JAIME’S TATTOO GARDEN PAGE 16
EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE
everything will be fine
2
february 2021
THIS issue editor: Ron Evans publishing assistant: Sarah Sims contributors: Cory Calhoun, Lonnie Broadvalley Dustin Hays, Kristen Acesta Dan McConnell, Sarah Sims thecometmagazine.com facebook.com/thecometmagazine thecometmagazine@gmail.com
artbeats...............................PAGE 4 crossword..........................PAGE 7 withinder............................PAGE 8 b-sides................................PAGE 10 woody guthrie...................PAGE 16 comet tales........................PAGE 21 kitschy delish.....................PAGE 24 star bitch............................PAGE 25 Brain DUMP...........................PAGE 28
THE COMET
THE COMET
february 2021
3
COMET HEADQUARTERS february 2021
Well Hell. Had you told me it would be almost an entire year before enough businesses (pick-up locations/advertisers) were opening back up to justify a print version of this little rag - I might have jumped out the winda. Ok, that’s dramatic. But I’d definitely smack you in your face, you gotta know that. I’m a firm believer in smacking the messenger. Yet here we are just one month shy of a complete year since our last printed mag. And while we are clearly a good ways out from gatherings and events, we thought it was time to get back out into the hands of the people of this fair city. Partially because things are slowly eeking back to life. But also because we have some new pickup racks in downtown Wenatchee (in front of Rhubarb Market and also Salt Creek Apothecary) and even a brand new subscription service setup for those of you that have no intention of ever leaving pajama land again. Filth and propaganda delivered right to your door! Discreet billing… It was also time to make a few changes to the magazine. First, Edgar Rue is gone. This shan’t likely disappoint many. I always envisioned comics as part of the publication and since I’d already published 500 pages of my graphic novel Edgar Rue, I thought that would make a fun serial. But serials don’t really work all that great in monthly magazines. So, moving forward that will be replaced with The Funny Pages. My hope is to fill it with local comics, cartoons, puzzles and jokes but also some indie stuff happening outside our region and of course, hand-selected old public domain comics. For anyone that was following Edgar’s adventures in the afterlife you can buy the graphic novels at radarstationart.com/shop. Pay no attention to the last page of Book II that states Book III coming 2014. I got busy, ok! Soon...ish. One addition I’m really excited about is Sarah Sims’ new page Withinder: Dating Bios For The Self-Aware. She put the call out for locals to share their true bios and the results were not only a good exercise in self-reflection...but funny as hell. We highly encourage you to send your own in. Who knows, maybe you’ll find true love. Get it? Another hope is that our ‘voices from locals’ page Opinion Pipeline will take off as a sort of community forum to express anything you wanna get off your chest. We will see columns come and go as we experiment a bit more this year. It’s time to get “jiggly” with it as the kids might say. We also want movie reviews for an upcoming feature. Gush on your favorite indie flick, some obscure foreign art film, the latest Hollywood atrocity or your best friend’s zero-budget movie, “The Butt Zombies Vs. The Satanic Tacos.” Please someone make that. We want more of you in this mag. Let’s make that happen this year! Send all your submissions to: thecometmagazine@gmail.com. Ok, I’m due to swap out my early morning PJs for my mid-morning PJs so...I’ll leave things here. Happy Trails, Ron Evans Editor of The Comet
Me and Comet in our daily routine of looking out the window with uncertainty.
4
february 2021
THE COMET
ARTBEATS: honoring the suffrage movement
Joyeux Femmes I by Marilyn Charlatan Dix
BY Lonnie Broadvalley I’ve been so whipped up and worn out by current events I almost forgot to celebrate anything last year. At the top of my ‘Overshadowed Celebrations’ list is the anniversary of the women’s right to vote in the U.S. The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center has dedicated the main floor gallery space to “Raising Our Voices” and “The Legacy Continues,” two complementary shows centered on empowering women. Curator of exhibits at WVMCC, Kasey Koski writes: “Women won their right to vote in the United States 100 years ago. Much has changed since then. This exhibit will both educate and celebrate women’s voices.
Our main gallery will feature a historic synopsis of women’s suffrage in the State along with the 90th anniversary show of Women Painters of Washington. We are honored to host this celebration of the female voice.” This savvy venue has adapted right along with changing health and safety requirements, adding interactive virtual tours, instructional videos, and a video series about social justice allowing anyone to explore and learn from home. Whether learning about the history of women’s suffrage with “Raising Our
Voices” online or in person, allow yourself a little time to read and explore the art associated with a powerful and important movement. North Central Regional Library volunteer, Diane McKenzie, even set up a turn of the century style reading nook with comfy seats and stacks of literature on empowerment, environment, sisterhood, the civil rights, labor, and suffrage movements to name a few. I think this component of the exhibit is especially important, connecting diverse perspectives on the broader struggle for human rights. (Resource lists for the reading nook are available for download when you visit virtually).
Juried by local artist Jan Evenhus, “The Legacy Continues: Empowering Women” is a group show featuring contemporary artists and members of Women Painters of Washington celebrating their 90th year as an organization. Bound together by theme, the exhibit includes the various styles and mediums from artists around the state. Many of the artists reference caretaking, farming, sisterhood, and a legacy of strong women as sources of inspiration and strength. It is so important to mark the milestones that honor and celebrate the hard work of those who came before us. It is also vi-
THE COMET
february 2021
5
Mural by Kasey Koski
Amber Waves by Kathie Bliss
tal to focus on the relevance of these issues with a wide lens. Historian Katherine M. Marino writes in her article titled, “The International History Of The U.S. Suffrage Movement,” “The transnational history of the women’s suffrage movement shows us that activists and movements outside the United States, and a broad range of diverse and international goals were critical to organizing for that right deemed so quintessentially American—the right to vote. It reminds us how much
we in the United States have to learn from feminist struggles around the world.” As always, if you look just under the surface of this American story of grit and victory you’ll find a subplot of racial tension and class warfare - hallmarks of a threatened democracy. Pairing an exhibit about the history of the suffragette movement with female artists celebrating empowerment and endurance is affirmation that life and art are inseparable. Art and protest are
forms of self expression requiring both individual and collective participation. Removing art from its cultural context is on par with co-opting a movement to serve the oppressors - two of colonialism’s very worst habits. Creative individuals are already transforming our nation’s most recent adolescent melt down into song, rhythm, and color in works that will help all of us to better understand what we’re going through.
This exhibit closes Feb. 6th - so get on it!!
WPW website: https://womenpainters.com/
WVMCC link to Raising Our Voices virtual tour: https://my.matterport.com/ show/?m=H7cEPKKHZyd
Link to Katherine M. Marino article The International History of the U.S. Suffrage Movement: https://origins.osu.edu/ article/19th-amendment-suffrage-women-vote C
NCRL downloadable resource lists can be found on clipboards in the reading nook. Social Justice Series: https:// www.wenatcheevalleymuseum. org/social-justice-series/
6
february 2021
THE COMET
THE COMET
february 2021
THE COMET
FEBRUARY 2021
#
CORY CALHOUN'S PUZZLE CORNER Crosswords & more made exclusively for The Comet
The Comet and the Puzzle Corner are back! To celebrate their ink-and-paper return, here's a revamped (i.e., cleaned-up and greatly improved) version of the very first crossword to run in The Comet. Plus a new Anacrostic Challenge awaits! Also, in the unlikely event you've been waiting for the March 2020 print edition's answers: check 'em out below. Look for Double Anagram challenges, plus themeless and meta crosswords, in upcoming editions. Welcome back to the Puzzle Corner, and good luck!
MEETING RIVERS, CROSSING WORDS (VERSION 2.0) 1
2
7
8
11
12
13
30
31
32
50
51
52
53
57
58
14
15
17
18 20
19 23
24
16
21
22
25
26
28 33
34
10
27
29 36
35
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
46
45
47
49 54
55
56
59
60
48
62
61
63
64
66
65 68
67
with "The" 57. Direction opposite SSW 58. Toy Story dinosaur 59. First word in the name of a 39Across site where you’d find propeller-driven vessels containing flotation devices 62. Chant 65. Tight male friendship, in modern parlance 66. It's worth a single point in horseshoes 67. Disgraced former Cub Sammy 68. Ring bearer? 69. Most lenient, rules-wise
ACROSS 1. Spicy sushi condiment 7. Fabrication 10. High on the Mohs scale 14. The Player and Gosford Park director Robert 15. Went after 17. Like some cars 18. First word in the name of a 39Across site where you’d find propeller-driven vessels containing flotation devices 19. On the ___ (running from the law) 20. Superlative suffix 22. Sycophant 23. 39-Across recreation destination 28. "___, Brute!" 29. Mac alternatives 30. Fingers 33. Alpha's opposite 36. Database command 38. ___ Minor 39. Home to all that's referenced by 18-, 23-, 49- and 59-Across 42. Table salt, to a chemist 43. Verdi opera set in Egypt 44. Decrees 45. Sketch show once featuring the character Ed Grimley, for short 46. Office address abbr. 47. Joint, slangily 49. 39-Across recreation destination 54. '80s action show featuring Mr. T,
69
DOWN 1. When doubled, a city three hours from 39-Across via US-12 E 2. Take ___ of faith 3. It may get a licking 4. Trans-___ (specialty Pontiac Firebirds) 5. Sweetie, slangily 6. Owing money 7. ___-ovo vegetarian 8. Prefix with bar or metric 9. Night school subj., often 10. Words mouthed by on-camera sports spectators 11. Sin City actress Jessica 12. Sharknado actress Tara 13. WWII turning point
ANACROSTIC CHALLENGE
MARCH 2020'S(?!) CROSSWORD SOLUTION
>>> Instructions @ tinyurl.com/coryanacrostics <<<
CLUES:
ANSWERS:
CLUES (cont.):
Daiquiri flavor
ANSWERS (cont.):
Adobe editing app 54
2
38
31
44
5
Instant 13
59
12
63
33
7
72
69
50
39
30
47
71
67
36
49
28
14
55
40
62
66
45
24
53
11
4
52
21
18
35
3
15
73
29
34
65
27
43
60
70
57
9
61
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
64
65
23
64
26
37
Lunch meat option 19
1
41
74
46
17
8
Observe
16
Head scratcher 20
Honda rival
6
48 68
10 32
22
56
76
Visceral 75
25
42
Boating hazard QUOTE:
. 2
3
4
24
25
26
27
28
47
48
49
50
51
52
67
68
69
70
66
58
Lummox
Lift up
1
51
5
6
7
8
9
29
30
31
.
32
53
54
55
71
72
56
33
10
11
12
34
35
36
37
38
58
59
60
61
57
73
74
75
.
76
62
63
16. Jam ingredients? 21. Fruity frozen drinks 24. Permissable by law 25. Coup d'___ 26. Apply, as butter to toast 27. Sketch show once featuring the character Ed Grimley, for short 30. Madonna's "La ___ Bonita" 31. Word on some soft drinks 32. "___ who?" 33. Possesses 34. Bell curve figure 35. Abbr. on a business letter 37. Brit. library reference 38. It might be airtight 40. What 46-Down's family is comprised of, in a big way 41. Get an ___ effort 46. The Lion King protagonist 48. Modern Family actor Ed 49. Soft rock? 50. Like some tubes, circles, or sanctums 51. Unmanned vehicle 52. Pool contents? 53. Put forth, as effort 54. Some alerts, briefly 55. Hawaiian tuber 56. Grandson of Eve 60. Bit of binary code 61. Big name in electronics 63. PBS benefactor 64. Paycheck deduction
20
21
22
23
O O P S S U E T U T T E S W W O M A A J A R W O R D A S T E P I Q U A W A R N A N O E N T R N A A A S
L O S T C O N T A R R M A D N E A B K E N A H I A R E N A S O F W I S A N A T V E R Y W H E F O A M D S G S A T A U N I T R O U A C E T O N S H E S H E
A I S L E D A I S B S E D
T O S
C A C P A B O O R E S O M N A C H W E A F L I A I T O X I E N S G
C L A R K E
S L Y E S T
G A V E
E Y E S
D E O L T S
SOLUTION TO MARCH 2020'S(!?!!?) DOUBLE ANAGRAM CHALLENGE
Theme of new words: Weather terms. UNTHREAD - A = THUNDER THUNDER; SHOWN - H = SNOW; IRANI - I = RAIN; GOLF - L = FOG. Leftover letters A, H, I & L anagram into HAIL.
