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page 12 EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE
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THIS issue co-editors: Ron Evans & Holly Thorpe contributors: Cory Calhoun, Dustin Hays
WEB: thecometmagazine.com facebook.com/thecometmagazine instagram: @thecometmagazine info@thecometmagazine.com
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yeti chocolates...................PAGE 4 b-sides..................................PAGE 5 crossword...........................PAGE 7 events..................................PAGE 8 wen-con 2018......................PAGE 12 siri rose photography........PAGE 16 comet tales.........................PAGE 18 edgar rue comic..................PAGE 20 wen-con approacheth
the spacepod.......................PAGE 22
Toy Story April 8 @ 5pm www.NumericaPAC.org 509-663-ARTS
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THE COMET
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COMET HEADQUARTERS APRIL 4, 2018 Note From The Editors. I have a theory that nerds are the best people. Like, the best people generally. The best friends, the best teachers, the best artists, the best musicians, the best writers. Because nerdiness is just really specific passion. I think author John Green put it well: “Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can’tcontrol-yourself love it... when people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is ‘you like stuff.’ Which is just not a good insult at all.” This issue is full of nerds. And geeks. But we can save the semantic debate about the difference between the two for a different editor’s note. Our cover story is about WEN-CON, Wenatchee’s only pop culture convention. WEN-CON was started last year by the Town Toyota Center and The Wenatchee World. As Ron discusses in his article on page 12, it was a shot in the dark. None of us were entirely sure how many people would really shell out a few bucks to surround themselves with gamers and comic book artists and readers and cosplayers and fans of anime and sci-fi and fantasy. Turns out, the answer is “a lot.” It was amazing. It was hundreds and hundreds of all kinds of nerds just doing what they do best: loving the shit out of whatever it is they love. Ron spoke with some of the artists (does that make them con-artists? sorry) and exhibitors that will be there this year about what they have to offer and why they love conventions like ours. I spoke with a food nerd. Local chocolatier Willow Merritt launched Yeti Chocolates last year. Now, she’s gaining a reputation for having sweets that are unapologetically flavorful and unique and just so pretty. But, as she’ll tell you, not too pretty to eat. Ron hung out with an art therapist and talked to her about just what it is she does and what people can learn from her practice. Art as therapy can help people express their emotions and talk about their experiences, and Michelle Ferber is there to help them do it. The ethereal work of Siri Rose is also featured this issue. Her photography, under Scandinavian Dinner Party, is iconic. She talks about how she began creating her dream-like, fairytale-esque images and how her work on a massive, Pacific Northwest-centered tarot card deck has taken off.
Ron’s brain takes a crap during last year’s WEN-CON interview on NCWLife. Holly ponders saving him.
Cheers, Holly Thorpe Dustin Hays and Cory Calhoun are two of our favorite nerds. Cory is back this issue Co-editor, The Comet Magazine with a mind-boggling crossword puzzle, and Dustin did a deep dive into the music of Wenatchee band Himiko Cloud. Ron Evans is the owner of RadarStation art gallery at 115 S. Wenatchee Ave., host of the Tales from the Spacepod podcast, author of “Edgar Rue,” and creator of many Finally, Ron gets deep with The Spacepod. His catalog of wackiness this issue comes other things, many of which have robots in them. He is co-editor of The Comet and with a side dish of pensiveness and existential crisis. Ever wished you could fly? Ever our lead designer. been batshit crazy enough to actually make it happen? Gather round the campfire (it’s almost that time of year, when the evenings are long and the snow’s all gone) Holly Thorpe is a journalist, a bartender and an okay poet. She has a cat named and learn about Larry the Lawn Chair Pilot. It’s as good as it sounds. Stark and a puppy named Jameson that you should know about it. She is co-editor Each issue, we feature stories that show just how passionate people can be about of The Comet and owner/founder of BUZZ NCW, a beer, cider and spirits blog. their work, their art and their impact on the world around them. But it’s not every Check it out at buzzncw.com. issue we take the time to truly appreciate what it takes to be so jump-out-of-yourchair excited about that thing day-in and day-out. So, let this issue be a toast to nerds: may we know them, may we be them, and may the force be with them.
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yeti chocolates: local chocolatier makes edible art
Photo by Josh Tarr
BY holly thorpe
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old, thoughtful and original. The same qualities you might look for in another art form are certainly at play when it comes to the chocolate art made by Willow Merritt. Merritt is the owner/chocolate magician behind Yeti Chocolates. The local chocolatier has been working with chocolate for over a decade, but only recently made the craft her full-time gig. “I came up with the idea in 2006,” she said. “I’ve been wanting to go out and have this chocolate business be full-time for a long time but there were definitely barriers for me getting this started.” Merritt’s background is in cooking and baking. She attended a culinary arts school in Portland and worked as a baker. But she was most recently a firefighter. “I started out as a wildland firefighter to pay for college,” she said. She returned to fire fighting in the summers so that she could work with chocolate in the winters, just producing chocolates for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. She first came to the Wenatchee area through her work with the Forest Service in 2011 and fell in love with it, she said. Then, after working two back-to-back fire seasons in 2017, she left her job there and rented a kitchen in Rock Island. There, she makes cocoa-y magic. Merritt makes all your typical chocolate (milk, dark, caramel, toffee), but she’s known for her more exotic flavors as well. She makes a bacon bar with Hempler’s
smoked bacon. Her truffles, which rotate seasonally, come in flavors like lime, bananas foster, chai, ginger, and pineapple, coconut and macadamia nut. She also does chocolates infused with booze like Guinness, Grand Marnier and Bailey’s Irish Cream. “That’s the thing that’s really fun about it, the possibilities are endless,” she said. “I’ve come up with chocolates in really strange ways. I was making a syrup one time for pancakes, and it was blueberry pancakes with a lemon cardamom syrup and I was like ‘I bet you this would be really good in a chocolate.’ And it is! I make one.” Merritt said she strives to make chocolate with intense flavors. “I want people to know what they’re eating,” she said. “From the outside when you look at it, to the inside when you taste it, I want the whole package to emulate what you’re eating. So I try really hard to really make the flavors bold so that people know when they bite into it they’re biting into a ginger chocolate.” Merritt said one thing people don’t understand about artisanal chocolate is the work that goes into it. She said a lot of learning to make chocolate has been trial and error. “They don’t realize that it takes two days to make a batch of chocolate... These aren’t things that are just thrown together really fast. They are edible art,” she said. “I still don’t feel like I have a 100 percent handle on it. There are still things I’m
Photo by Willow Merritt
