I was reading an interview earlier with an artist named Richard Tuttle who mentioned a topic I’ve thought about often — the idea of permission; the idea being that for most artists, one or more people in the course of your life give you “permission” to be an artist — they provide you the space, the advice, the love, the example, whatever, that allows you to chase your particular dragon.
You may have more than one over a lifetime, but there’s usually a primary one somewhere back in time who cut you loose and said, in some way, “go.”
Mine was a student teacher named Jack Halacy who introduced me to Robert Bly and Etheridge Knight (literally, not just on page) when I was fourteen, and who wasn’t afraid to say that something I wrote was bullshit because he knew I had it in me to keep at it, even at that age.
Who gave you permission?
Dark Matter 
May 18th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
my permission slip
My slip was signed first by my grandad’s mythological proportion as a composer, like the ghost source. It’s hard to describe, but the context of the family tree has something to do with why I write and how creativity passes on in different genres–my mother was the next one who signed. She’s a visual artist.
Then there were so many forces trying to snuff it out; unemployment,careerists,depressions,and the critics.
I remember the voices who guided me later~the cadre of feminist profs I had, the poems of Carolyn Forche, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Paul Monette and a very intimidating force in the English Dept. who shocked me by liking my material.It destabilized me for awhile.
Now, when I’ve lost my own permission slip, my peers remind me of where I put it.
May 18th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
my permission slip
My slip was signed first by my grandad’s mythological proportion as a composer, like the ghost source. It’s hard to describe, but the context of the family tree has something to do with why I write and how creativity passes on in different genres–my mother was the next one who signed. She’s a visual artist.
Then there were so many forces trying to snuff it out; unemployment,careerists,depressions,and the critics.
I remember the voices who guided me later~the cadre of feminist profs I had, the poems of Carolyn Forche, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Paul Monette and a very intimidating force in the English Dept. who shocked me by liking my material.It destabilized me for awhile.
Now, when I’ve lost my own permission slip, my peers remind me of where I put it.
May 18th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
my permission slip
My slip was signed first by my grandad’s mythological proportion as a composer, like the ghost source. It’s hard to describe, but the context of the family tree has something to do with why I write and how creativity passes on in different genres–my mother was the next one who signed. She’s a visual artist.
Then there were so many forces trying to snuff it out; unemployment,careerists,depressions,and the critics.
I remember the voices who guided me later~the cadre of feminist profs I had, the poems of Carolyn Forche, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Paul Monette and a very intimidating force in the English Dept. who shocked me by liking my material.It destabilized me for awhile.
Now, when I’ve lost my own permission slip, my peers remind me of where I put it.
May 18th, 2005 at 9:39 pm
my permission slip
My slip was signed first by my grandad’s mythological proportion as a composer, like the ghost source. It’s hard to describe, but the context of the family tree has something to do with why I write and how creativity passes on in different genres–my mother was the next one who signed. She’s a visual artist.
Then there were so many forces trying to snuff it out; unemployment,careerists,depressions,and the critics.
I remember the voices who guided me later~the cadre of feminist profs I had, the poems of Carolyn Forche, Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, Paul Monette and a very intimidating force in the English Dept. who shocked me by liking my material.It destabilized me for awhile.
Now, when I’ve lost my own permission slip, my peers remind me of where I put it.
May 18th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
I gave myself permission, then kept showing my poetry to students at the college I attended, and they kept saying it was good, so I kept writing. So the answer is either myself, or the whole student body of the junior college I was stuck attending.
May 18th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
I gave myself permission, then kept showing my poetry to students at the college I attended, and they kept saying it was good, so I kept writing. So the answer is either myself, or the whole student body of the junior college I was stuck attending.
May 18th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
I gave myself permission, then kept showing my poetry to students at the college I attended, and they kept saying it was good, so I kept writing. So the answer is either myself, or the whole student body of the junior college I was stuck attending.
May 18th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
I gave myself permission, then kept showing my poetry to students at the college I attended, and they kept saying it was good, so I kept writing. So the answer is either myself, or the whole student body of the junior college I was stuck attending.