I CRAVE FEEDBACK! Thoughts? Suggestions? Lemme have it. CSCXWORDS@GMAIL.COM
32 34 book series, 1978-2017 36 What she is in Italy?
7
8
february 2021
THE COMET
withinder:dating bios for the self-aware
Dating is tricky. Online dating even more so, and we all may be tempted to put our best foot forward on our profiles. That photo of you bungee-jumping off a helicopter over a volcano. Proudly displaying Radiohead, Beck and David Bowie in your shared Spotify playlist but hiding the Milli Vanilli and NKOTB. And most importantly, taking a pair of scissors to your complicated bio leaving only the dust jacket highlights version. But it all catches up to you at some point in the actual dating process. We at The Comet feel it’s time to love ourselves (not just in that way) and tell it like it is, letting the chips fall where they may. We present our own dating service. Withinder. Real locals sharing their real dating bio. We think it will be...illuminating. Jennifer, 31 Hi, I’m Jennifer. I’m insecure and my internal life is most accurately represented by a dumpster fire, but you can’t tell because I’m busy touting my intelligence and using big words you for sure don’t understand - intentionally. It’s important that you know your place right off the bat. I have more baggage than you’ll know what to do with, but don’t worry - I’m an expert in perfectionism (and its dark underbelly, self-loathing) - I’ll focus all the attention I should be devoting to working on myself onto you and all of your problems! I have unrealistic expectations and there’s practically a guarantee (I can draft you a letter) that you’ll never live up to them. As soon as you meet the mark, I’ll move the line. On the contrary, I love hard. No, like actually. I love to
play fight, be tossed around, and being challenged mentally and physically is a non-negotiable. I get whiny and needy, and cold and distant. Basically dating me is like dating a cat. Do yourself (and me) a favor and swipe left. Sarah, 34 Hi, I’m Sarah. I have big feelings and big boobs. I wouldn’t say I’m dramatic... but I do cry A LOT and make little problems into HUGE problems. I spiral often and shame attack myself for it. I’m often told that I’m “too much,” but at my core I’m constantly worried that I’ll never be enough. I have panic attacks regularly. I’m an introvert and I hate most things, including people. Not all people, just most. Please don’t invite me out to social events. And I definitely don’t want to meet your family. I like nature and cooking and being taken care of when I’m too tired to take care of myself. I use a lot of my free time making up expectations in my head that I never share with anyone and then when you don’t read my mind and fulfill the expectations, I resent the hell out of you and you have no idea why. I love food but I’m allergic to a lot, so eating out is a total bitch. Surprisingly, this won’t stop me from binge eating my feelings when I’m stressed. I’m not that fun to be around; I’m usually in the midst of an existential crisis coupled with a panic attack. I’m exhausted a lot from all the complaining and extra energy I put into resisting my reality. I’m highly sensitive, highly critical and overly judgmental. I don’t mean to be, it just comes naturally.
Amy, 27 Hi, my name is Amy. I’m here looking for true love...but you should know I’m kind of a stalker. I may or may not obsessively look at your social media or drive by your house. But that’s because I give big, good love. I will hype you up and support your dreams! I love to give gifts and I act like I don’t expect anything in return. However, if you don’t reciprocate, I will be the biggest passive aggressive bitch you’ll ever meet! But don’t be scared because I don’t hold grudges. Or do I? Let’s link up.
Ashleigh, 35 Hi, my name is Ashleigh...as long as you like that name, is it okay? Are you mad? Sorry, I can change it! I’m probably too tall, definitely too lumpy and wear worry lines like they were a 5 dollar dress with pockets from goodwill. I like art, laughing and being smothered in reassurance. I enjoy long walks down the rabbit hole where I can needlessly worry about things that will never happen and ignore actual pressing matters without interruption. So get used to taking a back burner to that. I am skilled at obsessive thinking and will not believe you when you say I locked the door that I already checked four times. One, two, three, four. Expectations are my specialty and because I am bound by a strict set of imaginary rules made up by me, you will be too. I don’t know how to do “me time” or meet my own needs so fuck you for doing it with ease. P.S. Are you hungry? Cold? Do you need anything? ...why the fuck do I have to do
eveeeerything around here?! My hobbies include finding evidence that it’s all my fault, being afraid people are gonna ‘find out’ about me and seeking outside validation and belonging through the approval of others. When I am not eating too much sugar you can find me sighing heavily as I fold the laundry you said you would do. I know exactly what I want, except when I don’t, then you need to know what I want. I’m nurturing when I’m not smothering, I remember and cherish all the things about you, and enjoy making you feel special and loved, when I am not ruminating every mistake either of us have ever made!! If this sounds like your cup of tea, hit me up, like right away, otherwise I will think you are dead or hate me.
Stephanie, 38 Hi, I’m Stephanie and I’m an alcoholic… In recovery. I’ve been sober for 5 years. I used to be a gigantic piece of shit, but now I like to overcompensate for that by overachieving. So, you’ll likely find me working on any given moment of any given day. I tend to live in the future, which means I probably won’t be fully present for any of our interactions, but I’m also pretty aloof so you won’t find a lot of drama with me. Since I don’t have time for anything not work-related, I’m not very demanding of other people’s time or energy. But, that could also stem from a lack of belonging. I have the “gift” of discernment, which means I can tell when people are full of shit or lying out of their ass. This also means my circle is very small and I will bring up hard shit that you probably don’t want to talk about constantly. I have a really hard time connecting to my feelings and can be very cold, especially when I feel slighted but haven’t been able to fully process it yet. But I’m super empathetic to other people’s feelings and will relentlessly push you to connect with your own. Created and compiled by Sarah Sims. Send your self-aware dating bio to sarahradarstation@gmail.com C
THE COMET
february 2021
9
10
february 2021
THE COMET
b-sides judging by their covers
The Wreks - Fueled By Foodstamps Their second and final album. Solid classics the whole way through - these songs get stuck in your head with just one listen. While at the same time very rough around the edges, in my opinion some of the best songwriting of a local album I know. Early Snatchee Records stuff that I didn’t get to experience firsthand, so this album carries with it some added mystique. Cover art drawn by Mike Graham, the lead singer/songwriter. He works as a tattoo artist in Tacoma nowadays.
Ghost Power!!! - The Basement Ghost Power!!!’s first. The art is a perfect example of some of the amateur Microsoft Paint/Photoshop editing that was being used by bands on MySpace from around 2005-2009. The low end work always made stuff look so much cooler. This album also is just packed with good songs. It’s like those old 60s private press LPs that always had pretty questionable artwork. Yet once you heard the JAMS inside, you looked back at the cover and thought, “oh damn, this stuff is on the next level.”
Moss Dog - Midnight Forest Run Moss Dog’s 2nd and final LP. In my opinion the best thing to come out of the group of local bands from the 90s you could throw into the grunge category. Recorded at Ironwood in Seattle, it sounds legit as hell. Does not sound like some regional 90s rock band AT ALL. Catchy songs, really technical drumming - could probably rival Matt Cameron’s drumming most days. Paul Graves’ vocal work, the double tracks - some darn right tasty work. Cover art by Brad Hale. Each little square image could easily work as its own cover.
Empty Pants - Empty Pants Just a garbage drawing of an amp. It’s perfect. But what really gets this on the list is the lettering on the back of the cassette’s J card and the cassette itself. Recorded at Darik Peet’s studio on Springwater Street in 1993. All Wenatchee high school dudes. Bassist Joey McGuire grew up to own Revolution - the skate shop that sat on North Wenatchee Avenue up until three or four years back. Not sure who did the art here.
High Risk - Livin’ On The Edge From what I’ve heard, this is the only thing they ever released. I know there was a second batch of a few songs they recorded (a year later I’d guess) but I think the band split before they could put it out. It’s just 80s as all hell and I love it. The cover was drawn by the band’s bassist, Jeff Gerber. Cityscape drawing, super intense logo (with the cityscape inside the letters - for extra credit). It. Justs. Works. Recorded at Robin Goodrich’s home studio “Apple City Music” on Washington Street in Wenatchee. Tons of killer guitar playing by a young Darik Peet, Joey Dechenne on drums, just before Michael Dickes’ band Gypsy Kyss swiped him up and took him on tour in Germany. This tape is also fantastic because it includes the earliest Wenatchee hip-hop (as far as I know). A track titled “It’s Live.” 80s white boy hip-hop. Da best.
Lopez - The Kids Aren’t Bad The five song 7” from 1998 - the same year that the band relocated to Portland. Legends of the Wenatchee punk scene. An alternate cover art - a photo of a girl drinking outside the Lopez House was used for a handful of copies. That version is my favorite of the two but I haven’t found a copy of that yet.
THE COMET
Not All There - Toilet Humor From 2001 - the band’s third album and last one before they split for seven years. Recorded by Eric Frank and Brad Petit in their home studio in Wenatchee. Start to finish killer songs, hooks on hooks, and the recordings themselves sound leaps better than the band’s first two albums. The opening track “Rude Awakening” was recorded in one take. My favorite NAT album. The cover is so bad yet at the same time so good. SO VERY GOOD. It looks like some 90s scanning job and one of those old free Microsoft fonts. I believe Matthew (singer/guitar/ songwriter) does the majority of the album art for the band - excluding their 2016 release “Holy Crap, It’s Not All There!”, drawn by Mike Graham.
Hentch - Hentch The only vinyl LP to come out of Wenatchee during the 90s - recorded in Spokane at Jello Tree Studios. Decades before Chad Yenney had his collage art land on album covers across the globe - this was his band. “Pain Pills” is probably my favorite on the album. The cover is a xeroxed and enlarged drawing (originally about the size of quarter). I believe drawn by bassist Colin Hedges. Rumor has it that a few hundred surviving copies of the album got trashed years back - as is what happens with EVERY good rare record.
Datura - Datura From 2019. Recorded at Greg Shapolov’s home studio. The band’s first release - their second came out April 2020. Some good goth post-punk. Solid grooves, hooks and great vocals and guitar work by David Betancourt. I just dig the drawing. A perfectly simple band logo. The ominous three figures set a perfect tone for the recordings. For the first handful of their shows I caught at Wally’s they had red floor lights on during their set, filling the room with the eerie glow - and that little technical addition successfully transformed Wenatchee’s most beloved dive bar into some dark gothic club hideout. Artwork is by former Wenatcheeite Jeff Smith. Jeff was one of the people behind the Basement - a residential venue on Methow Street that housed a big chunk of the music scene during the early 2000’s. Jeff’s done work for other releases, his own (Holographic Beast) and frequently creates sticker art sold in limited qualities through his Bandcamp page.
Himiko Cloud - Himiko Cloud Their 2016 debut EP. The band had existed for years prior as Mothra, then changed their name to Himiko Cloud in 2015. Really great recording, but still with the hint of tiny flaws in the performances, it almost sounds like a live album to me with how close their shows were to these studio recordings. Without any lyrics to add any imagery for the listener, the album art - collage by Chad Yenney (who recorded the album) - provides a good dose of a spacey vibe to lay on top of Kyle Folden’s huge, delayheavy guitar tracks.
february 2021
11
12
february 2021
THE COMET
PUZZLED: Local Artist Goes To Pieces ally cool artwork with Photoshop and I jumped in with both feet. Making digital art and conveying my daydreams became my oasis after long days of working jobs that drained me. And the best part of it was that I didn’t have to have a big studio, and didn’t have to spend a lot of money on supplies. I could just tuck myself away in front of a computer and work magic with pixels.