learning and I’ve been doing this for 11 years now. It’s a finicky medium. Humidity affects it, it’s super temperature sensitive, it is probably the most complicated item I could have chosen to work with, but that’s what I love about it, it constantly surprises me.” She also said that society’s relationship with food has something to do with the challenge of her craft. “There’s something to be said for taking a medium like food and being creative with it. I feel like we as a society have kind of lost the quality over quantity. We just want a ton of something, we don’t want something because it’s good.” She said she tries to source the best ingredients and to go organic when possible. Besides tasting good, artisanal chocolates have to look good too. She uses special tools and techniques to give her chocolates a colorful and shiny sheen. She might dye cocoa butter green and use it to add color to a lime chocolate. Her pineapple, coconut and macadamia chocolate is rolled in toasted coconut. Others have plaid designs layered on. “I get ‘your chocolates are too pretty to eat’ a lot, which really drives me fucking crazy,” she said. “My recent response is ‘I don’t want to make ugly chocolates because that’s no fun.’ ” The creative process is part of what keeps Merritt interested in her craft. “For me, I don’t like feeling stagnant, and if I feel like I’m starting to stagnate in
what I’m doing then I stop enjoying what I’m doing. And that’s a huge reason why I have my chocolates on a rotation … I do that mainly for myself to make sure that I don’t stagnate and stop loving what I’m doing. Because I love what I do, I love the challenge that chocolates bring to the table, I love the creativity, and I love the joy that I bring other people by how much enjoyment they get from something I made with my hands.” That enjoyment has always been the bottom line for her. She said that her interest in baking and the culinary arts came in part from having a mother who bakes, and it’s still one of the things her and her sisters share. She said that speaks to the power of good food to connect people. “At the end of the day for me, I try to just put as much love and joy into what I do, and I hope that that’s reflective in the outcome of what I make,” she said. “I love the creative process, I love the challenge from chocolate and I definitely love what I do, but I think the best part is people’s reaction to it, just watching people and the joy that’s created. I’m not doing it because I want the compliments, I want something that I’m doing to make people feel good, you know? …Life is not always rainbows and kittens and unicorns, there’s a lot of crappy things that happen to people. And if I can help them just feel a little bit of joy every now and then then I feel like I’m doing my job.” C
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B-SIDES: Himiko Cloud - a decade of music C
oncert-goers from the Wenatchee Valley have been seeing Himiko Cloud on flyers since 2015, but the Cashmere-based prog-rock group has been an active force in the area’s music scene for a decade now, being one of the longest-lasting (if not the longest-lasting) local instrumental bands, first forming as Mothra 10 years ago in 2008. DUSTIN HAYS Mothra iniMusician/Music Historian tially featured guitarists Kyle Folden and Adrian Sandoval, bassist Tyson Davis and drummer Jake Henson. All high school students at the time, Folden, Sandoval and Davis had been playing together for two years (along with drummer Carson Boyle) in the rock combo The Immigrants. Wanting to branch out to more “prog”-y and technical playing, the three recruited Henson, after seeing him play in the band Saving Shilo at the Cashmere Community Center, and through some community jamming during their high school lunch hour, Mothra was born. Some of the first shows the group played were split between two now-defunct Wenatchee D-I-Y venues, Bloomers and the Basement. Bloomers, the Flower and Garden House (as most people know it), was the host to some of the first Mothra shows in the valley. The shop was owned by bassist Tyson Davis’ mom, and what began as private performances for a few invited friends, soon developed into a small number of full-fledged shows in a back room of the unoccupied second floor of the building. Unfortunately live music was quickly halted at the venue after the discovery of some unsuspected wear and tear from the crowds, no doubt a result of moshing teenagers on the aging building’s floor. Hidden below an unsuspecting house on Methow Street owned by the Mora family, the Basement began hosting shows in August of 2007. For several years, rock, punk, metal and electronic acts packed the small confined space often remembered as one of the local sanctuaries for bands looking for a place to play during the late 2000s. On May 16, 2009, Mothra played a Basement show along with Bitchy Vicky, Ghost Power!!!, Tortilla Tomchick & the Corn Husk, a Bad News Bois reunion and
May 2009 Basement Flyer Himiko Cloud at Der Hinterhof February 2018 Photo by Dustin Hays
Mothra performing at Bloomers Photo by Kyle Folden
the Wreks (their first public appearance). Raymond Malstead, the founder of Snatchee Records was at that show, and met several of the bands for the first time. In the following years, Snatchee Records began their reign over the local music scene, hosting shows across the Wenatchee Valley as well as in Monitor and Cashmere. Malstead also began recording local bands in his basement, releasing CDs for Mothra, Ghost Power!!!, the Wreks, the F-Bombs, Not All There, and the 13 Cent Killers (just to name my favorites). Mothra quickly got their material recorded with Malstead at his home studio. At the time, Jacob Johnson had replaced Adrian Sandoval on guitar with James Kane added on vocals (the group’s one and only singer). Some time after the release of the CD, James and Johnson both exited the group, leaving the band to perform as an instrumental piece. One of the most intriguing elements to Himiko Cloud’s songs are the elaborate rhythmic and melodic soundscapes created by Folden on his black Epiphone Les Paul. The looper (Boss RC-30) and octave (Digitech Whammy 5) pedals — now a signature of the band’s sound — were first incorporated during the Mothra days. When Davis left the band in 2014, Folden and Henson were pushed to re-work their material in order to play their remaining booked shows. The duo continued performing under the Mothra moniker, all the while writing new material more in-tune with the new two-piece dynamic. After enough songs were written and enough shows were played, Folden recalled “it didn’t feel like Mothra. It felt like something else”. In June 21, 2015, a flyer advertising a free Sunday show appeared at Wally’s House of Booze, featuring Toy Guitar, Neutralboy
frontman Mike Moen and “Himiko Cloud (formerly Mothra).” This was the first official show Folden and Henson played under the new name, having appeared at Wally’s two days prior as Mothra. Within the following year, Himiko Cloud had recorded and released a six song digital EP, their debut as a two-piece. Static Altars, another band they were performing in (with singer/bassist Jake St. John) had recently recorded with local engineer Chad Yenney at his “Earth To Emma” studio. The duo jumped at the opportunity for Yenney to record their “other band.” Tracks were laid down over the course of a few days and by March of 2016 the Himiko Cloud EP was released on the band’s bandcamp page. In July of 2017, the band performed seven dates across Washington, Oregon and Idaho, pushing the recent physical CD release of their EP. In October, bassist Connor McKay was added as the group’s third member, first performing with the band at the Modest Music Fest in Moscow, Idaho. McKay (also bassist with Human Element, Heavy Petting and recently Laps) had been a fan of Mothra and Himiko Cloud for years, and had long been in talks with Folden and Henson about joining the group. Henson said that almost immediately after the addition, the trio started on new material. Folden explained the limitations they had relying on looping. “There’s only so many formulas and clever ways to do that without every song sounding like, ‘Oh wait, here’s the part where we’re gonna loop it,’ ” he said. With McKay taking care of the bass parts, Folden’s been able to focus on writing more melodically than he could for the two-piece lineup. April 2018 marks five months now with McKay on bass, but the 10th year that