May 18th, 2005 at 6:12 pm
the Philbeast.
exactly, and only am i now coming to a point where i’m not having an Important Job that simultaneously makes it impossble for me to do any art–a complex, socially-approved fear-advoidance mechanism— and at the same time keeps me thinking i’m “getting ahead” when really i am FRANTIC with non-creation. in a note from Say Anything, i buy things, sell things and process things, when i don’t want to buy anything sold, bought or processed, sell anything bought, sold or processed or process anything sold bought or processed as a career.
May 18th, 2005 at 6:12 pm
the Philbeast.
exactly, and only am i now coming to a point where i’m not having an Important Job that simultaneously makes it impossble for me to do any art–a complex, socially-approved fear-advoidance mechanism— and at the same time keeps me thinking i’m “getting ahead” when really i am FRANTIC with non-creation. in a note from Say Anything, i buy things, sell things and process things, when i don’t want to buy anything sold, bought or processed, sell anything bought, sold or processed or process anything sold bought or processed as a career.
May 18th, 2005 at 6:12 pm
the Philbeast.
exactly, and only am i now coming to a point where i’m not having an Important Job that simultaneously makes it impossble for me to do any art–a complex, socially-approved fear-advoidance mechanism— and at the same time keeps me thinking i’m “getting ahead” when really i am FRANTIC with non-creation. in a note from Say Anything, i buy things, sell things and process things, when i don’t want to buy anything sold, bought or processed, sell anything bought, sold or processed or process anything sold bought or processed as a career.
May 18th, 2005 at 6:12 pm
the Philbeast.
exactly, and only am i now coming to a point where i’m not having an Important Job that simultaneously makes it impossble for me to do any art–a complex, socially-approved fear-advoidance mechanism— and at the same time keeps me thinking i’m “getting ahead” when really i am FRANTIC with non-creation. in a note from Say Anything, i buy things, sell things and process things, when i don’t want to buy anything sold, bought or processed, sell anything bought, sold or processed or process anything sold bought or processed as a career.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
ditto for me
Actually it was a whole crew of people, most of whom I still keep around me, that taught me what it is to be a poet. Gave me permission, if you will.
Guy and Oscar were big reasons why I kept coming back to Bar13. The louderARTS collective showed me love in a big way, and they still do.
Lynne taught me what economy and word choice do for a poem.
Oscar and Fish made Acentos a family thing for me. Jessica helped me see that poetry is a life choice.
Roger showed me that I could let my poetry speak for itself.
Raymond helped me find my inner music, and let it live in the poems.
Martin Espada taught me that being Puerto Rican, Cuban, Latino-Americano…are worthy subjects for my poetry and worthy identities as a poet.
Willie Perdomo showed me that the observant description of my life, my family, and my surroundings speak more eloquently about myself than anything else could.
And my high school English teacher taught me that I had the power to move people, and the potential to do great things. I wouldn’t have seen it on my own.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
ditto for me
Actually it was a whole crew of people, most of whom I still keep around me, that taught me what it is to be a poet. Gave me permission, if you will.
Guy and Oscar were big reasons why I kept coming back to Bar13. The louderARTS collective showed me love in a big way, and they still do.
Lynne taught me what economy and word choice do for a poem.
Oscar and Fish made Acentos a family thing for me. Jessica helped me see that poetry is a life choice.
Roger showed me that I could let my poetry speak for itself.
Raymond helped me find my inner music, and let it live in the poems.
Martin Espada taught me that being Puerto Rican, Cuban, Latino-Americano…are worthy subjects for my poetry and worthy identities as a poet.
Willie Perdomo showed me that the observant description of my life, my family, and my surroundings speak more eloquently about myself than anything else could.
And my high school English teacher taught me that I had the power to move people, and the potential to do great things. I wouldn’t have seen it on my own.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
ditto for me
Actually it was a whole crew of people, most of whom I still keep around me, that taught me what it is to be a poet. Gave me permission, if you will.