BY RON EVANS
If you’re like most people over the past year of hunker-down mode, you have likely experienced that panic-inducing moment when you’re getting a little tired of watching Netflix but you’re not quite ready to concede to crying in the fetal position for the rest of the quarantine. This is where you may have reached for that unopened jigsaw puzzle your aunt got you for Christmas that’s been hiding under the Scrabble and Catan boxes. You certainly wouldn’t be alone. In fact, in the first half of 2020 there was a massive shortage of puzzles to be found locally and even many “sold out” situations were popping up online. The verdict is in...jigsaw puzzles are a hot commodity right now. I’ve even seen people starting puzzle exchange groups on Facebook - which the CDC may have an opinion on…
and churns out her creations in her studio. I reached out to get to know the artist and to learn about the somewhat mysterious industry of jigsaw puzzles. When and how did you get into art in general, and how did you stumble upon the notion of creating specifically for puzzles?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t into art. I have always had a massively active imagination - and it constantly spins on ideas and daydreams. I was always doodling and drawing, painting and coloring as a little kid. Throughout school, I was the one people came to when they needed backdrops painted, posters designed, etc. It was just a natural kind of talent that went hand in hand with whatever else I could get my hands on, creatively. Art, photography, music... whatever it was, I loved Have you ever thought much about the doing it and excelled. The same cannot be puzzle image itself? Amidst the Mona said for my math skills. Lisas and landscape photos there are hundreds of original works specifically de- Oddly enough, once I graduated high signed to be pieced together on a coffee ta- school in 1989 I kind of dropped out, creble with a fire crackling in the background atively. I got married, and just threw myand maybe a little Mozart on the hi-fi. Or self into life...making money at various more realistically, with your cat constantly jobs here and there, none of which were wrecking it. Local artist and puzzle cre- creative. They were a means to an end ator, Aimee Stewart has been busy crafting which I was grateful for, but it didn’t nourher eclectic, colorful and endlessly kooky ish that part of me that always continued art for just that purpose. And she’s been to daydream. It wasn’t until I was in my incredibly successful in this endeavor. early 30’s when I got Adobe Photoshop for Odds are you have put one of her puzzles my computer, that I started to dabble with together at some point. A Wenatchee na- ‘computer art.’ I began to design elaborate tive, Stewart now calls Cashmere home websites, but pretty soon after that I found where she lives with her husband, Larry an online art forum of people making re-
On a whim, I submitted some steampunk art to a British magazine called Advanced Photoshop Magazine. Much to my surprise, they wrote back and wanted to feature me. Right around the same time in 2007, an agent called Duirwaigh Studios spotted my stuff in the forums, and approached me with the idea of signing with them and licensing my artwork on greeting cards, calendars, t-shirts, and wall art. I signed with them, and royalties trickled in - enough to give us a little boost equal to a very part time job. Towards the end of my contract with Duirwaigh, they approached me about licensing my art as jigsaw puzzles. I hadn’t really thought about that possibility, ever. I had always imagined perhaps book covers, or album covers. Jigsaw Puzzles seemed like a completely different animal altogether. But I was game, and
they licensed a couple of my existing images, but it never really caught fire. Around 2012, I was approached by a second agent - who is my agent to this day, MGL Licensing out of London. Unlike my first agent, they were primarily puzzle licensors who had international connections with all the biggest puzzle manufacturers. They saw potential in my art, and offered to help transform it into something that could translate better into puzzles. More detail, more color...more everything. So I made the leap between agents, signed with them, and basically learned by the seat of my pants how to really take my vision and craft it into a good puzzle. The difference was like riding a fun local carnival ride, and then going to Disneyland. I love and appreciate what Duirwaigh did for me, but growing as an artist and as a professional - I had to hitch my star to an agency who had those crucial connections and who could help me learn how to navigate a very competitive industry. I decided to quit working any kind of day job, and just put all my energies into my art. The results were astonishing. Pretty soon, my puzzles were flooding stores not just in the US, but overseas. I almost faint-
THE COMET
ed the day I walked into Target and saw should. I don’t even really have a specific my puzzles lined up on the shelves. color scheme in mind... the piece just leads the way. When I sit down to make new art, What was your very first published I almost feel like I’m cracking open a new puzzle? book. I like it to surprise me. I enjoy not having it so mapped out. I am very intuiMy very first puzzle was called “The tive, and I like for my art to follow that Wish”, published by Buffalo Games. A intuition, even if it ends up completely diflittle fantasy piece that I had made for wall ferent than what it was supposed to be. I art, not for a puzzle. It did ok, but I hadn’t go with my gut feelings, and once I start found my vision as a puzzle artist yet and placing layers down, I can always feel it shows. when I get the right composition.
I am really grateful and fortunate enough to say that doing all of this not only sustains me full time, but it also enabled my husband to retire early and delve into his own creative pursuits. I’ve been told by many industry folks that this doesn’t usually happen. A lot of artists keep jobs and do this on the side. But for whatever reason, my art coupled with the fact that I am an extremely prolific artist made a snowball effect, in that I have hundreds of images out there that I created over the years that generate passive income all the time Tell us a bit about your technique con- I don’t have any fear of running out of in the form of royalties. cerning the build up of these images. Are you using photographic elements that are then digitally manipulated? Is it mixed media with some painting/ drawing involved? I use everything I can get my hands on! I consider it a mixed media that utilizes photographic and scanned ephemera elements. To create my most intricate puzzle images, I composite hundreds of photographic layers to create my ‘base.’ These layers can consist of something as big on the digital canvas as a sky, or a ship...or can be as tiny as a button on a blouse. I then arrange them all into the composition I like and then I start layering in painted details, painted lighting and shadows, changing colors, morphing shapes, etc. The challenge for me, as an artist, is to completely make the viewer forget they are looking at ‘digital art.’ I also challenge myself not to rely so much on a photograph that it becomes merely changing hue and lighting and calling it good. I want whatever elements I use to so thoroughly disappear into the new creation, that you can’t even tell how I did it. That’s what makes me the happiest, and what I feel good about when I claim it as my vision and art.
13
and another company can pick it up and license it. My agent takes care of all the tracking and paperwork, and then sends me my combined royalties once a month. As of last November, I signed a very rare 15 year exclusive contract with Buffalo Games out of New York. What this means is that for the next 15 years, they have the exclusive rights to license my art as jigsaw puzzles within the United States. Outside of the US I can still license to whatever puzzle companies want to take my work. I flew to Buffalo last fall as did my agents, and we met with the CEO, as well as the creative directors and everyone who makes it possible for me to do what I do. There is a fantastic synergy between Buffalo Games, MGL Licensing and myself , in that we are all on the same page, and all have the same passion for what we do. I’m fortunate that my agent handles everything on the business end, and I can just keep daydreaming and making art. It is a sweet, sweet ride that I never for a moment ever planned for - never anticipated - but am grateful for, every single second of the day. I now have a private studio in Cashmere that I work from, which not only serves as a base for my digital art, but also a place where I can go craft, paint, and delve into all the other creative projects that I can possibly pursue. I have a fantastic friend who shares my studio with me who makes jaw dropping fantasy sculptures, and my husband has the studio next door where we do all our photography and he also designs for my agent.
Where do you typically start? With the ideas... it’s wondering if I’ll ever have concept, color scheme and layout, or ini- enough time to create them all that bugs tial sketching? me. In general, I visualize the concept in my head while daydreaming. Yes, if you see me spacing out and staring into the vast gaping maw of the universe, I’m almost always thinking about a new piece of art. I look goofy, but it gets the job done. I never sketch anything out, though I probably
february 2021
I’m curious about how the business end of this type of creative profession works. Is this sustaining you full-time? Do most of these publishers pay a flat rate for accepted works or is it a percentage of overall sales?
Obviously any photograph or piece of art (or even a solid color for the real jigsaw puzzle maniacs) can be turned into a puzzle. What do you feel makes a truly satisfying but challenging puzzle The way it works is the same as an author image? in the book industry gets paid, in that I first get an advance for whatever images For me, I’ve found that my fans love imagI license. Then, when those products show es they can transport themselves into, and up on store shelves, they ‘sell through’ the that gives them a ‘win’ with almost every advance, and after that start generating piece, and that has lots of color. People royalties for me. So every sale earns a per- compare my puzzles to ‘hidden object’ centage royalty. Companies will license an challenges because of the detail they conimage for a set number of years, and then tain. I tend not to put people in my puzzle they either re-license it (at which point images because I feel the minute you add I get another advance) or they let it go, in a person, you are dictating the experi-
14
february 2021
THE COMET
ence for the consumer. I want everyone to puzzles right now. Stuff that people my be able to put themselves into the picture, age - Gen X’ers - will see and immedias if it was made just for them. ately recognize from their past. Like my puzzle Pixels and Pizza - that was inspired One of my recent images is a highly de- straight out of my high school years. And I tailed interior of an antique shop. I want think that makes a good puzzle experience my fans to be able to imagine themselves for a whole new set of puzzle enthusiasts rummaging through the shop, and finding who aren’t quite into the quaint country/ all the little things I’ve tucked around the farmhouse type puzzles that have domipicture. Although I admit that nearly all the nated over the past decades. animals I’ve included in my artwork are the pets of friends and family! And I’ve To be a successful puzzle artist, you need managed to tuck myself into a number of to understand that people spend a lot of my own puzzles, whether through tiny vin- time and money on this hobby, and they tage photographs, or other ways. I’ve even want a fun experience out of it. It isn’t just hidden a Tardis (hello Doctor Who fans!) about having a pretty picture to put togethin one of my puzzles. That being said - er, it’s about being engaged, challenged, there are people who love very tranquil but not irritated to the point of quitting. puzzle images, or like you mentioned... The other thing is that you can’t be too presolid colors. It’s a widely diverse industry cious about your art when you submit it to and fan base. I’m just glad my fans enjoy a company who mass-produces your work. my hyper-detailed stuff. It makes it really They absolutely will come at you with a fun to create. dozen different edits. They’ll ask you to move things around, to add in details, to The drawback to the industry is that if one take away elements, change colors, change company has a ‘hit’ with some specific lighting, and on and on. The people who puzzle, other companies will make knock- are willing to work with requests and edoffs of that image. The reason being is that its and do it with a good attitude are the fans are often very loyal to one puzzle people who stick around. After all, you are company. So it is kind of a bummer to see creating this artwork for other folks to enso much of the same thing sitting on the joy...it really is about them, and not you. shelves at any one time. So when I make a new puzzle, I try very hard to make it However, if you can find the balance of something I would want to see and put to- really enjoying the art you make, and you gether. Something that is new, and that will love making it for yourself and for them it give a puzzle fan a whole new experience. really becomes this magical kind of thing. I am really enjoying making retro-inspired
Do the puzzle manufacturers/publishers Are there puzzle makers/designers you do open calls for art? are inspired by? Sometimes they do. It is worthwhile to follow puzzle companies on their social media sites. They announce there on occasion when there is an open call for art. It is definitely worth a shot. In the age of print on demand and higher quality small run publishing, are many puzzle creators putting their own puzzles out - sans a larger publishing company? I have seen quite a few companies out there forging their own ground and creating their own niche in the industry. While they may not get shelf space in major retail stores, online purchases are very popular - and puzzle fans are as diverse as they come. So I’ve seen some small publishers focusing on edgy or more sophisticated imagery that cater to a different clientele than what would ever be found at Fred Meyer, for instance. I think now more than ever, people are looking for options and variety. And most importantly, quality. Puzzlers love high quality puzzle pieces, interesting puzzle piece shapes, and clear, quality images (posters inside the box, even) to use as their guide with the puzzles. So if someone is willing to do their homework and invest in those things, they stand a good chance of finding a market for it.
