THE THREAD | New season, new things

Good morning!

My kids are back in school, the public pool is closed, the okra is on my table, and the days are gradually (albeit unevenly) growing cooler. It’s that time of year that I welcome these changes yet still wrestle with the sudden shifts. I crave more routine than I am afforded, and I ridiculously expect things to settle more quickly than they do. (You can’t force dust to settle.) For some reason I get it in my head that stability and structure exist in abundance, if only I could figure out where they are hiding amidst the piles. You know about the piles, right?

I don’t really want to talk about the piles. Do you? Didn’t think so.

Anyway.

I have more time for writing this fall, so I look forward to sharing some new essays and poems in this space soon. But for now, I just wanted to share some exciting news.

As of this month I am the newly-appointed editor of Forum, an ad-free magazine dedicated to the positive encouragement and critical study of the arts in the Greater Kansas City region. Our first issue will come out this December, but the magazine actually has a long history, as it was published by the Kansas City Artists Coalition from 1975 to 2001. One of the reasons I’m excited to step into this new role is that I get to be part of bringing something back to life at this particular time in our city’s life and culture. I spent many hours this spring digging through 25 years of archives, and what I see is thoughtful discourse on the role that art and artists play in our city and our region. I can’t wait to resume this particular conversation.

We’re just now beginning to share this news. You’re some of the first to know!

You can read more about it HERE, and I’ll be sure to let you know where you can pick up the first issue in December.

Last thing! My BadSeed studio pal John Raux, along with our friends Calvin Arsenia and Melissa Ferrer-Civil, are heading to the Dakar Biennale in November. If you’re unfamiliar, the Dakar Biennale is one of the world’s largest art events and focuses entirely on contemporary African art. We’re hosting a reception this Friday at BadSeed so that folks can come learn about their upcoming trip and celebrate this great oppportunity for three Kansas City-based artists to make this journey together. If you’re free Friday night, I hope you’ll stop by!

What I’m currently reading: Percival Everett’s James, Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop, Steven Millhauser’s The Barnum Museum

What I’m currently listening to: Gillian Welch & David Rawlings’ Woodland Studios, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ Wild God, Bonny Light Horseman’s Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free, Woody Guthrie’s Asch Recordings Vol. 1