Guy and Oscar were big reasons why I kept coming back to Bar13. The louderARTS collective showed me love in a big way, and they still do.
Lynne taught me what economy and word choice do for a poem.
Oscar and Fish made Acentos a family thing for me. Jessica helped me see that poetry is a life choice.
Roger showed me that I could let my poetry speak for itself.
Raymond helped me find my inner music, and let it live in the poems.
Martin Espada taught me that being Puerto Rican, Cuban, Latino-Americano…are worthy subjects for my poetry and worthy identities as a poet.
Willie Perdomo showed me that the observant description of my life, my family, and my surroundings speak more eloquently about myself than anything else could.
And my high school English teacher taught me that I had the power to move people, and the potential to do great things. I wouldn’t have seen it on my own.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:47 pm
ditto for me
Actually it was a whole crew of people, most of whom I still keep around me, that taught me what it is to be a poet. Gave me permission, if you will.
Guy and Oscar were big reasons why I kept coming back to Bar13. The louderARTS collective showed me love in a big way, and they still do.
Lynne taught me what economy and word choice do for a poem.
Oscar and Fish made Acentos a family thing for me. Jessica helped me see that poetry is a life choice.
Roger showed me that I could let my poetry speak for itself.
Raymond helped me find my inner music, and let it live in the poems.
Martin Espada taught me that being Puerto Rican, Cuban, Latino-Americano…are worthy subjects for my poetry and worthy identities as a poet.
Willie Perdomo showed me that the observant description of my life, my family, and my surroundings speak more eloquently about myself than anything else could.
And my high school English teacher taught me that I had the power to move people, and the potential to do great things. I wouldn’t have seen it on my own.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
see above comment. and avoid the PHILBEAST at all costs.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
see above comment. and avoid the PHILBEAST at all costs.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
see above comment. and avoid the PHILBEAST at all costs.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:13 pm
see above comment. and avoid the PHILBEAST at all costs.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Re: i’d say nobody
Maybe, sometimes, it’s a case of giving yourself permission.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Re: i’d say nobody
Maybe, sometimes, it’s a case of giving yourself permission.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Re: i’d say nobody
Maybe, sometimes, it’s a case of giving yourself permission.
May 18th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
Re: i’d say nobody
Maybe, sometimes, it’s a case of giving yourself permission.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
it has felt like an act of defiance my whole life, which is prolly why it’s part of the cycle of “i’ll show you” that i seem to inhabit/be trapped in. i am going to go listen to phil collins’ “against all odds” now.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
it has felt like an act of defiance my whole life, which is prolly why it’s part of the cycle of “i’ll show you” that i seem to inhabit/be trapped in. i am going to go listen to phil collins’ “against all odds” now.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
it has felt like an act of defiance my whole life, which is prolly why it’s part of the cycle of “i’ll show you” that i seem to inhabit/be trapped in. i am going to go listen to phil collins’ “against all odds” now.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:53 pm
it has felt like an act of defiance my whole life, which is prolly why it’s part of the cycle of “i’ll show you” that i seem to inhabit/be trapped in. i am going to go listen to phil collins’ “against all odds” now.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
i’d say nobody
It feels like i pretty much only received ambivilance and negation. If there was support it was never made clear or I was incapable of seeing and or receiving it.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
i’d say nobody
It feels like i pretty much only received ambivilance and negation. If there was support it was never made clear or I was incapable of seeing and or receiving it.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
i’d say nobody
It feels like i pretty much only received ambivilance and negation. If there was support it was never made clear or I was incapable of seeing and or receiving it.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
i’d say nobody
It feels like i pretty much only received ambivilance and negation. If there was support it was never made clear or I was incapable of seeing and or receiving it.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
thats an easy one, guy lecharles gonzalez
back in the day, guy would keep pushing for me to keep coming back every week. he made room for me on crowded open mic lists and got me into a slam or two ahead of some folks.
was this because i was some hot shot prodigy?
hell no. i flat out sucked at the time.