Folden and Henson have been playing together. Through years of the scene changing around them they have remained active since their initial forming a decade ago. With the new lineup and new material already being written, they’re aiming for a new album to be released by the summer. During the last week of March, Himiko Cloud performed a four date tour through Washington and Oregon with Aberdeen band From The Future. On April 14, you can see Himiko Cloud at Wally’s House of Booze with Ellensburg’s Cobrahawk and Happy Heartbreak from San Diego California, tickets are available at Wally’s or from Snatchee Records at fb.com/ snatcheerecords509 On June 3, they will be playing Day Three of the 2018 Seaprog Festival in Seattle at the Columbia City Theater. You can follow Himiko Cloud on Facebook at fb.com/himikocloudpage or on Instagram at @himikocloudband. Dustin Hays is a Wenatchee musician, local music history aficionado and enthusiastic member of the local music scene. He performs as a solo singer-songwriter around the area and as a member of one of the valley’s newest groups The Nightmares. Hays also hosts “Sounds of the Valley” a weekly radio show on KORE FM Community Radio (99.1/105.9 FM) focused on the local music scene, both past and present. C
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THEMELESS CROSSWORD #2 Made exclusively for The Comet by Cory Calhoun Have ideas for puzzles or feedback? Email info@thecometmagazine.com ACROSS 1 Jam 5 _____ of thousands 10 Actor John who played the Master on Tennant-era Doctor Who 14 Hokaido native 15 Bath’s baths bear bare ones 16 Epps or Sharif, e.g. 17 Cardinal or Diamondback, e.g. 18 Chocolate syrup brand 19 Lively, in mus. dirs. 20 Spice in Indian cooking 22 Religious, in Rome 23 New York City’s only freshwater river 24 Vibrant dye 25 “Nope, not me!” 28 Comm. device for the deaf 29 Deal of the Breeders 30 Gemstone that only occurs naturally in olive-green 31 Animated spinner, briefly 32 Exactly 72 on the course 34 It adds “C” to your tea 36 Iron, e.g. 38 “Flashdance…What a Feeling” singer _____ Cara 39 One of two words added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 40 Actor _____ Struycken, aka the Giant from Twin Peaks 41 More!, in adspeak
42 Is able to, old-style 44 Jamaican seasoning 45 Avoided driving drunk, say 47 Drama that won a Pulitzer in ‘93 and an Emmy in ‘03 55 Reject 56 Snare sound 57 Old Volkswagen camper 58 Cause of a swollen cranium? 59 States of equilibrium 60 Just barely coming up short DOWN 1 Early riser? 2 “Money Longer” hip-hop artist 3 Wind-speed instrument 4 Cosmonaut Gagarin 5 Three-line rhyme scheme 6 Agricultural necessity 7 Saintly site 8 Era of peak McCarthyism 9 General of Chinese cuisine 10 Rise 11 2007 film with Cate Blanchett in a role based on Bob Dylan 12 One tasked with upkeep 13 Superman comics foe from the 5th Dimension 21 Bottle topper 23 Data-transfer speed, briefly 26 Color named after a bird
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27 Schmuck 33 Ma’s ma 35 Four-sharp musical key: Abbr. 37 Shortest-tenured host of The Tonight Show 42 NBC sportscaster Bob 43 Egg-and-rice sushi offering 45 Digital protection? 46 Put one’s faith in 47 Enzyme suffixes 48 Marine: Abbr. 49 Jazz band Spyro ____ 50 Slaughter of old-time baseball 51 Judge 52 Answer to
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SOLUTION TO FEBRUARY’S PUZZLE L O R E A L
A M U L E T
S U I N F O V I A L
O R C A
S I K C A A N I O D B I K S C U E G I A C R O R Y S S W A X C S H H O S H I I F C A S E O F O D P Y R A T Y E E T L R S T A Q C I N N E A L O D D N E I
R O B E
P R O R O P E H I S C U A R U M Y L I N D R E S T E S P I N M E L M I D L A L B A I N C O M D E R C O E A C U N B E R
J A A L Y A Z I E R I A O T O H E N R Y
U S S E A L
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GTFO: EVENTS WORTH LEAVING YOUR HOUSE FOR
April 4: Open Mic at Ye Olde Bookshoppe Every Wednesday night starting at 6 p.m., join local wordsmiths to read poetry, share ideas, stories, spoken word work and more. Everyone is welcome to read or attend. More details at facebook.com/yeoldbooks.
April 5: Tech Talk and Happy Hour On the first Thursday of every month, the public is invited to join the Greater Wenatchee Area Technology Alliance for a beer at Badger Mountain Brewing and talk tech. They also invite special guests to chat at each event. The mingling starts at 4:30 p.m. More details at facebook.com/gwata.org.
April 6 & 20: Movies at the library The library is having movie screenings with popcorn! Plus, they’ve got good taste in movies. Each film starts at 3:30 p.m. Here’s the schedule: April 6: Angels in the Outfield April 20: Raiders of the Lost Ark
April 7-28: Multiple events at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts It is a busy month at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts. The lineup includes the Reel Rock 12 film screening, two live screenings of performances at The Met, and the always enchanting Dangerous Women showcase performance. This year, the theme of Dangerous Women is “Victorious.” It features local performers dancing, singing and readings of original and historical texts. For tickets and info about all the events this month, visit icicle.org. The full schedule for April: April 7: Reel Rock 12 screening
April 13: Black Umfolosi performance April 14: Luisa Miller - The Met: Live in HD April 15: Dangerous Women: “Victorious” April 21: RighteousGIRLS April 24: Last Tuesdays Artists April 27: Body Music April 28: Cendrillion - The Met: Live in HD April 8: “Toy Story” on the big screen To infinity and beyond! Or at least to downtown. Come watch the beloved Pixar classic on the big screen at the Numerica Performing Arts Center. The movie starts at 5 p.m. Tickets are only $3. Details at numericapac.org.
April 11: The Duke Ellington Orchestra Come see the band once led by a legend. The Duke Ellington Orchestra has been performing worldwide for the past 91 years under the guidance of three generations of the Ellington family. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Numerica Performing Arts Center. From numericapac.org: “Edward Kennedy ‘Duke’ Ellington is regarded as one of the most prolific American composers of the Twentieth century. His career spanned more than 50 years and included leading his orchestra… Ellington led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974.” Tickets and more into available on the PAC website.
April 11: “United by Water” screening Come check out a free screening of “United By Water” at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center from 7-9 p.m. as part of the Environmental Film & Lecture Series. From the event page: “United by Water
shows the first tribal canoe journey and gathering at Kettle Falls since the Ceremony of Tears in 1943. The film, narrated by Sherman Alexie, documents this inspiring journey in 2016 from the building of the canoes, the physical and spiritual journey and the landing at Kettle Falls by the tribal canoe families.” More details at wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.
April 13-14, 21: Leavenworth Film Festival Friday the 13th just got way luckier. The Leavenworth Film Festival, which showcases “the best recent short films with a focus on outdoor pursuits and the natural world,” comes to Leavenworth April 13 and 14 and to the Numerica Performing Arts Center in Wenatchee on April 21. Tickets and details are at leavenworthfilmfestival.org.
April 14: “American Masters” performance “American Masters,” presented by the Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, will highlight some of the masterworks by American composers. According to the event page, the performance will include “Bernstein’s ubiquitous Overture to Candide, Gershwin’s charming Rhapsody in Blue (performed by Ecuadorian pianist, Wilson Alvarez), Aaron Copland’s film score dedicated to Leonard Bernstein, and Grofé’s picturesque orchestral suite describing our geographical wonder will be performed. The evening will also include a performance of ‘Raven’, an original work by local, award-winning songwriter, Beth Whitney.” More details at wenatcheesymphony. org.