There are so many talented puzzle artists out there. Two of my favorite contemporary artists are Stephanie Law and Kinuko Craft, and both of them have puzzles out there that are exquisite. But mostly, I collect vintage puzzles. I love the kitschy children’s puzzles of the 1940’s and 1950’s and the psychedelic puzzles of the late 1960’s. I also have a collection of “what were they thinking?!” puzzles which includes things like a cringe-worthy photo of seafood ragout from the 1970’s, and a photograph of a messy bathroom from the early 1980’s. Those are gems that make me chuckle every time I see them. Are you creating other types of art on a regular basis? Outside of the puzzle industry, I still make a lot of art just for myself that won’t ever see any kind of commercial success. I have fun writing stories and illustrating them, and I still love attending fantasy/sci-fi conventions, which I always make art specifically for. In the end, I started off making art for my own delight, and to my utter surprise I’ve found that people around the world find joy in my art too. It’s the happiest accident I could have ever hoped for. instagram.com/aimeestewartcreations/ facebook.com/AimeeStewartArtwork/ AimeeStewart.com
THE COMET
february 2021
15
16
february 2021
THE COMET
Woody guthrie: the columbia river songs BY RON EVANS About 20 years ago I discovered the music of folk legend Woody Guthrie. I was listening to some radio interview with Beck, who I was obsessed with at the time, and he mentioned that his earliest recordings were largely inspired by Woody Guthrie. This sent me on a quest to find some of Woody’s music as I love tracing the influences of my favorite artists. I was immediately charmed by the simplicity of the tunes, the catchiness of Woody’s playful yet earnest vocals and the ghostly, frozenin-time feeling you get when listening to these scratchy, muffled, tinny songs captured in the early days of recording. I was sort of shocked when I first heard Guthrie mention the Grand Coulee Dam in some of his lyrics but soon learned that not only did he write about the dam, he did so while he was actually up here in Washington State. And he was hired by the government to write an entire collection of songs to sell the American people on the idea of The Grand Coulee Dam and the notion of publicly owned power. It’s hard to truly express how surprising that sounded to me after learning of Guthrie’s often-polarizing politics, anti-government (in some ways) lyrics - Woody was even associated with the Communist Party, although most accounts claim this association has been somewhat exaggerated. But the biggest surprise to me was...how the hell had I never heard about this?
Woody Guthrie “killing” fascists in 1943 - photo by Al Aumuller
Around that same time, KEXP radio host Greg Vandy (The Roadhouse) had had a similar realization concerning Woody and The Grand Coulee dam. Vandy intended on getting to the bottom of this fascinating story and soon found himself working on a book (something he’d never done before) and the history he uncovered plays out like a Cohen Bros. film with a convergence of so many unlikely happenings, it hardly seems true. Yet it is. Vandy’s book, “26 Songs In 30 Days: Woody Guthrie’s Columbia River Songs and the Planned Promised Land in the Pacific Northwest” paints the picture of this ‘almost lost to time’ story in great detail. I sat down with the author for an in-depth talk about the book, the folk singer and the mighty
Grand Coulee Dam. How and when did you first fall in love with Woody Guthrie’s music and how long after that did you start researching the book? Well, I’d say it’s more like ‘when did I begin to appreciate his music’ and understand the greater context of why he’s considered so important. Woody can be a difficult listen, and like many, I knew the name more than his songs. I made the connection that he wrote all these songs about the Columbia River Project and then one day, when I was supposed to be working, I was in the Grand Coulee Dam Visitor Center. They have this really cool little theater there, and while I was watching all the reels of historical films about the building of the dam, there was some female harmony version of “Roll On Columbia” that I’d never heard before. It’s not like there’s a lot there to recognize Woody’s contribution to the project. It sounded like a 1980’s recording and I still don’t really know who it was. But I was like, ‘oh, that’s a new version.’ At the time I was developing these theme shows on KEXP, where I take one song and play the many versions of the same song. Usually traditional songs. It makes you appreciate the song and learn about it and see the evolution of it. So I started doing that with “Roll On Columbia” and then I realized there was a whole song cycle that Woody Guthrie wrote about his experience being employed by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Given this context, I understood and appreciated the songs much more. The same is true for his Dust Bowl Ballads. I became a fan like everyone else who seeks it out. I started doing research for a special threehour radio show, in which I interviewed some of the people with first-hand experiences with the story, including Michael Madjic (University of Oregon) who produced a video documentary on the whole thing. I aired different versions of this radio show over the years, and it landed on the ears of Sasquatch Books who offered
THE COMET
february 2021
17
Grand Coulee Dam mid-construction in 1939 - Photo/Bonneville Power Administration
me a deal to write a book. I started writing west. And that “Pastures of Plenty” is literit in 2014. ally about the Columbia River Basin and a big utopian vision to solve the Dust Bowl The book sets the stage pretty early on crisis and bring electricity to rural farmers. for this collaboration between Woody and the BPA. And for unlikely as that It’s very exciting to find out that these pairing was, the stories leading up to it songs are about us and where we live. illustrate why it wasn’t quite as crazy It’s like going to a museum, and you’re as it sounds. Where do you begin to re- like ‘Oh, I can see my house in that Remsearch for a book like this, which is part brandt.’ It’s kind of mind blowing. biographical and part historical documentation? The idea of writing 26 songs in 30 days is impressive on just about any level. But Well, I go from knowing that there’s this the fact that some of those songs ended song cycle (which is on an album called up living on, like “Pastures of Plenty”, The Columbia River Songs) to finding as icons of folk music - I think is pretty Madjic’s documentary and then producing incredible. the radio special. And then from there, after the book deal, I filled in the details with in- Although Woody was known, as were dependent research with lots of help from most folk musicians of the time, to borpeople like Jeff Place from Smithsonian row or straight up repurpose melodies Folkways, The Woody Guthrie Archives for his new songs. Talk a little bit about in Tulsa and the BPA archives in Portland. Woody from a songwriting standpoint. Libby Burke was a godsend there. Woody’s process as a traditional folkAnd so through all that I picked up on the singer is fairly typical. And like most folkamazing story and soon realized that not singers, he sang the old songs. And this much had been written about it before. At is something that I think is lost on a lot all. The two main Guthrie biographies, of modern listeners, because it’s certainly surprisingly, only provide a scant half an old fashioned concept. But it’s really dozen pages or so to the BPA story. And what folk music is all about, which is not most people who live in this state, and in necessarily writing new songs the way Oregon, are unaware that this happened at the Beatles wrote The White Album. It’s all, or that Woody Guthrie has an imprint more like, there are these old songs that here where he actually wrote songs about people have always sang to each other for us, about where we live here in the North- generations, learning from each other and
was thought to be a pipe dream by most people. Just a thing too impossible to imagine or even justify. But one early visionary and champion for the project is a prominent name here in Wenatchee. Publisher of the Wenatchee Daily World, Rufus Woods. How imporOver time the songs changed, morphed, tant was Woods’ support for the projand adapted, sometimes into whole new ect of the dam in getting things off the songs, to fit the needs of the performer and ground? reflecting different geographies and local vernacular - where everyone has their It was huge, because he was the ultimate own way of doing a popular song, his or booster. And it’s a little bit complicated as her way. This is called the ‘folk process.’ to what he wanted versus what ultimately When records happened in the late 1920’s happened, as he was for private interest and the first recordings by the Carter Fam- and for making the whole project a private ily were released, these were old songs. enterprise. The federal government at the Songs that A.P. Carter heard orally, from time, however, was all for public power his community. He was like a collector. and for public ownership. So there’s a Then he recorded them. Woody was like difference there. But Rufus was great, bethis too, but Woody would write his own cause he made it really sort of an enterlyrics to existing song melodies. Again, taining story about how the little guy was not the first one at all. Joe Hill used and gonna win over the big guy, and the Grand adapted old melodies for his labor songs Coulee Dam is gonna help the community at the turn of the 20th Century as did other and bring a better life to the Wenatchee protest singers. The idea being that if you area. knew the melody already you could follow the song easier. That whole thing is real- Understanding that time and place is so ly fascinating to me - ‘the folk process.’ interesting and so important because they That’s what Woody Guthrie did. Nobody had these movie reels that played in all the owned the old traditional songs. Still don’t. cinemas back in the day. When you’d go see a movie you’d see the main feature, So yes, Woody adapted old songs to fit his then you can maybe see a short and then there’s always a newsreel in there too. needs all the time. The story of the Grand Coulee Dam was The idea of the Grand Coulee Dam a popular feature in these reels. This is befrom song books well before the advent of recording technology. The songs passed from person to person in what has become known as the ‘oral tradition’ where people learn songs from people actually singing the songs.
18
THE COMET
february 2021
Treasure in the closet. Unearthed acetate of Woody’s BPA recordings.
fore TV sets of course. And I think it was really fun and encouraging for people who were living through the Great Depression to know that there is a sense of progress going on. And I think that’s why it was such a popular story because not only was it the biggest thing that man had ever done in the middle of nowhere, but it was a sign of America coming back from the Depression.
The project was aimed at improving the lives of common people by bringing electricity at a low rate to people in rural eastern Washington and Oregon for the first time. Literally bringing people out of the dark and providing a more modern lifestyle for everyone. It was part of The New Deal, and yes, it needed to be sold by a folksinger because this was actually our first folk revival, back in the 1930’s. A new American narrative featuring working people that was both organic and fully sponsored by the Roosevelt administration to promote New Deal policy. It’s quite fascinating.
Along that propaganda line, there were plenty of people that were sort of scoffing at Woody Guthrie, his lyrics for these songs and his involvement with the dam in general as little more than propaganda, which I suppose, by defi- Plenty of artists or celebrities have nition is propaganda. Or do you see it cashed in on a paycheck to promote differently? something or another. But a major difference here is that it seems to me that Well, yeah, I think it’s classic propagan- Woody truly believed in this project. da but as I wrote in the book, it was also “public relations for The People.” That’s He needed a job really bad as I explained how Harry Hopkins put it (Roosevelt’s in the book. He was at probably his lowWPA Director). He said, “it’s about time est ebb, ever. He was discouraged. He was people have propaganda for them. The big broke. He had a family and needed a gig, power companies spend millions on pro- and this was a great gig. But this wasn’t paganda for private utilities.” selling a bar of soap or a brand of cars. It was about a whole ideology of public or And I think that’s what this was - it was private. About public utility districts propropaganda to educate people that public viding energy and power to people who power was something that was viable and didn’t have it before and irrigating dry possible, and that we didn’t need private dusty land for people in order to create interest to charge whatever they wanted something for themselves. A cure for the for power from rivers that belong to every- Dust Bowl and a place for migrants to setone, because they are our natural resource. tle down. So, yes, he was way into it. We
“Propaganda for the People.” Early poster to promote public power.
make reference in the book that Mary, his wife at the time, said that Woody would come home super jazzed about the whole thing and he was inspired. That’s clearly evident in the quality of the songs. It was the perfect job for him. And he loved it. He loved this area too. I mean, think of how pristine and beautiful the Pacific Northwest was back in 1941. I think being from the Dust Bowl region, the lush landscape made a lifelong impression on him.
artists, or from summer camps or school via a song book. It wasn’t until 1987 that anyone heard a recording of it by Woody Guthrie. It was Bill Murlin of the BPA who discovered the old acetate when he made contact with retired BPA employees via an internal newsletter. And there were others too; all these lost acetates that Woody Guthrie recorded in the BPA basement as demos were found in private hands. I imagine this make-shift studio closet where he banged out these songs during his month-long employment there. And one of the lost recordings was “Roll On Columbia!” It’s pretty amazing and I imagine it blew the minds of hardcore Guthrie fans when it was discovered.