guy took a chance and kept pushing for the underdog because thats just the kind of person he is.
the current result is a curator/host that tries to give every underdog he meets the same kind of chance becuase you never know.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
thats an easy one, guy lecharles gonzalez
back in the day, guy would keep pushing for me to keep coming back every week. he made room for me on crowded open mic lists and got me into a slam or two ahead of some folks.
was this because i was some hot shot prodigy?
hell no. i flat out sucked at the time.
guy took a chance and kept pushing for the underdog because thats just the kind of person he is.
the current result is a curator/host that tries to give every underdog he meets the same kind of chance becuase you never know.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
thats an easy one, guy lecharles gonzalez
back in the day, guy would keep pushing for me to keep coming back every week. he made room for me on crowded open mic lists and got me into a slam or two ahead of some folks.
was this because i was some hot shot prodigy?
hell no. i flat out sucked at the time.
guy took a chance and kept pushing for the underdog because thats just the kind of person he is.
the current result is a curator/host that tries to give every underdog he meets the same kind of chance becuase you never know.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
thats an easy one, guy lecharles gonzalez
back in the day, guy would keep pushing for me to keep coming back every week. he made room for me on crowded open mic lists and got me into a slam or two ahead of some folks.
was this because i was some hot shot prodigy?
hell no. i flat out sucked at the time.
guy took a chance and kept pushing for the underdog because thats just the kind of person he is.
the current result is a curator/host that tries to give every underdog he meets the same kind of chance becuase you never know.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Hm. I can’t think back to a single person who encouraged me early on. I was very tentative about my writing, and it was so very bad for so very long when I was young….
I’ve been blessed with a few over the last 8 years or so. The first was Neale McDevitt, a Montreal-based writer and friend. He’s the who taught me that all my emotions were okay, even the ugly ones. Thomas Lynch will probably never realize how much he’s given me in the smattering of kind words and encouragement over the past 4 years. My poetry family in Kalamazoo, especially Todd and Dan.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Hm. I can’t think back to a single person who encouraged me early on. I was very tentative about my writing, and it was so very bad for so very long when I was young….
I’ve been blessed with a few over the last 8 years or so. The first was Neale McDevitt, a Montreal-based writer and friend. He’s the who taught me that all my emotions were okay, even the ugly ones. Thomas Lynch will probably never realize how much he’s given me in the smattering of kind words and encouragement over the past 4 years. My poetry family in Kalamazoo, especially Todd and Dan.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Hm. I can’t think back to a single person who encouraged me early on. I was very tentative about my writing, and it was so very bad for so very long when I was young….
I’ve been blessed with a few over the last 8 years or so. The first was Neale McDevitt, a Montreal-based writer and friend. He’s the who taught me that all my emotions were okay, even the ugly ones. Thomas Lynch will probably never realize how much he’s given me in the smattering of kind words and encouragement over the past 4 years. My poetry family in Kalamazoo, especially Todd and Dan.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:37 pm
Hm. I can’t think back to a single person who encouraged me early on. I was very tentative about my writing, and it was so very bad for so very long when I was young….
I’ve been blessed with a few over the last 8 years or so. The first was Neale McDevitt, a Montreal-based writer and friend. He’s the who taught me that all my emotions were okay, even the ugly ones. Thomas Lynch will probably never realize how much he’s given me in the smattering of kind words and encouragement over the past 4 years. My poetry family in Kalamazoo, especially Todd and Dan.
May 18th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
A few..
…being me, I need lots of permission to be good at something (in my case, music, including DJing and now pursuing producing my own music and engineering/producing for others).
Ed Lynch. How I miss him. Back in 1992, we were talking (there were really so few female DJs back then) and I expressed how I was collecting all these records and wanted to be a Dj, but didn’t think I’d fit in. He said “you just have to practice all the time, practice in your bedroom until you’re good and then make demos and give them to people. Your time will come.” Every gig, I stop somewhere (at the beginning, usually, sometimes in the middle when I’m having a blast, or at the end when it’s so satisfying and you’re riding that warm wave) and just look up and say “thank you, Ed.” I usually get a little teary-eyed at that point. He died a year before I started getting gigs, and although he wasn’t here to see it, I know he’s there for every one.