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loving vincent
April 18: The Twelfth Night performance The Seattle Shakespeare Company returns this year with a public performance of The Twelfth Night at 6:30 p.m. at the Numerica Performing Arts Center. Tickets are on sale now for only $10 at numericapac.org. The comedy will be performed in a combination of Spanish and English.
April 19: Icicle Brewing Company’s 7th Anniversary This staple of Leavenworth and the regional brewing community is turning seven. Help Icicle Brewing celebrate their anniversary with live music from 5:307:30 p.m. and the tapping of a new beer. More details at iciclebrewing.com.
April 19: Girls Night Out 2018 Rosé all day. Or in this case, all night. The annual Girls Night Out event is back, with local businesses offering sales and swag for everyone who participates and with wineries pouring their rosé at businesses downtown. Tickets get you swag bags and tastings. The event lasts from 5-10 p.m. throughout downtown Wenatchee. Details at wendowntown.org.
April 19-28: Book Signings at A Book for All Seasons Get inspired and meet your favorite authors at book signings all month long at A Book for All Seasons in Leavenworth. Details on each author are available at abookforallseasons.com. The schedule: April 19, 3 p.m.: Devri Walls, author of “Venators” April 20, 3 p.m.: Molly Hashimoto, author of “Colors of the West”
April 21, 1 p.m.: Kay Kenon, author of the Dark Talents series
April 28, 11 a.m.: Dr. Allegra Hart, author of “Nourishing Space Within: Essentials of Self-Care”
April 20-21 Leavenworth Ale Fest Cold beer, sunny day, alpine peaks. We’re there. AleFest, held in Leavenworth’s Festhalle, is a two-day beer fest that features local, regional and international brews, “with the emphasis on independent breweries, and you will find those from many pint sized producers — beers you can’t find outside the breweries.” The event is 21 and over, and there will be live music and other entertainment all weekend long. More details and tickets at leavenworthalefest.com.
April 21: WEN-CON Nerds, unite! Wenatchee’s only pop culture convention returns this year to the Town Toyota Center. WENCON is everything geek and good in the world. Locallyand nationally-renowned artists, vendors from around town, around Washington and around the country, cosplay for days, celebrity guests who starred in stuff you’ve actually heard of. You can get tickets (get them early to bypass lines day-of) at wen-con.com. Check out our WEN-CON coverage on page 12.
April 26: Stand Against Racism From 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., YWCA NCW and Wenatchee Valley College will tackle the big topics of race, racism and privilege. The event is free, open the public and family-friendly. All of the speakers and events will take place on the WVC campus. More details at facebook. com/YWCANCW.
April 27- 30: Spring Bird Fest Art Exhibition Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in collaboration with the Wenatchee River Institute and the 2018 Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest present the exhibition “Pacific Northwest Birds and their Habitats.” This juried exhibition will serve as an opportunity for a diverse range of artists in the four county area of North Central Washington to display their work in the Snowy Owl Theater during the celebrated 2018 Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest. More details at icicle.org. There will be a reception for the art on May 17 from 5-7 p.m.
April 28: Book signing with Jane Nagler Jane Nagler (known by her pen name Jae Carvel) will be at Ye Olde Bookshoppe to sign books from 1-3 p.m. The shop carries the first three in her Strawberry Mountain series. The books follow one woman’s complicated life during the late 1800s in America.
April 21: International Choral Festival Music to our ears: the International Choral Festival will be at Wenatchee High School from 7-9 p.m. Six choirs from Washington and Canada will be attending the festival this year. Tickets and details at numericapac.org.
Are you putting on a cool event? Is your band playing in town? To have an event listed in The Comet, email info@thecometmagazine.com
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wenatchee first friday Kasey Koski with Wenatchee First Fridays helped put together this list of shows, along with their First Friday hours. Remember, while most places have special events, artists receptions and free admission during First Friday, the art itself is on exhibit all month long in most locations.
Tumbleweed Shop & Studio
105 Palouse First Friday reception: 5-8 p.m. Inked Romance Calligraphy & Design is a boutique calligraphy and design studio located in Ellensburg, Wash. Owner and artist Megan DeSelms, featured artist at Tumbleweed this month, specializes in bespoke calligraphy keepsakes and wedding invitation suites, a range of gifts and home goods featuring original calligraphy and hand-lettering, as well as watercolor and line illustrations.
Lemolo Cafe & Deli
114 N. Wenatchee Ave. First Friday hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This month’s featured exhibit is “Ron Evans: Art From The Mothership.” Robots, rayguns, surrealism and wackiness make up the bulk of Ron’s current work. Retro-futurism and lowbrow themes colliding with a designer’s sense of composition. Did we mention robots?
Mela
17 N. Wenatchee Ave. caffemela.com First Friday reception: 5-8 p.m. Chad Yenney, a local artist with a growing national reputation, displays his visually arresting collage works at Mela for the month of April. The exhibition will feature Yenney’s latest works, which are based off his customary vintage found images. His keen eye for design and ironic juxtapositions of imagery make for powerful and darkly surrealistic statements.
Two Rivers Gallery
102 N. Columbia 2riversgallery.com First Friday reception: 5-8 p.m. April opens with the annual Watercolor Society show at Two Rivers. Twenty artists will be featured. Music by jazz duo “Well Strung,” Jac Tiechner & Steve Sanders. Wines by Gilbert Cellars poured by Northwest Public Radio.
Pan’s Grotto
3 N. Wenatchee Ave., Suite 2 For their first-ever First Friday exhibit, Pan’s Grotto presents a collective group showing with the theme of animal totems and spirit guides.
Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center
127 S. Mission Street wenatcheevalleymuseum.org First Friday hours (free admission): 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center is proud to sponsor the Regional High School Art Show in cooperation with the North Central Educational Service District and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. In its 39th year at the Museum, this exhibit is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the creativity and talent of the students in our district. Come see works from talented youth from throughout North Central Washington and for your favorite in the People’s Choice Award.
Ye Olde Bookshoppe
11 Palouse St. First Friday reception: 5-8 p.m. Yeti Chocolates is a newly established small batch artisan chocolate company in the Wenatchee valley that makes chocolate truffles and other confections that tantalize the palate and entice the senses. Also featured this month is Beth Hammerberg with Down by the River Lavender. Hammerberg is in her third year of growing lavender on her small Wenatchee farm. She will be sharing her story and amazing products she makes.
Robert Graves Gallery
Wenatchee Valley College First Friday reception: 5-7 p.m. Robert Graves Gallery presents the “Northwest Artists Ceramics Invitational,” featuring works from regional ceramic artists including Ruth E. Allan, Terry Johnson, Jan Crocker and Carolyn Nelson. The show runs April 2-April 26.
