me, obviously. Except it is. Because this album is about all of us. It’s a balm and a wake-up call, wrapped into one eight-song homage to the last 20+ years of bullshittery that every one of us has put up with. Do you remember the ’90s? The way we had it all figured out? The
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Greenpeace boats, the Bennetton ads, the Rock the Vote campaign? And then the 21st century hit. “What do you do when you hit rock bottom, and the world continues to turn?” Bob Bucko Jr. and Samuel Locke Ward’s Discount Sacrifice At The Altar Of Bargains kicks off with “Lucky Break,” an 8:33 epic opener that welcomes the listener into our collective open wound. (The two quotes above are from that track.) Ward’s vocals on “Lucky Break” are aching, a poignant Bowie sadness threaded through with a tightly-controlled Cobain anger. Bucko’s instrumental work is jazzily experimental, knowing and cynical, filled with wisdom and almost resignation. “Mapping the Way,” track three, is by contrast the album’s shortest, but it makes its point with drastic clarity: “Who among you set this right? … Someone’s got to do it.” When track four begins, “You’re livin’ in a time of constant change, yet you’re still standing still,” it becomes clear that “someone” is us. “Drift in the Void” makes incredible use of the artists’ penchant for delicious layers of sound, drawing us in, begging for nuanced listening. The pair smash the nail on the head a few times with track six, “Glory Days,” channeling King Missile with deep pathos and grace to tell the story of a former football star and a former cheerleader meeting in their local bar long after highschool: “20 years passed by in the blink of an eye.” The sadness of the music frames the story, but the song is also steeped in empathy. Ultimately, the elegance of this album can only be captured in its totality. The tracks are well worth listening to individually (and I’ve not even touched on my favorites), but held as a whole, this is a gorgeous, genre-bending storytelling experience and call to action that reminds us that we’re old, but we still have work to do. —Genevieve Trainor
Dean Gorman Outer Space, Iowa DEANGORMAN.BANDCAMP.COM
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f we are truly living through the Great Resignation, I’m expecting that the coming months will hold a heavy release of “Future Endeavors” albums and straight-up “I Quit” albums. Early to the party is Outer Space, Iowa, the second album from Burlington-by-way-ofPortland musician Dean Gorman. In the album’s description, Gorman writes that last year, mid-pandemic, he and his family moved from “a tiny bungalow in Portland, Oregon to a timber-frame house surrounded by 7 acres of
HIS VOICE AND LYRICS WORK BEST WHEN PUSHED HARD AGAINST THE TURNEDUP TWANG THAT FILLS THE FINAL FIVE SONGS. woods just outside Burlington.” The songs on Outer Space, Iowa were all written and recorded in the basement of that timber-framed house in the months since Gorman landed in Iowa, and somehow it shows. There are ambitious arrangements throughout the 10-song set, all of which share a wrinkled edge. (Many of the bass parts sound like they were recorded while Gorman played in waterlogged rubber boots.) The album begins with “Depression,” which sees Gorman trying out an understated Fabianesque ballad behind soft keys and “shoop-shoop” harmonies.