My husband. I can’t possibly tell anyone how much his support in EVERYTHING I want to do (musically, literary or other) makes it all possible. He is my confidence booster when I need it, the voice of real criticism when I need it (he will say if it sucks if it does, I have no question of that, but it’s okay because he doesn’t do it often – although if he did, I’d probably think of doing something else). There’s nothing worse than someone who’s either indifferent or says that everything you do is wonderful. I don’t want that. It’s good to have an honest opinion, especially from your partner. The undying support and tolerance of weird schedules, etc, is also invaluable. We support each other (I’m almost done with the new book, and yeah, it’s so strange but I am beginning to see where he’s going with it now).
As always, long-winded but honest. Thank you again, Tony, for another thought-provoking discussion. *hug*
May 18th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
A few..
…being me, I need lots of permission to be good at something (in my case, music, including DJing and now pursuing producing my own music and engineering/producing for others).
Ed Lynch. How I miss him. Back in 1992, we were talking (there were really so few female DJs back then) and I expressed how I was collecting all these records and wanted to be a Dj, but didn’t think I’d fit in. He said “you just have to practice all the time, practice in your bedroom until you’re good and then make demos and give them to people. Your time will come.” Every gig, I stop somewhere (at the beginning, usually, sometimes in the middle when I’m having a blast, or at the end when it’s so satisfying and you’re riding that warm wave) and just look up and say “thank you, Ed.” I usually get a little teary-eyed at that point. He died a year before I started getting gigs, and although he wasn’t here to see it, I know he’s there for every one.
My husband. I can’t possibly tell anyone how much his support in EVERYTHING I want to do (musically, literary or other) makes it all possible. He is my confidence booster when I need it, the voice of real criticism when I need it (he will say if it sucks if it does, I have no question of that, but it’s okay because he doesn’t do it often – although if he did, I’d probably think of doing something else). There’s nothing worse than someone who’s either indifferent or says that everything you do is wonderful. I don’t want that. It’s good to have an honest opinion, especially from your partner. The undying support and tolerance of weird schedules, etc, is also invaluable. We support each other (I’m almost done with the new book, and yeah, it’s so strange but I am beginning to see where he’s going with it now).
As always, long-winded but honest. Thank you again, Tony, for another thought-provoking discussion. *hug*
May 18th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
A few..
…being me, I need lots of permission to be good at something (in my case, music, including DJing and now pursuing producing my own music and engineering/producing for others).
Ed Lynch. How I miss him. Back in 1992, we were talking (there were really so few female DJs back then) and I expressed how I was collecting all these records and wanted to be a Dj, but didn’t think I’d fit in. He said “you just have to practice all the time, practice in your bedroom until you’re good and then make demos and give them to people. Your time will come.” Every gig, I stop somewhere (at the beginning, usually, sometimes in the middle when I’m having a blast, or at the end when it’s so satisfying and you’re riding that warm wave) and just look up and say “thank you, Ed.” I usually get a little teary-eyed at that point. He died a year before I started getting gigs, and although he wasn’t here to see it, I know he’s there for every one.
My husband. I can’t possibly tell anyone how much his support in EVERYTHING I want to do (musically, literary or other) makes it all possible. He is my confidence booster when I need it, the voice of real criticism when I need it (he will say if it sucks if it does, I have no question of that, but it’s okay because he doesn’t do it often – although if he did, I’d probably think of doing something else). There’s nothing worse than someone who’s either indifferent or says that everything you do is wonderful. I don’t want that. It’s good to have an honest opinion, especially from your partner. The undying support and tolerance of weird schedules, etc, is also invaluable. We support each other (I’m almost done with the new book, and yeah, it’s so strange but I am beginning to see where he’s going with it now).
As always, long-winded but honest. Thank you again, Tony, for another thought-provoking discussion. *hug*
May 18th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
A few..