“Roll On Columbia” was a song that we actually learned in grade school by heart. I don’t remember Woody Guthrie’s name ever being associated with it. It was one of those songs that just was. In fact, the song itself was famous before Woody’s recording of it was released. How does that even happen? There are actually 12 songs that came out of the woodwork from surviving, physical So this is one of the most amazing discov- acetate copies which were in the posseseries and most interesting aspects of the sion of old BPA employees. And of the 26 book for me. The fact that the most well songs that Woody wrote for his Columbia known Woody Guthrie song from this River song cycle, he recorded 5 of them song cycle was never recorded by Woody later, commercially, for Moe Asch for his Guthrie. For years people thought it was Folkways label in 1944, and those are the never recorded by him. Now, this goes songs we know, like “Talking Columbia”, back to the idea that songwriters published “Hard Traveling”, “Grand Coulee Dam” songs in song books back in the day and etc. Apparently, Woody forgot about “Roll that Woody wrote a million songs but only On Columbia” by then. We try to explain got a chance to record a fraction of them. that in the book. The whole story has one And of the 26 songs we reference in the amazing thing after another. book, only 17 of those songs had been recorded. So it’s not too crazy to think that It blows my mind that Woody was rewe know “Roll On Columbia” from other cording in the basement of the BPA. I
THE COMET suppose it’s too much to hope for some Oh, yeah, definitely a one-off. It was meant sort of preservation, or memorialization to finally recognize Woody Guthrie at the of that auspicious occasion. Grand Coulee Dam, which they really never had done before. Which kind of surThe BPA moved out of their original build- prised me and kind of blows my mind in a ing, and I doubt anything was preserved certain way that a guy as famous as Woody there. I’m not even sure the structure still Guthrie who wrote a song called “Grand stands. Coulee Dam” is not fully recognized at the Grand Coulee Dam. I felt like, you know, Another aspect of the dam that I don’t 75 years after the fact it would be nice to remember ever being taught in school have some sort of recognition of those was the devastation that the project had songs and the guy who wrote them. Granton the indigenous people of the area. ed, there is a display of him in the Visitor Talk a bit about that and how it led to Center with a xylophone thing where you the Ceremony of Tears. can play “Roll On Columbia”, but it’s easy to miss. My book was timed to come out Whenever we talk about the Grand Cou- on the 75th anniversary of Guthrie’s emlee Dam there are two sides of that tale. In ployment with the BPA, so we partnered the introduction of the book we give a full up with the Bureau Of Reclamation to do disclaimer to inform the reader that this is the event. They were pretty cooperative in a story about Woody Guthrie, and how this helping us out. whole thing came about. And you have to keep in mind that while we tell the story, We had Deana McCloud come out from there’s a whole other side to it that’s ter- the Woody Guthrie Center (in Tulsa), rible. The over-damming of the Columbia, which was really flattering. Bill Murlin turning this natural, beautiful river into a and Libby Burke were there from the BPA, lake is a terrible consequence, environ- and we had these great panels, which I mentally. And the consequence of the Cou- think was the best part of the event, in that lee Dam for Native Americans is the loss little theater. And of course we had singof salmon, lifestyle, and culture. And they ers and some bands. I really envisioned a received none of the power or electricity, whole big stage and a grandstand and Arlo even though the reservation is literally on Guthrie playing, but you know, we really the other bank of the river. The whole story couldn’t get that together. There was no is really ridiculous. The best book that I’ve budget at all. Everyone did it because they read about this angle of the story is called wanted to be there. The location is so re“A River Lost” by Blaine Harden. He ex- mote that it was hard to get Seattle people plains how arrogant it was to not consider to drive all the way out there. But it’s a anyone in this equation other than white special place in the Coulee Corridor, and I males. So that’s a fact you have to know recommend it to anyone looking for a gorgoing into telling a story like this. geous road trip. When I first learned about Woody’s time up here with the Columbia River songs, I hit the road. I was on a quest to see the dam with renewed interest. I was also looking for any little roadside marker - some sort of attraction or mention of Woody that I could find, only to discover there was no such thing. Except for a little power substation they named after him - you know, one of those eyesore things that we all try to hide with fences and shrubs - somewhere down on In 2016, you organized something that the Oregon-Washington border, which I had been waiting for for a long time, is such a touching tribute. even if I didn’t know it. Woody Guthrie Day at Grand Coulee Dam. An all day Your book really helps the story come event with live music, film screenings, back into light. But why do you think it panels and Woody-centric exhibits. How ever faded to begin with? And why do did that all come together? And was this you think these acetates ended up una one off? Or are there plans for maybe der the bed of some dude that just never future Woody celebrations? really thought about it until someone The Ceremony of Tears was this moment in time when the native tribes were realizing their fate and that the Columbia River was going to be dammed, and that the river was going to rise. And that not only were the salmon going to be blocked, a lot of the land would be covered with water, including burial sites. The ceremony was sort of a solemn acknowledgement that things were going to change at that moment for them. And not for the best, obviously.
brought it up decades later? I don’t think anyone even knew what really happened until the 60’s. We mentioned in the book that there was a writer for the AP who sort of pieced it together for the first time in a news story. The original documentary film, “The Columbia”, that Woody was hired to write songs for eventually materialized but not until after the war, in 1949. By that time, it wasn’t very relevant and nobody actually saw the film. After World War II the country immediately shifted its focus to a more urban economy and the agrarian utopia featuring a Planned Promised Land was already outof-date and not realistic. So not many people know this happened, even to this day. The five songs released commercially were heard much later, and music fans referred to these songs as “Woody’s dam songs” or his “Columbia River songs”, but not many knew that there were 17 other songs until Murlin produced the Columbia River Songs album in 1987 with all the unknown recordings. However, another prized nugget of my research uncovered an album that Moe Asch released in 1948, which was actually the first Columbia River songs album, with many of the songs we are talking about here, but for some reason Asch called it Ballads From The Dust Bowl. It’s weird because it had only one Dust Bowl song and all the other songs were Columbia River songs. So I assume that Asch was just using the tried and true Dust Bowl brand to sell the record. But the cover is a man reclining in his car driver seat looking at the Grand Coulee Dam. Nobody made this connection before, and when I called Jeff Place at Smithsonian about it, he agreed. It’s a pretty rare record. So that’s always funny to me.
february 2021
19
maybe? Just a few years before he passed away. He was a very elderly man and just a great guy to talk with about his experience - you know, having someone with first-hand experience at whatever you are researching is so valuable. Especially to someone like Woody Guthrie, which was pretty exciting. There are really not many people you can say that had first hand experience with him or with this whole story. Besides his stories, I wanted to know what the route was from Portland to Grand Coulee and back when they drove it in a government car - a brand new 1940 Hornet Hudson. And that way I could make a map and do what you’re saying, visualize Woody Guthrie singing over the river or whatever he did, and share the romance of that vision. Also, to make a definitive timeline because Woody only worked on this job for 30 days.
But, I just could not get him to nail it down. Of course he was 90 years old and this happened so long ago for him, but I was hoping for some sort of logbook, you know. When you work for the state or for the federal government everything is written down, so I thought there might be a surviving journal or log book or something like that. But the best I could get from him, which I wrote in the book, was they started going east on the Columbia and through the towns of Dee, Parkdale and eventually to The Dalles. There’s a story about a stop-over in Arlington, and a quick side trip to Lost Lake, which apparently blew Woody’s mind. He said something like, “I’m in paradise.” This was before the interstate highway so they were taking all these older roads and they cut up somewhere before Walla Walla, then north east to Spokane, and then from Spokane to Grand Coulee and from Grand Coulee they followed the river down to Portland. So that’s the route as best as I can tell. SpeakOne of the things I always thought ing with Elmer was one of my favorite would be amazing on a road trip of that parts of the research. region would be some sort of ‘Woody sat and strummed his guitar here’ road- Bueller once claimed to have heard side markers overlooking the river. A Guthrie strumming his guitar in the man named Elmer Bueller was tasked backseat on one of these drives throughby the BPA to drive Woody around and out the region. And apparently he was basically do just that. Take in the sights, working and reworking lyrics to a song smell the fresh Columbia River air and that hadn’t been recorded yet. A little write songs. You once interviewed Buel- tune called “This Land Is Your Land.” ler about his time with Woody. How This isn’t one of the official Columbia does he recall this experience? River ballads, but is it fair to at least imagine that Woody might have been inYeah, I called him on the phone back when fluenced by his time here in writing one I was working on the radio show docu- of the most famous songs in US history? mentary for KEXP, probably around 2006,
20
THE COMET
february 2021
Governor Clarence C. Martin placing official first concrete pour at Grand Coulee Dam. Photo by: William S. Russell. Dec. 6, 1935 - Courtesy of the Bureau of Reclamation.
The rare, earliest Columbia River songs compilation by Moe Asch - oddly attributed to the Dust Bowl ballads in spite of the fact that the man in the illustration is clearly parked in front of the Grand Coulee Dam, as spotted by Vandy.
Well, Woody definitely wrote that in 1940 in New York, but didn’t record it until 1944 with Moe Asch. Like I mentioned before, writing a song and recording a song are two different things, and back then Woody would record a whole batch of songs on a whim, then Asch would release them whenever, and as he saw fit. Folkways was a very small indie label, and most of the recordings Woody made back in the 40’s are on albums that came out in the 50’s and 60’s or his songs were made popular by other singers, like Pete Seeger. The Folk Revival of that time is how most people discovered Woody Guthrie’s songs, but ironically he was too sick (with Huntington’s disease) to play and participate in that new scene. That’s how the legend of Guthrie really began, in that people knew these songs that were written much earlier but he was a man of mystery to kids in the early 60’s folk revival scene. But he very well could have been still working on it and just singing it, or maybe changing it, who knows? I think “Pastures of Plenty” is just as important as “This Land Is Your Land” and it’s really the same kind of song in how ‘this land’ belongs to you and me, and the private versus public space argument. It’s the ultimate migrant song.
als for Guthrie to bone up on the history of the area and the meaning of the project. So we think that he was reading The Grapes of Wrath with Elmer Bueller during those rides and that the book was really influential in writing “Pastures of Plenty.” And I figured out that Woody Guthrie had never read it before, even though he’d written a song about the lead character, Tom Joad. But he’d seen the movie. The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939. John Houston’s movie came out in 1940, which is a pretty quick turnaround for a movie of that magnitude. But I found this audio recording from December of 1940, five months before heading to Portland, where Woody was performing with Leadbelly in New York City, and in between songs Woody says, “Oh, here’s a song called ‘Tom Joad’. I haven’t read the book. But I saw the movie!” On the topic of your book, as a radio personality and an author the obvious question, I suppose: Did you think about doing an audio book version? Or is that something possibly on the horizon? Well, I talked to the publisher about that. I thought that’d be something great to do back then. But it was a question of cost considering you need the rights to the song recordings in addition to the rights to print the lyric manuscripts. It’s all very expensive.
What we did discover about that song (Pastures), and Libby Burke has a lot to do with this, is that we know for a fact that Steve Khan, the guy that hired him at the BPA to write songs for his film gave Woody a copy of the book The Grapes of There’s a company called TRO, The RichWrath. Khan gave him a bunch of materi- mond Organization that owns all the pub-
An original poster for the documentary Woody was orignally hired to write music for.
lishing for Woody Guthrie. And they were pretty hard to deal with. So for the audio recording, I think it would be cost prohibitive for any publisher to pay for those to use in an audio book. Who knows, I had my hands full just writing the book with my co-author, Dan Person.
phies, there’s only like four to seven pages dedicated to this amazing, incredible story. So I’m very proud that we - me and Daniel Person, told the story, finally. And it’s a great story. I love the story. But, I wouldn’t call myself a dedicated author. This whole story, in a way, chose me.