It appropriately sets the tone for the remainder of the album’s first side. From the dream drunk romp of “Rossi Wine” to the pop-chorus hook of “Around for Good,” Gorman keeps his musical palette condensed, neatly pledging allegiance on an alt-country altar. But his voice and lyrics work best when pushed hard against the turned-up twang that fills the final five songs on the album. Gorman seems to know this, saving his strongest for last. This side should come with a sticker warning: “Many Big Star records were consumed during the making of this half of the album.” The quintet begins with “Wild Things,” complete with some Kurt Vile acoustic guitar melodies, stonily resonant and ever-ringing. “I Had Time” is a youthful lamentation on earlier days, when the currency of unscheduled time still beat the promise of crypto. I had smoke coming out of my ears I had blood coming out of my eyes I had strange coming out of my tongue But I had time On “One More Day”—in fact, throughout the album—Gorman’s piano playing is subtle and superb. Then the album ends on a travel tune that references Highway 61, wrapping things up with a straight up-and-down stunner. “A Buck and a Prayer” begins with a deer’s blood drying between a driving car’s headlights, leaving the driver stricken with guilt: Say a little prayer for him Not sure where praying gets you anymore You used to sit and close your eyes Now you just hope there’s something past the door Don’t worry, though. It wasn’t all a waste. Gorman sings that someone came back in the night to cut off its horns. I guess that’s a little relocation, too, one I think we all can understand. —Avery Gregurich
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LO C A L B O O KS
Alexander Maksik The Long Corner EUROPA EDITIONS
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lexander Maksik’s new novel The Long Corner—out May 17, the fourth release from the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop grad—skillfully explores the intersections of capitalism and dictatorship, cliché and originality, art and life. By the end, the reader is left to question if these things are opposites at all, or if they are more entwined than we ever imagined. Set a year into the Trump administration, The Long Corner follows Sol, a depressed New Yorker living a stagnant life. Once, he was a journalist writing profiles on some of the most famous visual artists in the city. Now, he is resigned to writing slogans for an advertisement agency, much to his grandmother’s disappointment. At an especially dull work party, Sol is approached by a strange woman who invites him to the Coded Garden, a haven for visual artists led by the eccentric and mysterious Sebastian Light. At first Sol turns the offer down, but when tragedy strikes, he decides to embark on the journey in an attempt to reignite his long-lost passion. Filled with colorful characters, dry humor and unsettling situations, The Long Corner is a Rorshach test for a reader’s own views on government, nobility and the self. Much like the paintings Sol experiences in the book, the longer you look, the more you learn about the chaotic yet familiar world Maksik has built here. The role of the Trump administration has chiefly occupied my
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mind since finishing The Long Corner. The stage has been set quite deliberately, and we go in assuming that Sebastian Light will be our DJT stand-in. While that’s not entirely correct, it isn’t incorrect either. Maksik subverts absolutes in this book time and time again, and he does so with who our villain is as well. This may just be the point. In a world where opposing ideas end up being one and the same, we are encouraged to find the gray area in everything Maksik presents. Perhaps rather than making a comment about politics or art, Maksik is trying to say that things are rarely as they seem. Because this book is centered around visual art, it feels only right to compare it to a painting. Reading the dialogue feels like looking at Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” and hearing the words spoken by those nocturnal diners. It is pretentious but fearful, forthcoming but evasive—yet more gray areas that Maksik fills his pages with. As heavy as the topics are, I cannot overstate how funny this book is. Maksik has found the key to an effective thought-provoker: Don’t let them go too long without cracking a smile. Through Sol’s dry commentary on the absurdity happening around him, we are able to find light in the very dark pockets Maksik allows us to peek into. And frankly, it’s necessary. A less talented writer would have emitted the humor so as not to distract from the point, but in novels as in life, we must find something good to break up the cruelty and randomness. My little English major heart fluttered all the way through this one. It had me yelling across the apartment to my partner as mysteries were uncovered, characters were betrayed, edens set on fire. Perfect for a deep-thinking book club, I guarantee you won’t be able to keep your thoughts to yourself. —Lily DeTaeye
Gary Kelley Bach and the Blues ICE CUBE PRESS
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he third week of November, 1936. Thanks to a brief story on National Public Radio, illustrator Gary Kelley learned the odd synchronicity of that moment, and decided to spin it into a graphic novel, his second, following 2021’s Moon of the Snow Blind. Like that first foray into the medium, Kelley brings his considerable talents to bear on history, this time taking inspiration far from his home in Iowa. Bach and the Blues, released May 1, looks at the considerable impacts of two very different musicians, Pablo Casals and Robert Johnson, who coincidentally were both recording seminal albums that same third week of November, 1936, while the world was unraveling around them. Johnson traveled from his home in Arkansas to a hotel in Texas; Casals also made a trek—to London, England, to record at the now-iconic Abbey Road Studios. Kelley, whose bio reveals no formal study of history, once again manages to find a certain elegance through his ability to pluck specifics from the past and identify the echoes. In this case, there is so much more reverberation between the largely dissimilar lives of these two men than just this one coincidence and the skill with which they performed. This book does a heart-wrenching job of universalizing Casals and Johnson’s experiences and helping to situate the reader in time with reminders that the tragic rise
of fascism in Europe was parallel to the ignominies experienced by Blacks in the American South in the early part of the 20th century. The example of Jesse Owens, superstar of the 1936 Olympics in Germany who was among the non-Aryan athletes Adolf Hitler chose not to acknowledge or celebrate, is used to great effect to illustrate the fact that the evils faced by both Casals and Johnson were truly one and the same. The differences between the two musicians are many, and Kelley, in his brief biography of each, makes this clear. Johnson lived only 27 short years; Casals, who was 35 before Johnson was even born, died at 97. Cellist Casals made his Carnegie Hall debut at age 27, which guitarist Johnson would have matched had he not died an early, violent death. But both enjoyed a vast popularity early in their careers, and no doubt both felt the weight of fame. That weight, especially considering the time in which they lived, is evident throughout Kelley’s work, in heavy lines and powerful use of darkness. I had been anticipating this book since I first saw Kelley mention it on social media months ago, and it did not disappoint, except in one respect. The book is entirely in black and white, and while it is undeniably beautiful, the tease of colors on the cover left me wanting more. My hope is that Kelley will eventually release full-color prints from the pages of this story, because the color work on the cover, especially how the title is set, is phenomenal. These stories have only a single formal point of connection, but Kelley’s formulation of the era in which both Johnson and Casals lived is painful in an awakening way. His curiosity is evident throughout the book; if he employs research assistants, I envy them their work! And I can’t wait to see what moments in history pique Kelley’s curiosity next. —Genevieve Trainor
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HIGHER DIMENSIONS
LittleVillageMag.com
by Emily Sharp and Kunal Nabar
The American Values Club Crossword is edited by Ben Tausig.