…being me, I need lots of permission to be good at something (in my case, music, including DJing and now pursuing producing my own music and engineering/producing for others).
Ed Lynch. How I miss him. Back in 1992, we were talking (there were really so few female DJs back then) and I expressed how I was collecting all these records and wanted to be a Dj, but didn’t think I’d fit in. He said “you just have to practice all the time, practice in your bedroom until you’re good and then make demos and give them to people. Your time will come.” Every gig, I stop somewhere (at the beginning, usually, sometimes in the middle when I’m having a blast, or at the end when it’s so satisfying and you’re riding that warm wave) and just look up and say “thank you, Ed.” I usually get a little teary-eyed at that point. He died a year before I started getting gigs, and although he wasn’t here to see it, I know he’s there for every one.
My husband. I can’t possibly tell anyone how much his support in EVERYTHING I want to do (musically, literary or other) makes it all possible. He is my confidence booster when I need it, the voice of real criticism when I need it (he will say if it sucks if it does, I have no question of that, but it’s okay because he doesn’t do it often – although if he did, I’d probably think of doing something else). There’s nothing worse than someone who’s either indifferent or says that everything you do is wonderful. I don’t want that. It’s good to have an honest opinion, especially from your partner. The undying support and tolerance of weird schedules, etc, is also invaluable. We support each other (I’m almost done with the new book, and yeah, it’s so strange but I am beginning to see where he’s going with it now).
As always, long-winded but honest. Thank you again, Tony, for another thought-provoking discussion. *hug*
May 18th, 2005 at 1:52 pm
I had an English teacher in high school who went out of her way to encourage me to write. She teamed up with 2 other English teachers to keep me out of parenting class (because my counselor believed I was on the path to knocked-up drop-out) and into every English class our high school offered and then into the “avant-garde” art program our council of the arts funded.
My parents pushed me into teaching so I could feed myself and encouraged me to think of writing as a hobby.
A fellow teacher with whom I meet every week so we have some quiet time to work on our writings (we’ve sucked another gal into our little circle, too).
May 18th, 2005 at 1:52 pm
I had an English teacher in high school who went out of her way to encourage me to write. She teamed up with 2 other English teachers to keep me out of parenting class (because my counselor believed I was on the path to knocked-up drop-out) and into every English class our high school offered and then into the “avant-garde” art program our council of the arts funded.
My parents pushed me into teaching so I could feed myself and encouraged me to think of writing as a hobby.
A fellow teacher with whom I meet every week so we have some quiet time to work on our writings (we’ve sucked another gal into our little circle, too).
May 18th, 2005 at 1:52 pm
I had an English teacher in high school who went out of her way to encourage me to write. She teamed up with 2 other English teachers to keep me out of parenting class (because my counselor believed I was on the path to knocked-up drop-out) and into every English class our high school offered and then into the “avant-garde” art program our council of the arts funded.
My parents pushed me into teaching so I could feed myself and encouraged me to think of writing as a hobby.
A fellow teacher with whom I meet every week so we have some quiet time to work on our writings (we’ve sucked another gal into our little circle, too).
May 18th, 2005 at 1:52 pm
I had an English teacher in high school who went out of her way to encourage me to write. She teamed up with 2 other English teachers to keep me out of parenting class (because my counselor believed I was on the path to knocked-up drop-out) and into every English class our high school offered and then into the “avant-garde” art program our council of the arts funded.
My parents pushed me into teaching so I could feed myself and encouraged me to think of writing as a hobby.
A fellow teacher with whom I meet every week so we have some quiet time to work on our writings (we’ve sucked another gal into our little circle, too).
May 18th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
when i was little, it was my mom – but she changed her mind, i think, when the 70s ended & she had to chip the toybox from the wall i’d accidentally glued it to while Making Something. there were art supplies all the fuck over our house – she even gave me the old kitchen table for my room at one point! by college, tho’, the permission was strictly for the purposes of a Hobby.