I think a lot of people are surprised that That was a while ago now, and considerWoody Guthrie isn’t in the public do- ing I have kids and zero time, it’s hard to imagine doing another heavy lift - because main. the money just isn’t there. But to answer There’s so much to say about that. Pub- your question, the whole weird story of lolic domain is about 1925, I think. But for cal hero Harry Smith would be a good one this situation and for the sake of argument, to explore. He’s the guy behind the Anwhen you write songs for the government thology Of American Folk Music and he’s you’re being paid for by the government from my hometown of Bellingham. He’s a - which is us. So really, don’t we own the very complicated figure, so I’m assuming songs? But to have that discussion with the that’s why no one has chased that dragon. rights holders... you may as well just forget Maybe someday! about it. The other thing to say is I would never object to any copyright that Guthrie and the family lays claim to because the Final Note: After reading this you may fact is, Woody Guthrie never really got just want to load up the car, pop in some paid. He was scraping and struggling his Woody Guthrie and head out on a road trip entire life and he got hardly any royalties to the Grand Coulee Dam. Unfortunately from anything. When The Weavers did the visitor center is closed due to Covid some of his songs he got paid a little bit, but the park and the main vista points are but it was far too little far too late. When all open so you can take in the vast views Woody passed, a lot of the publishing of this seemingly impossible monument of rights served a great purpose in helping his human ingenuity. Breathe in the fresh air of that ‘misty crystal glitter’ as the waters family. So there’s no beef from me. slide down the spillway and think about the Are there any other subjects that inter- culture, politics, dreams and hardships the est you enough to pursue a book? Or is Grand Coulee Dam represents. However you feel about this controversial creation, I this one good for you? think we can all agree that it might just be You know, in both Woody Guthrie biogra- the biggest thing that man has ever done. C
THE COMET
february 2021
21
comet tales: reader submitted writings ode to 2020 by tj farrell From the author: Hello, and Happy New Year, viewers! Time now for a short poetry break; a little piece I call, “Ode to 2020.” Trigger Warning: I will be mentioning a lot of things in the poem that some would love to forget, so, Proceed With Caution! What a crazy year it’s been Our coping skills are wearing thin It stripped us down and left us bare We had to cut our own damn hair! Governor Cuomo advised us with graph and with chart, he Had to tell us not to fight for our right to party. Pandemic, facemasks, lockdowns, hoarding, Is hand sanitizer that rewarding? Toilet paper is no panacea, Covid-19 won’t give you diarrhea Maybe sometime after New Year Clorox wipes will reappear Back when things first got chaotic, We watched Tiger King with Joe Exotic Is Carole Baskin a big fat liar? Was her hubby digested by a tiger? Not only is she not behind bars, Carol was Dancing With the Stars! TikTok made us laugh, all ‘round the planet, It helped keep us sane (and then Trump tried to ban it) Meanwhile, the stock market crashed, People’s jobs and lives were trashed, Australia and the West Coast burned Murder Hornets were sighted, and then we learned With surprise, with shock, when exposed to the knowledge That rich people paid to fake their kids’ into college! The Orange Shit-Gibbon got impeached But nothing stuck to that bloated leech He tweeted and whined and told lies a-plenty, Then got hacked cuz his password was MAGA2020 He nearly started World War 3, shocker! And endorsed the ravings of that “Demon Sperm” Doctor Peaceful protesters in front of a church Were gassed so 45 could perch With someone else’s Bible he hijacked Holding it up like an alien artifact He didn’t get Mexico to pay for a wall, But there’s one ‘round the White House to catch his golfballs His tried so hard to shut down the mail, And prove his cognitive test wasn’t a fail “Person woman camera man TV”
Nothing wrong here folks, nothing to see! Impressing his base was always his intent No wonder Kanye got some votes for president And Rudy Giuliani, don’t get me started! So full of hot air he audibly farted Hair dye seeping down his face as he rants, Caught on camera with both hands in his pants We lost Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Alex Trebek, Chadwick Boseman, Little Richard, John Lewis, and Eddie Van Halen Biden and Harris won the election, Followed by threats of massive ballot rejections We had to be reminded again and again Black Lives need to Matter to law enforcement LGBTQ folks must not be jeopardized, Civil rights are for everyone, not just straight white guys. We saw a massive explosion in Beirut And China sent us mystery seeds to boot We watched the ongoing saga of Brexit Then Harry and Meghan did their own little Megxit Bakers made all kinds of things look like cake And Macaulay Culkin turned 40, for goodness sake! The Department of Defense shared videos Of what they say are UFOs And while we were thinking that was quite weird, Some mystery monoliths suddenly appeared There’s water on the moon! There may be life on Venus And Captain America showed us his penis! Though this year has seemed crueler, Weinstein’s finally in the cooler We saw the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, And then the Cheato wished her well Then he got COVID, ALLEGEDLY But did not long stay off TV And the Super Bowl half-time show Starring Shakira and J-Lo Made the Karen’s and Chad’s Clutch their pearls and get mad. Was there ever a year as crazy as this? It’s a year that most of us certainly won’t miss, So let’s toast it at midnight, and sing it out clear, “Get the fuck off my lawn, you hellish, rotten year!”
22
february 2021
THE COMET
tales from the public domain
1912 Illustration by Robert Anning Bell
In old times, when wishing was having, there lived a King whose daughters were all beautiful, but the youngest was so beautiful that the sun itself, which has seen so much, was astonished whenever it shone in her face. Close by the King’s castle lay a great dark forest, and under an old lime-tree in the forest, was a fountain. When the day was very warm, the King’s Child went out into the forest and sat down by the side of the cool fountain, and when she was dull she took a golden ball, and threw it up in the air and caught it. And this ball was her favorite plaything. Now, it so happened one day, the King’s Daughter’s golden ball did not fall into the little hand which she was holding up for it, but on to the ground, and rolled straight into the water. The King’s Daughter followed it with her eyes; but it vanished, and the well was deep, so deep that the bottom could not14 be seen. On this she began to cry, and cried louder and louder, and could not be comforted. And as she thus lamented, someone said to her, “What ails you, King’s Daughter? You weep so that even a stone would show pity.” She looked round to the side from whence the voice came, and saw a Frog stretching its thick, ugly head from the water. “Ah! old water-splasher, is it you?” said she; “I am weeping for my golden ball, which has fallen into the fountain.” “Be quiet, and do not weep,” answered the Frog, “I can help you. But what will you give me if I bring your plaything up again?” “Whatever you will have, dear Frog,” said she—“my clothes, my pearls and jewels,
and even the golden crown which I am wearing.” The Frog answered, “I do not care for your clothes, your pearls and jewels, or your golden crown, but if you will love me and let me be your companion and playfellow, and sit by you at your little table, and eat off your little golden plate, and drink out of your little cup, and sleep in your little bed—if you will promise me this, I will go down below, and bring your golden ball up again.” “Oh, yes,” said she, “I promise you all you wish, if you will but bring my ball back again.” She, however, thought, “How the silly Frog does talk! He lives in the water with the other frogs and croaks, and can be no companion to any human being!” But the Frog, when he had received this promise, put his head into the water and sank down. In a short time he came15 swimming up again with the ball in his mouth, and threw it on the grass. The King’s Daughter was delighted to see her pretty plaything once more, and picked it up, and ran away with it. “Wait, wait,” said the Frog. “Take me with you. I can’t run as you can.” But what did it avail him to scream his croak, croak, after her, as loudly as he could? She did not listen to it, but ran home and soon forgot the poor Frog, who was forced to go back into his fountain again. The next day, when she had seated herself at table with the King and all the courtiers, and was eating from her little golden plate, something came creeping splish splash, splish splash, up the marble staircase. When it got to the top, it knocked at the door, and cried:
THE COMET
“King’s Daughter, youngest. Open the door!” She ran to see who was outside, but when she opened the door, there sat the Frog in front of it. Then she slammed the door in great haste, sat down to dinner again, and was quite frightened. The King saw plainly that her heart was beating violently, and said, “My Child, what are you so afraid of? Is there a Giant outside who wants to carry you away?” “Ah, no,” replied she, “it is no Giant, but a disgusting Frog.” “What does the Frog want with you?” “Ah, dear Father, yesterday when I was in the forest sitting by the fountain, playing, my golden ball fell into the16 water. And because I cried so, the Frog brought it out again for me. And because he insisted so on it, I promised him he should be my companion; but I never thought he would be able to come out of the water! And now he is here, and wants to come in.” In the meantime, it knocked a second time, and cried: “King’s Daughter, youngest! Open to me! Don’t you remember yesterday, And all that you to me did say, Beside the cooling fountain’s spray? King’s Daughter, youngest! Open to me!” Then said the King, “That which you have promised you must perform. Go and let him in.” She went and opened the door, and the Frog hopped in and followed her, step by step, to her chair. There he sat still and cried, “Lift me up beside you.”
february 2021
“Now, you will be quiet, odious Frog,” said she. But when he fell down, he was no Frog but a King’s Son with beautiful kind eyes! He, by her father’s will, was now her dear companion and husband. Then he told her how he had been bewitched by a wicked Witch, and how no one could have delivered him from the fountain but herself, and that to-morrow they would go together into his kingdom. Then they went to sleep, and next morning when the sun awoke them, a coach came rolling up drawn by eight white horses, with white ostrich feathers on their heads. They were harnessed with golden chains, and behind stood the young King’s servant, Faithful Henry. Faithful Henry had been so unhappy when his master was changed into a Frog, that he had three iron bands laid round his heart, lest it should burst with grief and sadness. The coach was to conduct the young King into his kingdom. Faithful Henry helped them both in, and placed himself behind again, and was full of joy because of this deliverance.18 And when they had driven a part of the way, the King’s Son heard a cracking behind him as if something had broken. So he turned round and cried: “Henry, the coach does break!” “No, no, my lord, you do mistake! It is the band around my heart, That felt such great and bitter smart, When you were in the fountain strange, When you into a Frog were changed!” Again and once again, while they were on their way, something cracked; and each time the King’s Son thought the carriage was breaking. But it was only the bands which were springing from the heart of Faithful Henry because his master was set free and was happy. C
She delayed, until at last the King commanded her to do it. When the Frog was once on the chair, he wanted to be on the table, and when he was on the table, he said, “Now, push your little golden plate nearer to me that we may eat together.” She did this, but it was easy to see that she did not do it willingly. The Frog enjoyed what he ate, but almost every mouthful she took, choked her. At length he said, “I have eaten and am satisfied. Now I am tired, carry me into your little room and make your little silken bed ready; and we will both lie down and go to sleep.” The King’s Daughter began to cry, for she was afraid of the17 cold Frog, which she did not like to touch, and which was now to sleep in her pretty, clean little bed. But the King grew angry and said, “He who helped you when you were in trouble, ought not afterward to be despised.” So she took hold of the Frog with two fingers, carried him upstairs, and put him in a corner. But when she was in bed, he crept to her and said, “I am tired, I want to sleep as well as you; lift me up or I will tell your father.” Then she was terribly angry, and took him up and threw him with all her might against the wall.