Pickle Papers
21 S. Wenatchee Ave First Friday hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pickle Papers joins the collection of First Friday venues this month with featured work by Marnye Nichols Woodrum of Seattle. Woodrum is bringing handmade zipper pouches with hand-stitched designs including bits of vintage fabrics dating back to the ’40s and ’50s. Each pouch is signed with a needle and thread and Marnye will personalize one for you with a number if you wish. Some of the pouches are the perfect size for holding special pens and pencils, and might even make a mom happy on Mother’s Day. Peggy will be showing pens and pencils from the Pickle Papers Pencil Parlor. And of course there will be cookies!
MAC Gallery
Wenatchee Valley College Music and Art Center 1300 Fifth Street First Friday reception: 5-7 p.m. From April 6-27, “Stomping Ground,” a collection of work by RYAN! Feddersen will be on display. RYAN! Feddersen is a WVC alumna whose mixed-media installations feature interactive and immersive artworks inviting audience participation. As a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville (Okanogan/Arrow Lakes), she draws on the indigenous traditions of performance, communal/experiential practice, and social engagement. She has created large-scale interactive installations and site-specific pieces for regional museums and arts agencies including the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, Tacoma Art Museum, MoPOP (EMP), The Henry Gallery, Spokane Arts, and the Missoula Art Museum.
RadarStation
115 S. Wenatchee Ave. First Friday reception: 5-9 p.m. This month, the featured exhibit is “LUNA: A Group Art Tribute To The Moon.” Including paintings, photography and sculptures all paying homage to the Moon. An eclectic yet focused group showing of pieces by local and non-local artists. There is all moon-related art in the Radar Dish of Fate as well.
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wen-con returns: SATURDAY, APRIL 21 AT THE TOWN TOYOTA CENTER
Photo provided by Jon-Mark Pitts
BY RON EVANS
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EN-CON is almost here again and I can scarcely contain myself. One wonders why I should even try. My involvement with this convention began when The Wenatchee World approached me for a brainstorming meeting for a scifi convention they wanted to put on. This was about a year before WEN-CON 2017 took place. I offered as much as I could on the subject and quickly jumped on board as part of the planning committee. A collaborative effort between The Wenatchee World and The Town Toyota Center, this theoretical — at the time — convention slowly started taking shape. The first main decision was to broaden the focus from sci-fi or comics or horror to a Pop Culture Convention. This was exciting simply because of the all-encompassing aspect of the event. As the show began to take shape I began to see that this was not going to be a hokey little wannabe convention. But you never know with these things. Around this time last year WENCON was almost completely scheduled, planned and put together. We knew the lineup of celebrity guests was solid. We knew the floor was packed with quality exhibitors and artists. We had panels and events and contests and a rad sci-fi themed cocktail lounge. There was one thing we didn’t have: any idea if anyone would show up. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. The buzz was building and tickets were selling, but until you open the doors you really have no idea. Upon pulling up to the Town Toyota Center the morning of WEN-CON 2017 I saw a beautiful sight. 200 people in line, many
in cosplay, eagerly awaiting entry to Wenatchee’s first Pop Culture Convention. I walked by them, flashed my badge to security and went straight up to the Cosmic Lounge and started celebrating. I knew it was going to be a well-attended convention, and that really was the final piece to fall into place. After that, WENCON was simply a thing that existed now. It was such an exciting process to be involved with and to see it pull in so many people of all walks of life. This year it’s even bigger with thirty more vendors on the floor and more events happening around the arena. We talked to a few locals about their booths and their experiences at WEN-CON last year. For a complete list of events, guests and to purchase tickets head to WEN-CON.com.
WHO: Damon Anthis Art- I have worked for the government since 1994. I graduated from Entiat in 94 and enlisted into the United States Marine Corps for almost eight years then I got out as an E-6 SSgt. In security forces and went to work as a civilian at the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton where I have been ever since. WHAT: I am selling fan art for all of the comic book fans. WHERE: You can find me on Instagram and
Twitter by searching for @damonanthisart. I also have a Facebook page Damon Anthis.
WHO: Dan McConnell- I’m manning the NCS booth at Wen-Con. I’ll be there with my son Aaron McConnell. I’m the Chair of the Northwest chapter of the National Cartoonists Society. There are about 30 chapters in NCS, all across the Nation, from Los Angeles, and Washington state to Florida and all states between. Many of the cartoonists who do our National newspaper comic strips are members of the National Cartoonists Society...T Lewis who does Over the Hedge was there with us last year...hopefully he can stop by this year. WHAT: Ready for sale at the booth will be merchandise from Aaron and myself; Aaron will be bringing his books and a few new comic books, Adventure Time #21 which he wrote and illustrated. He’ll have the United States Constitution; a graphic adaptation, Gettysburg Address, a graphic adaptation and the New York Times best selling graphic novel, the Comic Book Story of Beer also available in Spanish and French...possibly Korean. I’ll be doing caricatures at the booth as time permits. I’ll have posters from my
upcoming graphic novel, the Casebook of Dr. Dorkle, which I did with several MAD magazine artists and NCS members from across the country. I’ll also have some free Good Life magazines with my Then & NOW comic strips on page 34 to give away, and some $3 buttons of my character from Dr. Dorkle, Bent Arrow and from a new band in Wenatchee called Bedhed. FAVORITE PART OF WEN-CON: Getting together with friends. T Lewis shared the booth with me. Melissa Hudson, a graphic novel artist and graphic designer originally from Wenatchee as well. Mark Monlux came over here from Tacoma; he’s a part of Cartoonists Northwest and is also a newly minted National Cartoonists Society Northwest member. Talking to friends and new friends at the booth. There’s lots of action! It’s Fun!
WHO: John Dover- Author and musician based out of Portland, Oregon. My recent credits include the Johnny Scotch comic book series, “Danger in Bass Clef” a novella in the Johnny Scotch world, “A Song to Remember Charlie” (Novella number two in the Johnny Scotch world, due out in the Summer of 2018), and am a contributor in the following horror anthologies; “Tales From the Braided Pony”
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018
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Assassins Creed Revelations Call Of Duty:BO2 Star Wars Clone Wars
Published by Alucard Press, Monsters ‘N’ Things, and “100 Word Horrors” published by Kevin Kennedy. I’m also a regular contributor to Mythmachine.com as an entertainment and pop culture writer. As a musician, I have many studio credits including my debut album, “Working Out the Kinks”, and the soon to be released, “Johnny Scotch - The Sound of Justice”. This is my first year at Wen-Con. I am excited to be presenting the audiences with my pulpy, Jazz-Noir books and comics based in my Johnny Scotch world. WHAT: I will be presenting a talk/panel about building a graphic novel from the ground up, where I will present my process and talk about my successes and misses so that others can learn to blaze their own trail in the world of comics and graphic novels.
WHERE:
johnnyscotchjustice.com facebook.com/johnnyscotchjustice youtube.com/johnnyscotchjustice
dexter’s laboratory Disney Infinity marvel heroes
of any convention is talking to people about art.