& then there was college. i blame a lot of the lifting of my own discomfort with being an artist on, ‘cos he pulled me in & made me feel safe about it – he totally gave me an understanding that one can indeed live inside the scope of art, that one can be professional in it, & that one can, with the right maneuvers, make a living from it too.
May 18th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
when i was little, it was my mom – but she changed her mind, i think, when the 70s ended & she had to chip the toybox from the wall i’d accidentally glued it to while Making Something. there were art supplies all the fuck over our house – she even gave me the old kitchen table for my room at one point! by college, tho’, the permission was strictly for the purposes of a Hobby.
& then there was college. i blame a lot of the lifting of my own discomfort with being an artist on, ‘cos he pulled me in & made me feel safe about it – he totally gave me an understanding that one can indeed live inside the scope of art, that one can be professional in it, & that one can, with the right maneuvers, make a living from it too.
May 18th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
when i was little, it was my mom – but she changed her mind, i think, when the 70s ended & she had to chip the toybox from the wall i’d accidentally glued it to while Making Something. there were art supplies all the fuck over our house – she even gave me the old kitchen table for my room at one point! by college, tho’, the permission was strictly for the purposes of a Hobby.
& then there was college. i blame a lot of the lifting of my own discomfort with being an artist on, ‘cos he pulled me in & made me feel safe about it – he totally gave me an understanding that one can indeed live inside the scope of art, that one can be professional in it, & that one can, with the right maneuvers, make a living from it too.
May 18th, 2005 at 1:38 pm
when i was little, it was my mom – but she changed her mind, i think, when the 70s ended & she had to chip the toybox from the wall i’d accidentally glued it to while Making Something. there were art supplies all the fuck over our house – she even gave me the old kitchen table for my room at one point! by college, tho’, the permission was strictly for the purposes of a Hobby.
& then there was college. i blame a lot of the lifting of my own discomfort with being an artist on, ‘cos he pulled me in & made me feel safe about it – he totally gave me an understanding that one can indeed live inside the scope of art, that one can be professional in it, & that one can, with the right maneuvers, make a living from it too.
May 18th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
Writing: Sixth grade writing teacher–the first non-parental words of encouragement that I believed. Performance–I was granted a bunch of permissions at once: the crowds in the first two nights I went to the Heidelberg in Ann Arbor; Steve Marsh, encouraging me to come back after I read in the open mic after the first slam I had attended; Scott (though I shudder to admit it) and Becky encouraging me to come slam in Detroit after seeing me slam for the first time in A2.
I really like the idea of permission–I had never thought of it that way either.
May 18th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
Writing: Sixth grade writing teacher–the first non-parental words of encouragement that I believed. Performance–I was granted a bunch of permissions at once: the crowds in the first two nights I went to the Heidelberg in Ann Arbor; Steve Marsh, encouraging me to come back after I read in the open mic after the first slam I had attended; Scott (though I shudder to admit it) and Becky encouraging me to come slam in Detroit after seeing me slam for the first time in A2.
I really like the idea of permission–I had never thought of it that way either.
May 18th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
Writing: Sixth grade writing teacher–the first non-parental words of encouragement that I believed. Performance–I was granted a bunch of permissions at once: the crowds in the first two nights I went to the Heidelberg in Ann Arbor; Steve Marsh, encouraging me to come back after I read in the open mic after the first slam I had attended; Scott (though I shudder to admit it) and Becky encouraging me to come slam in Detroit after seeing me slam for the first time in A2.
I really like the idea of permission–I had never thought of it that way either.
May 18th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
Writing: Sixth grade writing teacher–the first non-parental words of encouragement that I believed. Performance–I was granted a bunch of permissions at once: the crowds in the first two nights I went to the Heidelberg in Ann Arbor; Steve Marsh, encouraging me to come back after I read in the open mic after the first slam I had attended; Scott (though I shudder to admit it) and Becky encouraging me to come slam in Detroit after seeing me slam for the first time in A2.