23
Illustration by Philipp Grot Johann
24
february 2021
THE COMET
Semi-local: the art of Kitschy delish
tm
Artist Kelly Jackson
by ron evans Kitschy Delish™ is a paper and gifts company founded in 2017 by Seattle illustrator Kelly Jackson. What initially started out as a small art show at Trophy Cupcakes has blossomed into a burgeoning gifts and paper goods company, supplying her tasty and salacious creations to licensing deals, boutiques around the country and customers around the world. With a love of play on words, pin-up, candy and cake, Jackson creates a world filled with sweetness and whimsy. The Comet reached out to this semi-local artist to see where her love of retro and vintage design began. So...where did this love of retro and vintage design begin? My work has naturally had a vintage look even before I developed my signature style. In the 90’s when illustration trends were ‘grungy’ and ink splattery, I wanted to be that too. But I had many art directors tell me my work looked like it was from the 50’s. I wasn’t sure why because I was never really into vintage things growing up in the 80’s. ‘Round about 2009 though, I was introduced
Home Run it into color by drawing over my sketches in to the Seattle burlesque community by the Adobe Illustrator. I used to paint with acrylbeautiful Shanghai Pearl who brought me into the sparkly world of tongue and cheek. ics, but found I kept stifling myself because I Something clicked for me and I wanted to didn’t like my technique. So I taught myself Illustrator and haven’t looked back. At some be completely immersed in a world of my point I may paint again. During the color prochoosing that involved sparkle and confeccess, an idea might tion. Where the best things in life, sex “This past year has been brutal for get changed from the and indulgence, was sketch I made. It all me in trying to keep my head up depends on what I discelebrated and also cover along the way. laughed at. It just fit. and draw happy dancing food.” I keep all my sketchI booked an art show books because someand then more and more followed. At the same time, I discovered times I’ll get around to finishing a piece after I’ve let it sit for five years. my love of retro kitsch in vintage shops. My personal style and home decor also follows Are there specific artists or designers you that aesthetic and I have not tired of it. have been influenced by or is it more of an Tell us about your technique from start to overall ‘era’ style you are drawn to? finish. Does it vary from piece to piece or is It really is the era and feeling I am inspired that depending on the ultimate medium of by. Of course, I love anthropomorphic adverthe end product? tising from the 50’s and 60’s. But I also like to bring modern things into my work too just It all starts with an idea for something cheeky. A play on words. I think of them all the time. for fun. You know, like foods taking selfies of I have lists and lists of ideas. But one idea themselves I think is pretty funny. will usually nag and pull at me until I sketch Your style seems a perfect fit for greeting it out on paper. I sketch on toned paper with graphite pencil and white pencil. Then, I bring cards and stationary. Is that avenue some-
Tin Cans thing you focus on with your designs? Back in 2010 when I was new to doing art shows, I had customers request my work on greeting cards, so I did a few of my pieces as greeting cards. I rarely create a piece just for a greeting card. It’s usually when someone sees a piece of mine and asks if I’d do it as a greeting card. In 2014, I exhibited at SURTEX in NYC - (a surface design licensing show). I got my first greeting card licensing deal. Now, I print my own cards and supply them to stores around the country. Trader Joe’s has licensed a few of my designs as well. What is your workflow like? Do you go through creative spurts? Or are you pretty much working on something every day? I try to work on something every day. But sometimes inspiration can be fleeting. This past year has been brutal for me in trying to keep my head up and draw happy dancing food. During those dry spells, I focus on filling orders and packaging my inventory. But there’s always something to do with my business and prepping for orders, etc. I will say, I am constantly inspired to keep drawing and creating because customers and IG followers
THE COMET
february 2021
25
Aw, February. We finally made it past January 1526th. Valentine’s Day is around the corner and love is in the air...or maybe not. Maybe it’s drought season for you, I don’t know. I do know that Mercury has gone retrograde and it’s here to wreak havoc on your communication and technology, as well as breakdown the very foundations that your life is built on. Fun! Let’s see what the stars have in store for us. Aries - You’re seeking love and human connection, but alas your intensity and inexperience with compromise may get in the way. Add Mercury retrograde to the mix and it’s just a mess waiting to happen. Do your best not to put your foot in your mouth this month. Taurus - Surprise, your control issues are blocking you from joy and peace. Do yourself a favor and get out of your own damn way. Sure, it’s nice to have everything in its place and work at your own pace without having to rely on anyone else, but that’s not what this month is about. This month is about feeling out of control and relaxing into it. The sooner you accept that you can’t have it all your way, the sooner you can start enjoying things like people...and clutter...and chaos...oh god. Gemini - Gemini, you were made for these times. Your already chatty mind and buzzing enthusiasm is perfect for enduring this Mercury retrograde. You’ll still want to be mindful with your words and fact check your shit before blasting it online (you’re not perfect) but you’ll probably skate through this month with more ease than most. Could be wisdom and life experience, could be blind optimism. I mean, who really cares at this point, just enjoy it buddy. Cancer - Fatigue, exhaustion, drained...that’s you little crab. This retro-merc is asking you to look at what the heck you’re even doing with your life. Feeling drained is a natural response to overextending yourself. Just because you’re naturally nurturing doesn’t mean you have to give all of your energy to everyone else. Save some for yourself, little crab. I have nothing smarmy for you. Take care of yourself, even if that means completely withdrawing from the world for the next month.
Bagels And Locks reach out to me daily telling me how happy something made them, or how they laughed at an image I created. That means the world to me. I guess we all need our doses of happiness, especially right now. Are you good with staring at a blank canvas or screen and forcing something out of the ether or do you need some spark of inspiration before you start working? If I have to force it, it looks awful. I have to let the muses come play in my head. And I never know when that will happen. Do you show work at galleries often, or are you more geared toward the commercial art world? I haven’t done any shows since February of 2020. And my work honestly is better geared towards being in restaurants. I exhibited in a well known place about four years ago and still get people who tell me they remember my work when it was there. With the shutdown of restaurants, etc, that hasn’t happened much this past year. Are there any mediums or projects you’d
love the opportunity to tackle but haven’t yet? I’d like to sculpt some of my characters in clay. When I was 14, I used to make miniature food for a dollhouse store. So the medium isn’t completely foreign to me. Perhaps sometime if I have extra time on my hands. Anything (sales, shows, projects) coming up we should know about? As of now, I am scheduled to show work at Viva! in Las Vegas in October. But we will see where the world is by then. I dearly LOVE meeting new folks and customers in person. And I have so missed exhibiting in markets due to the pandemic shuttering them for now. Links and social media: instagram.com/kitschydelish kitschydelish.com/ facebook.com/kitschydelish C
Leo - This month you find yourself exceptionally charming and good at sweet talk. Exploit the hell out of that! Why actually solve the problem when you can just glaze over it with allure and flattery? Maybe there will be long term repercussions, but you don’t care about those. Good thing you’re cute. Enjoy the shorterm, unsustainable charm while it lasts. Virgo - Oh dear, rest is on the agenda for you. I can imagine you squirming in your seat and even dry heaving at the thought. But how will I finish the millions of projects that I’m working on and how will I meet my unreasonably high expectations AND impossibly short deadlines that I’ve created for myself?!? I know Virgo, it’s scary. But it is your work this month, and if you allow for it, you may have a new found energy to throw at future projects. Libra - This month is all about pleasure and play for you. Now, I’m not suggesting you ignore your responsibilities and only do things that bring you joy. Try to find little ways throughout the day to incorporate fun. Maybe get a little crazy and try expressing your feelings as they come up insteading of stifling them down (fun!). Or perhaps spice things up by not brooding so hard in self-pity. Amazing what a little joy can do for ya! Scorpio - This Mercury retrograde is really messing with your sense of comfort and home. Don’t let little hang ups deter you from moving forward. Life doesn’t always feel comfortable; you of all signs should know that. As a water sign, you might feel like you’re swimming upstream or even drowning, but the truth is you’re probably just hanging on for dear life to something that no longer serves you. Try to shift your perspective. Not everyone or everything is out to get you. Sagittarius - Brain fog, dissociation, irritability. It’s not your fault sweet Sag, it’s written in the stars baby. Not even your most well trained, locked in routine can keep you from faltering this month. But you can get through this. You just need patience, flexibility, self-restraint, adaptability, a positive attitude and...ok so it might be harder than I thought. I’m almost certain you can handle it. You got this..? Capricorn - This month will be tricky for you, my stability loving Capricorn. You see, nothing is certain right now, especially with Merc in retrograde. Try not to stress about money or security. Sure everything is up in the air and there’s no concrete evidence or viable numbers to base your 10 year plan on, but it’s just one month of discomfort. You’ll survive this. Aquarius - Self-care is on the docket, little water bearer. Really embrace those Venus vibes. Get yourself some rose colored glasses and start pretending like everything is fine. Take lots of baths, wash away last month’s self-doubt and grime and nurture yourself (not to be confused with your usual hyper-critical self-analyzing). Best of luck to you.
26
THE COMET
february 2021
HOW BIZARRE:
the crazy yet perfect history of monopoly
Lizzie Magie
All images - Wikimedia Creative Commons
Charles Darrow
BY RON EVANS
Monopoly has had an insanely long run as the king of the board games. It’s the most popular licensed board game of all time, only non-licensed public domain games like chess, checkers and backgammon top the sales of Monopoly. Since its introduction to the market in 1935, over 250 million Monopoly games have been sold, and the game has been played by more than 1 billion people worldwide. Nobody could have foreseen that. Especially given its origin tale. To tell that (truncated) story we have to go back even further than 1935. The true inception of the game occurred in 1903 when an American woman by the name of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Magie invented a board game called The Landlord’s Game - a fun but educational tool to warn of the negative aspects of capitalism, specifically concerning monopolies and large parcels of land being owned by only one or two people or organizations. Magie was a feminist and a Georgist. I won’t attempt to explain all aspects of Georgism here but suffice to say it’s founded on some of the core beliefs of Henry George, an American economist and social reformer. The main takeaway for the purposes of this story is that these people were ANTI-monopoly. Which is really curious when you consider the future of the board game. So Magie patented her game and began self-publishing small runs of them, mostly to teachers. It was pretty complex for the day and it included properties to buy or sell, railroads, utilities spaces and a jail.
In Magie’s version, you could play under one of two sets of rules. The typical ‘conquer and destroy to make yourself insanely rich and powerful’ option or the ‘Anti-monopoly’ variation - where all players benefitted from the accumulation of wealth. Over the years this game became fairly popular at least in Magie’s circle of peeps, and back in those days it was very common to invent house rules for even well-established games. Something we still see today, but not on the level you used to. Now we mostly stick to the rules unless we add booze into the mix. As the game circulated, some people made their own variations and additions and eventually many of these got back to Magie who agreed that they were improvements. So she modified the game and applied for a new patent to reflect those changes. Cardboard houses were added, rents were adjusted for inflation etc. One of the things that changed over the years outside of Magie’s control was the street names and some of the properties to fit the local East Coast region the game was mostly being circulated in. Names that prevail to this day in many cases. By 1930, the game was quite popular in colleges especially, again as a tool of teaching. Her hope was that people who played the capitalist way would feel guilty about financially “ruining” everyone else in the game and this would help drive home her Georgian principles. But instead of playing the prosperity rules, more people were drawn toward the
monopoly aspect. People simply had more fun being the asshole in the game. Speaking of assholes, around this time a teacher in Philadelphia who was a big fan of the game had invited some friends over for dinner and a round of The Landlord’s Game. These friends were Esther and Charles Darrow. Charles was captivated by the game and they ended up playing several rounds of it that night. Darrow asked if he could take the rule sheet home to look over. He later used that rule book to draw out his own version of The Landlord’s Game with a few modifications. He made the board a larger circle, and started painting little icons onto it to dress it up a bit from the more rudimentary and academic version Magie had designed. Darrow then began hand-making his own version of the game he called Monopoly, disposing of the prosperity part of the rule set. Darrow was unemployed at the time so he was spending his days crafting these sets and then he’d hit the streets trying to sell them for $4 each. And sold they did, even during the Depression which was pretty extraordinary. One theory about that (and it’s a sad one) is that this was the ultimate escape from the poorhouse life. You got to actually handle “money” and buy things and grow your wealth. That’s about as far of an escape as you could get from the Great Depression. After her version started gaining popularity, Magie had approached game moguls Parker
Bros. to sell them on the idea of The Landlord’s Game, but they declined. Years later Darrow approached them as well looking to sell his game outright - and also got a no. So Darrow just went directly to the stores where they began flying off the shelves as the holiday season approached. Darrow could hardly keep up with the demand. Word of this got back to the Parkers and they were like… “oh, shit that’s the dude we just blew off.” So they called Darrow in for another meeting where they said they’d changed their minds and they now wanted to buy Monopoly. Darrow said “Great. I’ve changed my mind too. I now don’t wanna sell it outright. I want a royalties deal.” They agreed and that one adjustment to the deal made Darrow and his family for generations to come as rich as the Monopoly mascot “Rich Uncle Pennybags.” Who, by the way, was added to the box not long after Parker Bros. acquired the game. One of Darrow’s additions to the game had been the idea of using different charms to represent each player on the board. The idea was you used whatever you wanted from around the house. Charms from a kid’s bracelet, little toys, jewelry. Whatever really. The items weren’t in the box of his early versions of the game to save money. Darrow’s favorite thing to use was a thimble, which is why it ended up in the Parker Bros. version. As did the little shoe that came off of his daughter’s charm bracelet.
THE COMET
february 2021
27
Lizzie Magie looking over the ‘other’ version of her game.