WHO: Jason Sims Magic - I am a local close-up magician, specializing in card and coin magic. WHAT: I’ll be performing all day at a booth, entertaining and mystifying guests as they make their way through WEN-CON. I’ll have a half-hour stage show in the afternoon and then I’ll be hosting the children’s costume contest. FAVORITE PART OF WEN-CON: The first WENCON was a blast. I was so amazed by the number of people who came out to support the event. WHERE: Facebook @jasonsimsmagic
Star Trek Discovery Gangland Undercover Nikita
show on May 26th. We will also have little goodie bags to give to away to people who enter the drawing, filled with trinkets such as pasties, candy, and lipstick pens. I will also be taking applications (that I will have on site) to join the burlesque troupe. FAVORITE PART OF WEN-CON: Finally having a pop culture convention in Wenatchee and seeing how into it everyone got with their cosplays, especially since it was the first year! Also favorite thing from last year: having somewhere to really let my nerd flag fly!
scribed as contemporary fantasy and science fiction art. WHAT: I will be selling original paintings and prints. FAVORITE PART ABOUT WEN-CON: My favorite part
a chance to win a pair of tickets to the
WHO: NCRL Pop-Up Library (Jessica Lynch). WHAT: Reading corner with comfy seats and books to read, coloring station, S.T.E.M. demos (Retro gaming with Makey Makey, building with jumbo Lego bricks, etc), and a special WEN-CON themed storytime! Favorite thing about WEN-CON 2017: Dressing up as the Powerpuff Girls with my fellow librarians and seeing everyone else dressed up too! WHERE: ncrl.org, Facebook @wenatcheelibrary
WHO: Ye Olde Bookshoppe - Run by Winter’s Warren (Artist Aimee and Author SM Winter). WHAT: We will be showcasing Winter’s urban fantasy book series, Aimee’s nerd necklaces, some Comics, Manga and sci-fi books, Yeti Chocolates, along with many items created by local artists. yeoldbooks.com Facebook.com/yeoldbooks Instagram.com/yeoldbooks
WHO: Radar Dames Burlesque WHAT: We will be entering people (18+) for
How the Grinch Stole Christmas teenage mutant ninja turtles galaxy quest
@NorthCentralRegionalLibrary, Instagram @ncrlteen & @northcentralregionallibrary.
WHERE: WHO: Shen Leidigh Art - My art is best de-
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WHO: Escape Tactics WHAT: Escape Tactics will be offering a sample puzzle room experience, as you and your team must work with Sherlock to retrieve the precious stolen artifacts. Will you have what it takes to compete head to head with other players and make your escape before the time runs out?
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Favorite part of WEN-con: Cosplay and bar trivia.
WHERE: Find us on Facebook for info about magic and Warhammer tourneys and role playing groups.
START GEARING UP FOR THE BIG EVENT WITH THESE OFFICIAL WEN-CON WEEK HAPPENINGS!
blindboxes, hobby grade models.
Showcase your fandom and creative costume construction by coming to WEN-CON in cosplay! Want to take it to the next level? Enter into one of the cosplay contests. With more categories and more prizes this year, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to show off your skills. Pre-register for the contest online or day of WEN-CON by 11a.m. Not a seamstress or costume maker? Have an old Halloween costume you want to bust out of the closet? Wear it! Bring your kids too! Store bought costumes are welcome at WEN-CON and even allowed in the Kids Cosplay Contest. Only contestants entering the Teen and Adult cosplay contests must have at least 60% of their costume of original construction. Be sure to check the cosplay rules at WEN-CON.com and don’t worry about standing out in your costume - you’re more likely to stand out in jeans and a t-shirt. So come in cosplay!
Cosmic Lounge:
for event details WHO: Krampus Kave WHAT: We sell: games, candy, toys, plushes,
WEN-CON ORGANiZER AND MARKETING MANAGER AT TOWN TOYOTA CENTER
Cosplay:
WHO: Devri Walls - I’m a fantasy writer so I suppose that means I get paid to bring dream worlds onto paper. Although that sounds much less stressful that it actually is. Lol! WHAT: Young Adult Fantasy novels. I have a four book series, a stand alone and my newest release, Venators — which is book one in a new series and is starting to hit Barnes and Noble this week! FAVORITE PART OF WEN-CON: I always adore doing panels and being able to answer questions and help other writers on their way. Aside from that, I always adore sneaking away for a few minutes to check out the other vendors and the fantastic work they do. I’m crossing my fingers that Gears in the Garden is there again, she creates the most amazing sculptures! I purchased one last year and I think it needs a friend. WHERE: devriwalls.com — on there you will find links to all my other social media platforms, a newsletter signup, book info and signups for my monthly prize packs I mail out.
NOTES FROM BRE HINKLE -
In anticipation of the arrival of the notorious Batmobile, villains from all comic universes have united and taken over the Cosmic Lounge. This 21+ evil lair, located on the 2nd floor of the Town Toyota Center and offering the best view of the convention below, will feature nefarious adult beverages- like the Kryptonite Cocktail, The Harley Quinn and The Loki. Heroes and villains alike will be in for a buttery treat when they receive a FREE popcorn when ordering their first of what could be many vile, yet tasty, concoctions. Looking to test your nerd mettle? With Trivia from 121p.m., one conspiring team of scholarly miscreants will be taking home some great prizes. So come, take a break and consort with other likeminded WEN-CON goers in The Cosmic Lounge. It’s the place to be, especially if you’re a villain (heroes tolerated).
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2018 Exhibitors 501st Legion – Alucard Press – Anime World – Arledge Comics – Art by Danie – Art of Justin Hunt – Art of Kevin McCoy – Astruso – Author, John Dover – Batman Climbing Wall – Batmobile – Bianna Creations – Bits N Pieces – Bottlecrow Publications – Cartoons/kullptures – Cave Collectible Gaming – Central City Comic Con – Central City Comics – ChelanDouglas Community Action – ChrissaBug – Christa D Designs – Clockwork Dragon Books – College of Cranehaven SCA – Cosmic Lounge – Crucifiction Games – Darkslinger Comics – Devri Walls – Diane Beck’s Creations – DJ’s Coins & Collectibles – D R A H H A R D | Accidental Aliens – Elite Gaming – Escape Tactics – Fabulous You – Fairy Bliss – Fine Designs – GameSmith – Gears in the Garden – Grandma’s Gone Geek – Greater Wenatchee Toy Store – Greg Smith – Harmonize Collectibles – Herb Leonhard Art – Hopp’s Pop’s – Icicle Ridge Graphics – Idlewaifu – Jason Edmon Sims – John & Charles Comics – John Riggs – Joy Knight-Richards – Katie Clark Art – KI Fighting Concepts – Kingpicker – Krampus Kave – KW3 – Mc Fly’s Empourium – M Hudson Illustration – Mildly Adequate – Mountaineer West Productions – National Cartoonists Society Northwest – NC Regional Library – Nerdcore Toys – OneBluebird Art – Orchard Monkeys – Pakochuu – P-D Cougar Art & Etc – QJ Handmade – Quorum of Cute – Radar Dames – RadarStation – Riverside Pub – Russ Richards Art – Sanctuary – Sasquatch Syndicate – Sew-Creative Cospitality Lounge – Shen Leidigh Art – Splotch Comics – Stacy Kimbell – Suburban Vermin – Sweetgyrl Designs – The Force Academy – The Galactic Alliance – The Loudest Introvert – The Lush Plush – Totally Spun – Two Rivers Medieval Faire – United States Army – Wenatchee Valley College CyberKnights – Wenatchee Valley College Foundation – Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center – Wenatchee Role – WVC Art and Design – Y Comics – Ye Olde Bookshoppe
FRIDAY, APRIL 20 @ 8PM TICKETS AVAILBLE NOW AT RADARSTATIONART.COM/TICKETS CHECK OUT THE PODCAST AT TALESFROMTHESPACEPOD.COM OR ON ITUNES
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SCANDINAVIAN DINNER PARTY:
How long have you been pursuing it seriously? I suppose I haven’t technically gotten “serious” about photography until the last year. It had always been an art form that I practiced which delved deeper into the realm of graphic design than photography. It has only been the last year or so, after moving in with my mentor/soul sister, that she taught me everything about lighting and posing and marketing, that I had even considered making this my one form of income.