I really like the idea of permission–I had never thought of it that way either.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:05 am
oh, and: memorial day weekend, and none too soon. my brief infatuation with the city of boston has long since died a painful death. get me the hell outta here.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:05 am
oh, and: memorial day weekend, and none too soon. my brief infatuation with the city of boston has long since died a painful death. get me the hell outta here.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:05 am
oh, and: memorial day weekend, and none too soon. my brief infatuation with the city of boston has long since died a painful death. get me the hell outta here.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:05 am
oh, and: memorial day weekend, and none too soon. my brief infatuation with the city of boston has long since died a painful death. get me the hell outta here.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:03 am
my mom, i think. she is so naturally creative that it was just part of growing up. but when she stood back and let me go to art school without saying a word – that was probably the formal moment in time when she gave me the space and her blessing to use it.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:03 am
my mom, i think. she is so naturally creative that it was just part of growing up. but when she stood back and let me go to art school without saying a word – that was probably the formal moment in time when she gave me the space and her blessing to use it.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:03 am
my mom, i think. she is so naturally creative that it was just part of growing up. but when she stood back and let me go to art school without saying a word – that was probably the formal moment in time when she gave me the space and her blessing to use it.
May 18th, 2005 at 11:03 am
my mom, i think. she is so naturally creative that it was just part of growing up. but when she stood back and let me go to art school without saying a word – that was probably the formal moment in time when she gave me the space and her blessing to use it.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:21 am
Yeah. With Ted, it was kind of like what Jack McCarthy’s always saying — how you write one thing that everyone agrees is a poem, and after that, it’s up to you.
Ted and I basically had that conversation, over my poem, “The Wolf” (which has now been mentioned on LJ twice this week. Huh.) and about how this was the poem that proved I was a poet.
I bloody didn’t stop smiling for hours.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:21 am
Yeah. With Ted, it was kind of like what Jack McCarthy’s always saying — how you write one thing that everyone agrees is a poem, and after that, it’s up to you.
Ted and I basically had that conversation, over my poem, “The Wolf” (which has now been mentioned on LJ twice this week. Huh.) and about how this was the poem that proved I was a poet.
I bloody didn’t stop smiling for hours.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:21 am
Yeah. With Ted, it was kind of like what Jack McCarthy’s always saying — how you write one thing that everyone agrees is a poem, and after that, it’s up to you.
Ted and I basically had that conversation, over my poem, “The Wolf” (which has now been mentioned on LJ twice this week. Huh.) and about how this was the poem that proved I was a poet.
I bloody didn’t stop smiling for hours.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:21 am
Yeah. With Ted, it was kind of like what Jack McCarthy’s always saying — how you write one thing that everyone agrees is a poem, and after that, it’s up to you.
Ted and I basically had that conversation, over my poem, “The Wolf” (which has now been mentioned on LJ twice this week. Huh.) and about how this was the poem that proved I was a poet.
I bloody didn’t stop smiling for hours.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:10 am
I know it was more than Jack, too; but he was the one that stuck out for me — got me at the perfect age to make me say, “Oh, THIS is what this is about.”
May 18th, 2005 at 4:10 am
I know it was more than Jack, too; but he was the one that stuck out for me — got me at the perfect age to make me say, “Oh, THIS is what this is about.”
May 18th, 2005 at 4:10 am
I know it was more than Jack, too; but he was the one that stuck out for me — got me at the perfect age to make me say, “Oh, THIS is what this is about.”
May 18th, 2005 at 4:10 am
I know it was more than Jack, too; but he was the one that stuck out for me — got me at the perfect age to make me say, “Oh, THIS is what this is about.”
May 18th, 2005 at 4:09 am
A lot of people, but they pretty much reached their apex with my old mentor, Ted Walker, may he rest in peace.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:09 am
A lot of people, but they pretty much reached their apex with my old mentor, Ted Walker, may he rest in peace.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:09 am
A lot of people, but they pretty much reached their apex with my old mentor, Ted Walker, may he rest in peace.
May 18th, 2005 at 4:09 am
A lot of people, but they pretty much reached their apex with my old mentor, Ted Walker, may he rest in peace.