Darrow’s game taking shape in the early days. While Darrow was swimming in his Uncle Scrooge-esque money bin, Magie was still trying to get her Landlord’s Game into wider distribution without even knowing about the game Monopoly. About this time a little event was unfolding... World War II. Now, this is my favorite part of the entire Monopoly story. As soon as there was a war there were POWS stuck in camps and jails out in the field somewhere. However, the prisoners were often allowed simple items like cards, approved books and board games, to help keep them from revolting I suppose. Parker Bros. had licensed Monopoly overseas by this point and one of the companies producing the games in England was Waddington LTD. The British Intelligence Agency contracted Waddington LTD. to make up some special POW Monopoly boards that had secrets tucked away in them. Hidden inside these games were maps, compasses, real money, and other objects useful for escaping. The agency then created a fake charity service that went around delivering the games to occupy the POWS. And apparently there are many stories of successful escapes using the hidden contraband. I just find that fucking incredible. By the time the USSR was in full swing these games were banned for pretty obvious reasons. And it’s ironic because the original inventor was an anti-capitalist. And here the game she invented to warn people of the dangers of a capitalist society had become sort of a celebration of the idea. But, even under scary
Ralph Anspach’s Anti-Monopoly.
evil regimes the people will find a way. There have been some amazing bootlegged and even handmade versions of Monopoly brought to auction in recent times - made by the people behind the Iron Curtain so they could get their Monopoly fix in spite of the State.
any popular movie or tv show has a Monopoly set. This was a brilliant move because you now suddenly have people with zero interest in playing Monopoly buying the game because it has Frodo in it. Or Yoda. Or Homer. The other Homer. And that Homer too probably.
Also around this time people had started reaching out to Parker Bros. to say “wait a tick. we’ve played this game before.” And eventually the company learned about Lizzie Magie so they asked Darrow about it. Of course Charles Darrow never said anything to them about Magie and in fact never even said he had first played the game with his friends. He claimed he invented it all in his basement. But that earlier copy of The Landlord’s Game included a misspelling of a real location, Marven Gardens using an “i” instead of an “e.” Darrow’s version had even copied that typo, which is hilarious. It became clear to Parker Bros. that Magie had at the very least co-invented the game. So they bought her patent outright for 500 bucks. Which was a chunk of dough back then but considering the deal Darrow got...not so grand. Not long after that buyout Magie passed away. There was really no mention or credit for her contribution to Monopoly at all. In fact, it wouldn’t be until decades later that the story of Lizzie Magie would become well known. And it happened in such a fitting way. More on that in a bit.
In 1987, McDonalds teamed up with Hasbro (who now owned the game - also more on that in a bit) when they launched the pull and play Monopoly game. By now it’s well known that that game was tainted pretty early on when the head of security for Simon Marketing (the company that McDonalds hired to promote, print and run the game) started stealing winning game pieces and giving them to other people to win with if they gave him a percentage. It’s a crazy and convoluted tale and I’ll only add that you should just watch the series “McMillions” on HBO for the full story of that incredible saga.
In the 1980s, things got even bigger for Monopoly as they started licensing franchise versions of the board game. Seemingly just about
So... how do we know about any of this early history? In the early 1970s, San Francisco State University economics professor Ralph Anspach (who was a bit of a kindred spirit to Lizzie Magie) wanted to make an Antimonopoly board game for pretty much the same reasons Magie did. And when it became popular at the school Anspach started selling them to a larger market. He was then sued by Parker Bros. for infringement and it led to a really strange trial that lasted 10 years. During which Anspach discovered the original patents filed by Lizzie Magie back in the early 1900s. The court determined that Monopoly and its
history were a bit too generic (or chaotic) to be trademarked correctly. So Anspach was allowed to continue selling his Anti-Monopoly. Parker Bros. later fought back and they ended on a settlement that allowed Anspach to continue selling Anti-Monopoly but allowed Parker Bros. to snug up their trademark a little bit tighter. They later sold the game rights to Hasbro who, interestingly, still honors that agreement to allow Anti-Monopoly to be sold. So this was how the world at large learned that Charles Darrow did not invent Monopoly. He certainly made many adjustments and enhancements that stuck. But he straight up stole the idea, sold it for an eternity of riches and never told anyone the truth. Too little too late to be sure, but ol’ Lizzie Magie got her acknowledgment in the end at least. A perfectly American history for the perfectly American board game. C
28
february 2021
THE COMET
brain dump: the one liner therapist
by KRISTEN ACESTA It’s too early in the morning and my brain is in overdrive. Again. I grab my phone and start an email to myself with a corny poem I am feeding into my headspace. Maybe I should send it directly to her. No, better not. No good decision was ever made at 2am.
I think Word Porn and Rupi Kaur (arguably just the latter) made the minimalist thought provoking visual storytelling A Thing in the picture dominant community. Unfortunately, what followed are very poor 2nd grader imitations of “shit your therapist would say.”
Best to scroll through Instagram. Nothing like making my blood boil to get me to sleep. You see, I’ve got this problem. When I get a business idea, I immediately make an IG page for it. Never too early to start gaining your trusty followers. Besides, what if someone gets the same idea and steals my handle?
That, and like, this super egocentric way of projecting all your pain, anger, discomfort and more onto the rest of the world without any regard to your part in the process. Things like “Wish him the best and move on. If he was the one he would’ve shown you he was.” and then a litany of advice for women to find the “right” one.
Nevertheless I now have 12+ accounts; one for plants, one for the clinic. Another one for specialty botanical food items, and another for cats in hats (don’t ask). I also have one as a dream board for this nonprofit idea we’ve been working on. And since the Facebook organization recommends befriending similar accounts as good marketing tactics, I’ve started following every self-help, self made guru, for better or worse.
Yeah. I mean, there’s the assumptive hetero-cis error in the statement, obviously, and then there’s the part where if you are an adult, having a relationship with an adult, this might become more complex than making sure your immediate neediness is being met.
So as I’m scrolling through late night post-break up advice, I’m realizing that people actually follow this. Like, for real.
Then there’s the new age spiritual advice. It’s like the worst of sensationalized capitalism got ahold of Freud’s unconscious analysis and wrapped it in a shamanic robe. And it’s still an ego trip. Shit like “stop explaining yourself to people who lack the depth to understand you.” Ouchie.
And of course, the women in power propaganda: “the woman who’s hustling can never understand the woman who’s hating.”
Those feels all tangled up through her hips to her collar. “For those bottle and bottles of feels I was saving
Wtf? I’m pretty sure I’ve been hustling and hating at the same time before. Not that it was a shining moment or anything. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that Instagram is full of horrible advice. In fact, I’d recommend not using it as a personal self help guide and instead seek out an actual human professional. Or talk to your dog. That might be better processing than the infamous IG.
Were so heavy and mean, sensitive and keen, That when I nudged the one rack, my heart started waving.”
Anywho, if I was your therapist I would write you this poem/children’s book at 2am as advice instead (therapists don’t give advice, btw): There once was a woman named Haylee. Who had to move all the feels she was bailing (on). Say what? But how? All the spectators did coo Does one move a feel from there to now? “Well it’s quite simple, you see I have racks upon racks that I was saving” And as Haylee spoke, one could witness her hollar
“I couldn’t stop it then, my heart jumped with each beat, And my skateboard went flying right under my feet” And those bottles went crashing, banging down to the floor. Some were quite quiet, and some were a bore. But some were real big, with deep meanings and sways. And some were real hard, getting stuck in their ways. But for Haylee knew this point she’d been preaching For with her loved ones she says “keep moving, keep reaching.” But now, when she finds a bottle on the rack She smashes it herself, instead of storing it back. C
THE COMET
february 2021
29
opinion pipeline: noticeable hypocrisy By Elvis Garcia Owner of Seattle Yoga Lounge The hypocrisy doesn’t go unnoticed... from a small business owner that is locally grown right here in Wenatchee. The hypocrisy of standards that we hold towards large companies and small businesses. We received so much push back for being named Seattle Yoga Lounge, because we were perceived as outsiders coming in to disrupt the city, yet our community will welcome big box chain stores with open arms. Let me start by welcoming WinCo to the valley. It is a joy to have you here and you have a customer in me. I hear nothing but great things. When I moved back home to Wenatchee in January of 2019 I had a vision - it was and still is simple. To help create a more welcoming atmosphere for all to enjoy, and to bring in a fresh approach to something so familiar; coffee and yoga. A ‘community watering hole’ is what I called it. I was living in Seattle in 2014 when I started laying the groundwork for what would soon become Seattle Yoga Lounge, a hole in the wall yoga studio right in the heart of the beautiful Greenlake community in Seattle. The dream would come with its ups and downs like everything does, but we would finally get to open up on November 1st of 2015. I remember signing day because even then I was invested in my home-town. It was Saturday, October 31st and the Golden Apple Marching Band had a competition in Sumner, WA. I was coaching the band that fall for the 3rd season. I left after the morning round and drove up to Seattle to meet with my attorney and the sellers to sign the finalized agreement. I was about to invest all of my life savings, as well as some of my friends’ and families’ who believed in my vision as well. Even in its inception, SYL was and always is a community, a collective of people, not an individual. Once it was all finalized, I rushed back down to Wenatchee again that same day to meet up with Mr. Kovach and the
Seattle Yoga Lounge in downtown Wenatchee.
rest of the GA Band to finish up our business. I believe we took first place at that competition. But what I remember the most, is Jim looking at me and asking me “so, how does it feel to be a business owner?” I simply looked at him and told him that I was excited! What Jim didn’t know at the time was that he, like many others in Wenatchee, had shaped me into the young adult that I was. In that moment, I realized that I felt as if I owed a lot of my values to him and we stayed connected as I would continue to help out the band everytime they asked, for several years. I remember a cold fall practice, Jim and I were walking around the track and he asked me how the business was going, and that’s when, after many long talks with Teddy, I finally told the first person that we were planning on moving back home to Wenatchee to open up our second location. Which was different from Portland, our original business plan. I wanted to give back to a community that had shaped me to be the adult I am now. So, we jumped into the housing market and met the most amazing, kind human who sold us our house AND got us the commercial space that we are in now. I mean Shannon is amazing! She got us a tour of the space before the “space available” sign went up. We closed on our beautiful home on January 14th, 2019 and moved in that night. We got right to work
on maintaining our Seattle location and the planning and the introduction of a café to our business model, which was a huge learning curve but I would say I enjoyed the whole creative process, an area that I thrive in. Teddy and I spent day and night building the space out ourselves, with help of course from friends and family. We chose to open up the café part of the business first since it was right in the middle of summer and yoga is typically much slower that time of the year. Plus it gave us some extra income to build out our yoga space. Because we didn’t get any financial help from banks we did it all ourselves and our Seattle location was doing great. I will never forget our soft opening, it took 45 minutes to get our first customer in, and he was visiting Wenatchee from Canada during a swim meet that the city holds every year. He came back the next day, which made him our first customer AND our first returning customer. Success! We were welcomed to Wenatchee with open arms by Linda (Haglund) with The Downtown Association along with Sasha, Shilo, and Chelsea at the Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce, and our very own Mayor, Frank Kuntz, as well as the youth of the city! But the negative reviews came quick. From “I will never shop here,” to “why would you bring Seattle over to
Wenatchee,” to “oh I see they hired a local to run the store.” Um sir, I am Wenatchee native and I run my own store, thank you very much. All of this backlash because we kept our original business name of Seattle Yoga Lounge. We instantly got labeled as outsiders, and because of that many people never gave us a second look. Although I believe that we have done our very best to get the message out that we are local. Which brings me to the opening of WinCo being highly publicized and being welcomed by everyone, including myself. I’m all about the growth of the city and I will welcome any business into the valley that is going to make Wenatchee a more successful thriving economy. BUT here is my question for those that give push back on some businesses; why not welcome all new businesses with open arms and fan fare? I guarantee that WinCo doesn’t need help advertising they are opening a business in our community. The local media needs to be focusing on promoting ALL businesses, especially small businesses in this time of the pandemic. Wenatchee is a great place to live, and that’s why I moved back. It will continue to grow, and I promise it will grow at a much faster rate than some are willing to expect. Embrace the change and welcome all with open arms. C
30
february 2021
THE COMET
THE FUNNY PAGES Comics by Dan McConnell and Larry Garson AKA Dan McConnell
COMICS AND NOVELTIES
THE COMET
Foolish Questions by Rube Goldberg from 1921
Mike & Ike strip by Rube Goldberg from 1917
february 2021
31