BY RON EVANS
I still remember the first photo I had ever taken with my dinosaur phone that I had ith a unique sense of color, texture and realized the lighting, composition and ansurrealism that often seems to dwell gle were just right. Everything about that somewhere between a dream and a mem- photo struck a chord in me and I stared orable nightmare, Siri Rose, aka Scandi- at it for an obsessively long time. By no navian Dinner Party has enjoyed both a means would it qualify as “good photogcreative momentum and a succesful one raphy,” but I loved it. Still do. I think about of late. She sat down to share her inspiring that photo whenever I realize how lucky journey with us. I am to be doing something that I love wholeheartedly for a living, and I think What drew you toward photography? about it A LOT.
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Any recurring themes or issues you address with your photos? As far as themes go, I feel like anyone who takes a glance at my website can immediately see what I gravitate towards. I’ll pretty much take any excuse to be in the woods, and if I have my way the shoot will almost always come out ethereal looking. Don’t get me wrong, I can take a damn good portrait of a baby in a basket, but I’d much rather create a fairytale.
Tell me about your tarot project and how it came to be? The Great Northwest Tarot Project is likely going to be one of my greatest accomplishments and I can hardly wait for the day it becomes an actual, material deck. I had originally formed the idea from Bea Nettles, a college student in the late ’60’s that had made an all photographed (film, mind you) tarot deck. They say you’re supposed to feel a closeness to your deck, so I bought it, and while flipping through the cards I thought about how I would’ve approached each one, and then I started on down ye’ ol’ tarot road. How long before it’s finished? I would love to be able to answer this in black and white, but it’s already taken a couple years to get the first fifteen done. However, that was before photography was my main focus. Now that I have more time to give to this project I’d like to imagine it will be done in a year or so. Fingers crossed.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018
THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF SIRI ROSE
What is your favorite part of creating art using your camera? My favorite part of photography actually comes more from everything that happens before the pictures are even snapped. Creating a new world or character based on a dream or fantasy is the most surreal feeling. How has your work evolved/progressed? I’ve come such a long way, by Jove! I was always nervous that if I engulfed myself in the technicalities of photography completely I would lose the art form. It would be just a job, and that thought terrified me. But come to find that was a big ol’ load of brain hooey and I’m learning more about this practice literally every day. What’s down the road for you? I can feel incredible things in the air. I would love to imagine that once I’ve wrapped up my degree I’ll spend most of my life on the road, photographing
musicians, weddings, newborns, houses. Anything at all really, just so I can make enough money to ramble on to the next destination. Dream photography job? I do rather like the idea of being a high fashion photographer in some big city somewhere, the only problem is that I’d have to live in some big city somewhere. That’s not really my jam, but the idea of having set designers and costume makers at your disposal sounds like a hoot.
To view more of Siri’s work visit her website scandinaviandinnerparty.com. C
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COMET TALES: rEADER SUBMITTED WRITINGS A gamble By corey dingman
The light was dusty in the barn. It flickered and swayed in the soft whistle of wind coming through the knots in the wooden walls, unpainted, as no one cared. The Howards residence wasn’t a farm anymore, no animals used the broken stalls. The family used the place as a rec-room now, for warm summer evenings. The evening was warm and boys had gathered to play games of chance. The night wore on and the boys only had a little of their pocket change left to bet. Their minds began to stretch thin to see who could end the night up a few dollars. “I raise,” said Bobby the older of the younger set of brothers. “What you raisin’?” asked Uncle Lenny, a man who went grey while young and had only got greyer with age. “A nickel and a dime.” Bobby threw his change into the pile. “Bobby we know you got nothing, you flashed your cards when you threw in those coins.” Thomas, Bobby’s always-sosmart little brother snickered at his kin. “Yeah, well maybe that was on purpose, ever think I was fooling you? This is a game of minds ain’t it?” Bobby looked conflicted about his raise now. “Are you saying you’s gonna switch your cards?” “I got quick hands don’t I?” “But that would be cheating Bobby, and our pa didn’t raise no cheaters did he?” Thomas shook his head in shame.
a 5 of hearts. That’s all I saw but I’m betting his last card isn’t worth the 15 cents he’s raising.” “That might be, but your brother is a special sort of man, you know that Tom. He ain’t one for mind games or high society, but his hands are quick and his eyes are sharpish. A man like that doesn’t need any socialization, let alone education. At least as long as he’s willing to lose a few more hands.” Joseph stood, putting down his hand on the half mold-eaten box and went to go look over Bobby’s shoulder at his cards. He nodded to himself. “Well fine, I’m still playing. I’ll call Bobby’s bluff,” Thomas threw in more coins to the pile. “Aye” Uncle Lenny threw in too. “Well I’m out, what will it be Bobby?” Joseph went back to his seat in the half shadow of the hayloft, full of busted metal bits of house that had fallen off over the years. Bobby eyed his brother with suspicion. Thomas could only shake his head. “What will this get me?” Bobby threw down his cards, a pair of twos on top. “That will get you a slap on the wrist Bobby. I admire your effort, but those twos are both clubs.”
“Now wait a minute! It’s only cheating if you get caught, ain’t that right pa?” Bobby looked around for reassurance. Joseph, who had maintained a touch more brown about himself than his brother, nodded solemnly. “He’s got the right of it Tom, if we don’t got proof than he ain’t no cheat.” “But we saw his cards. I did, you did, we all saw him flashing his hand.” “What cards did you see?” Joseph asked. Bobby held his cards up to his chin, peering at them. Thomas thought a moments than said “He’s got himself a 2 of clubs, an ace of diamonds, a black jack and what looked like
Are you a writer? Send your short story, poetry, essay or excerpt to comettales@thecometmagazine.com and we may publish it in the next issue.