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ACROSS 1. Sister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge 6. Good meas. to check before a road trip 9. Supergirl’s first name 13. “From the top!” 14. Religious subgroup 15. Rumpuses 16. Position for Damian Lillard, 2020 NBA bubble MVP
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18. Vies for apples, perhaps 19. Compound used for about 30 years before people realized it was combustible 20. Ingredient in donburi or biryani 21. Make suitable for an infant, in a way 22. Make a cameo, say 23. Utility pole climbers 25. Mystery Machine occupants, familiarly
27. Creator’s believers 28. Lenny & ___ (alliterative cookie company) 29. Parenting duo 30. Sign of a popular show 31. Riel : Cambodia :: ___ : Laos 32. Befouls, as someone’s trees on Halloween 35. Cancel, as a transaction 37. One whose discretion may be advised
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40. They might get pumped up at night 44. Large-scale analysis buzzword 45. Drag-and-drop website builder 47. Band booking 48. Heinz competitor 49. Earth’s is made of iron and nickel 50. Peacock network
51. Word with beer or vegetable 52. Cuts made from the top round 55. Being Mortal author Gawande 56. Badger 57. One of two on a shoulder, metaphorically 58. Dole (out) 59. Gymnast Raisman 60. Rico ___ (“Key Lime OG” rapper)
26. “Stay away!” 29. Central 31. Hair feature for Josephine Baker and Superman, traditionally held in place with spit rather than a smooch 33. Walker, on signs 34. Corporate handouts 36. Yazoo’s “___ to Boy” 37. Guilty pleasures, perhaps 38. Document that often has a QR code 39. Epithet for a disliked publication 40. Vishwamitra’s abode in Ramayana 41. Words before saying something verbatim 42. Become used up 43. Type of scene in an action film 44. Made visible, as teeth 46. Sandwich that may contain fried alligator 50. “99 Luftballons” singer 52. Pro filer 53. Former M&M’s color 54. Crafty
DOWN 1. ___ smear 2. “That makes sense ...” 3. Coat designers? 4. Beer unit in a pub 5. Hill denizen 6. It might be found or kept 7. Cork alternative 8. “___ be great if you didn’t” 9. Theatrical form with jidaimono, sewamono and shosagoto types 10. Absolutely loves 11. Rocky Balboa’s given name 12. Judge 14. Seeking redress, in a way APRIL ANSWERS 17. Beams S C A T O L A F B A S S E S 21. Highbrow, as S U L U A U T O E RM I N E N B A B A R K E R T OAMA N television F U S E F OODCOMA F R A UD MUR K K NO T 22. ___iens, second P U B L I CD E N B E ND E R studio album by the S E E I ON N I A L E F T J U S T I N B Y Georgia duo OutKast MGR H E N OMD P R E S UN B E DGU I L T Y 23. Things between P E E R S A U L GROV E legs? R EM I T T E R S I L O A V A T A R NON B I N A R Y 24. Electrical resisD E DUC E UNUM OH I O A D E S T E P EGS N A P S tance unit
Be famous. (Kinda.)
Little Village is looking for writers. Contact: Editor@LittleVillageMag.com
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