THE COMET
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018
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michelle ferber 8 questions with an art therapist
BY RON EVANS ences. You don’t always use art one way or hen I met Michelle Ferber and discov- the other. It’s a continuum. ered her line of work I was naturally curious. I had heard of art being used in What drew you toward this line of therapy before, but never with that being work? the main focus. So I asked her 8 QuesI saw it listed as an art related job tions. field on a poster when I was in college. It sounded really interesting and I didn’t want to be an art teacher, which was plan What is art therapy? Art therapy is basically using art as a A. form of communication or creative expression to help people feel better. In art Do you get any cynicism for this aptherapy there are two schools of thought proach of therapy? Not as much as I used to. People used that we work from. The first is “art as therapy” which speaks to the physical to think I was doing “arts and crafts” with and mental benefits of art making. It feels people or they would be scared to draw good. The act of creating a piece of art can a stick figure in front of me for fear that be meditative, reduce stress, etc. The sec- I would learn all of their deep dark seond is “art psychotherapy” which is more crets. Art therapy has really grown as a psychoanalytic in nature. We experience field though. Most people now just seem the world in images and then translate interested. our experiences into words. Using art in this way, we use art that is created to help This must be a job that’s disturbing at us explore our more unconscious experi- times. Would you say that’s the norm
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or the exception? Any job can be disturbing at times. I’m struck almost daily with how resilient people can be with the right supports in place. Making and using art in therapy can be an amazing experience and an amazing support. Have your experiences working with children changed the way you approach or appreciate art? When I was in high school and in college, I was very focused on the end product of what I was working on and if what I created was “good enough.” In art therapy it’s about the process, not the product. Children tend to have a lot of energy and ideas about what they want to do. Working with kids has helped me learn how to set boundaries and limits. If you aren’t able to do this, you might end up with paint on the ceiling. What has surprised you most about
For further interests, check out the documentary Art Therapy: The Movie
practicing art therapy? That is doesn’t matter what ideas you have going into a project or a session. The art will always take you where you need to go and it’s usually somewhere unexpected. As a mom, do you make an emphasis on creativity in your children’s lives? Of course! My children go through 500 sheets of paper in a month. That’s just drawing. How would someone get involved in art therapy? This has changed so much over the past 10-15 years. There are more programs and options for certifications. If someone was interested in becoming an art therapist, I would encourage them to visit arttherapy. org.
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by ron evans
THE COMET
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018
CONTINUED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE COMET
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the spacepod: the Legend of lawn chair larry
BY ron evans
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ecently on Tales From The Spacepod podcast the topic of Lawn Chair Larry came up. Who, you say? You know, that guy that strapped himself into a lawn chair and tied a shitload of helium-filled weather balloons to it, loaded a Red Daisy BB gun (to shoot the balloons once ready to descend, naturally) and launched himself into the heavens. That guy. You thought that was just an urban legend? I don’t blame you. It’s one of the most ridiculous damn stories you will likely hear involving lawn furniture. Well...outside of Florida, anyway. Our tale begins on a summer’s afternoon in San Pedro, California circa 1982. Larry Walters got himself one doozy of an idear. Why not concoct a makeshift aircraft using random shit laying ‘round the yard and some easily acquired weather balloons? Why not, indeed. After all, he did have a fail-safe feather in his pilot’s cap. The BB gun. If things got out of hand
it would be a simple matter of popping a few balloons here and about allowing him to fall gently to earth. But it was really the lift-off that takes center stage here. You see, ol’ Larry didn’t quite do the math concerning his weight ratio versus the lifting power these massive balloons boast. Five or six of these helium mammoths can lift small satellites into space. Larry opted for forty-fucking-five of them. Think about that, folks. Larry didn’t. Now, when it came time to cut the tethers keeping Larry on Terra Firma, his thoughts were that he would slowly but surely ascend at a cozy and manageable 500-1000 feet. The plan was to float over town, take in some killer views and maybe ponder the meaning of certain shit. Alas, the ropes were cut and Larry catapulted into the heavens as though the Earth herself spat him out of her offended mouth. 1000 feet. 3000 feet. 10,000 feet. 15,(holy shit)000 feet. Before Larry could even admire his neighbor’s pool he
was in commercial flight space. He was so freaked out he didn’t even have time to enjoy the sammich and Coors Light he’d packed. He radioed via walkie talkie down to his panicked Earth-bound girlfriend that he may have miscalculated. No shit, Lar. There is recorded Air Traffic Control audio that can be found on YouTube and I recommend it. I’ll sum up the spirit of it. “Uh ATC we have visuals on a uh…. guy in a chair up here. Over.” Silence. And then. “Uh...say again? Over.” Larry eventually ended up in the direct flight plath of incoming jets over Long Beach Airport. Authorities of all types were alerted and watching the skies following this mad man on his wacky flight. After floating about for nearly an hour, Larry cautiously decided he better risk falling to his death and started shooting some of the balloons overhead. He didn’t get very far before dropping his BB gun. I bet you’re starting to get an overall
picture of ol’ Larry now, bless his heart. Fortunately, before sending a metal and wood object hurtling toward a suburban area, Larry shot just enough balloons to slowly bring him back down to reality. He would have had a textbook landing if it weren’t for those pesky power lines. His balloons became entangled and Larry was stuck just a few yards above the ground. This caused a city-wide power outage for 25 minutes. Oh, Larry. Finally he was cut down and led safely to the ground. And into the cuffs of awaiting police. Regional safety inspector Neal Savoy was reported to have said, “We know he broke some part of the Federal Aviation Act, and as soon as we decide which part it is, some type of charge will be filed.” Hilarious. Eventually he was fined $1,500 and was essentially told “don’t” by a lot of scary people. Upon his release from custody Larry had a rather nice ride on the little lawn chair we call “fame.” He made talk show cir-
THE COMET cuits, radio interviews, guest appearances and even had a stint as a motivational speaker for a spell. You read that right. It seems everyone loved this tale. Just a blue collar dude with a dream. And a BB gun. And a few sammies. We all love to dream about doing something exciting or even crazy from time to time. It makes us feel like we are in control of this existence. It makes us feel free. So naturally there is something admirable about someone having the balls to actually do the damn thing and in that regard, Larry was a true hero. And I sadly must use the word was. Not long after breaking up with his girlfriend of 15 years, Larry Walters took a walk out into the Angeles National Forest. He sat down at a pleasant enough spot in the shade with a nice little view of God’s country and lifted a rifle to his chest and pulled the trigger. There was no suicide note. But this is no ending for the legend of Lawn Chair Larry. Songs, films, books, cartoons and toys have all been made in homage to Larry. His stunt has now been copied by dozens of would-be (armchair?) pilots across the globe. The man is the epitome of legendary, and there is little doubt as to why. Most of us will never do that exciting or crazy thing. Most of us will simply read about others that do the exciting and crazy thing. It’s a sad reality of being “sane.” We keep our feet on the
ground and our heads out of the clouds. But every now and again, some beautiful crazy bastard comes along and reminds us all that we can choose our own path. We can choose to be crazy. We can choose to be free. Godspeed, Lawn Chair Larry. Float on, you beautiful crazy bastard. Listen to the entire story of Lawn Chair Larry in detail in this week’s CLASSIC Spacepod episode at talesfromthespacepod.com. C
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018
See Tales From The Spacepod LIVE at RadarStation in Wenatchee on 4/20 as part of WEN-CON Week!
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 2018
THE COMET