Emotional Baggage Claim

art entertainment food drink music nightlife Thursday, May 19, 2016

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Emotional

Baggage Claim

In a time of perfectly curated Facebook profiles, our culture is craving vulnerability and authenticity more and more. Storytelling series like The Raven Narratives are meeting that need.

Also: The bad news beer bill, Aesop Rock in concert, loving and hating poetry, Get Smart about civic engagement, and the art of The Wells Makery

dgomag.com

DGO Magazine

Staff

What’s inside Volume 1 Number 29

May 19, 2016

Chief Executive Officer

8 O, the tales our

clothes could tell

Douglas Bennett V.P. of Finance and Operations

We spend our lives in garments that silently speak for us, so don’t be surprised when the clothing gets loud.

Bob Ganley V.P. of Advertising David Habrat V.P. of Marketing

10 Making art well(s)

Amy Maestas Katie Klingsporn Editor/ designer/ art director David Holub dholub@bcimedia.com 375-4551 Staff writer Anya Jaremko-Greenwold anya@bcimedia.com 375-4546 Contributors Katie Cahill Christopher Gallagher Bryant Liggett Jon E. Lynch Heather Narwid

5 Get Smart about civic engagement Don’t worry. We hear you ranting about government corruption and how screwed the environment is. Let former City Councilor and Mayor Michael Rendon tell you about what you can do about it.

Cyle Talley Robert Alan Wendeborn Advertising 247-3504 Reader Services 375-4570

DGO is a free weekly publication distributed by Ballantine Communications Inc., and is available for one copy per person. Taking more than five copies of an edition from a distribution location is illegal and is punishable by law according to Colorado Revised Statute 18-9-314.

6 Aesop Rock to perform The latest release from Ian Matthias Bavitz, aka Aesop Rock (pictured above), is what critics of the professional, armchair and Amazon variety are saying is already the hip-hop album of the year, a wordy blast of self-reflection amid rich and multitextured production.

Tell us what you think!

Got something on your mind? Have a joke or a story idea or just something that the world needs to know?

Send everything to editor@dgomag.com

4

Love it or Hate it

6

Sound

Downtown Lowdown

9

Annie Brooks, founder of The Wells Makery, was raised by a family of illustrators and musicians. She discusses her company and why parents should allow their kids’ artistic ambitions to flourish.

David Holub

From the Editor

6

Album Review 7

Kricket Lewis Founding Editors

4

16 Morally questionable

artists & their art Too many powerful men escape justice in the face of heinous crimes because they’re protected by money or artistic acclaim. Recently, some have called for censorship of the art itself, a troubling course of action.

/dgomag

Beer

17 Movies 18 Weed

Seeing Through the Smoke 18

Review 19

Netflix and chill ‑ 420 edition 19

20 Savage Love 21 Happening 23 Horoscope/ puzzles/ Bizarro

/dgomag @dgo_mag

On the cover Danyel Mezzanatto’s illustration, used in the show poster for The Raven Narratives storytelling series.

The theme of the show is “Baggage.”

Courtesy of The Raven Narratives

DGO Magazine is published by Ballantine Communications Inc., P.O. Drawer A, Durango, CO 81302

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[ love it or hate it ]

David Holub |DGO editor

Poetry Love it

How do I get to do this? The answer is clearly, ‘Durango’

B

efore this magazine existed, before my shortish tenure as the Arts & Entertainment editor for the city daily, I came to Durango to be the design editor for the Herald.

That was it, with no plans beyond that. I didn’t know one person and had only been to Durango once, in middle school, and couldn’t wait to leave (everything pretty much sucks in middle school).

What I’m about to do on Thursday evening would have blown my mind if you’d had told me two and half years ago when I arrived in Durango, me writing and performing a one-man show at the Durango Arts Center. It’s something that keeps me asking myself, “How the hail do I get to do this?”

The answer, of course, is “Durango.”

More specifically, me writing and performing a one-man show is because of opportunities created in Durango and this vibrant and supportive arts community that makes it possible for regular ol’ folks like myself to do whatever it is they can imagine, so long as they have the motivation, determination and energy (notice “time” was not included). Sprinkle in a bit of talent, make a connection or two, and the city can open up with creative possibilities.

Part of it, for sure, is simply the size. I liken it to high school. At large schools, like the one I went to in suburban Denver with 2,000-plus students, to play sports, for instance, you have to be pretty good. I had to beat out 40 kids just to make the freshman squad. Contrast that with a high school of 40 kids total. If you want to play baseball, football and basketball, you can. Because they have the uniforms and need the bodies.

Part of it is plugging yourself into the communities you’re drawn to. Many people move to towns like Durango and find themselves doing things they couldn’t have imagined before their arrival. I had a friend who was afraid of heights in a serious way and is now an avid climber and moun-

tain biker, another thing she didn’t do prior. She found her people, her community and voila (it’s also amazing what a girl’ll do for a boy she really digs). It took me going through a bit of friend-floundering, but once I found my people here, these creative folks that I just found myself energized by and gravitating to, my life in Durango changed in the most dynamic way.

One of the people I gravitated to, the chief reason I am taking the stage Thursday, is the director of my show, Sarah Syverson. I first met Sarah over the phone, interviewing her for the Herald about a play she’d written that would be performed for the summer at the Strater. I don’t know if it was her palpable enthusiasm and energy over the phone or something in the ether of our conversation, but I said, “This is an exceptional person, and I want more.”

A couple months later, firmly friends, Sarah encouraged me to audition for the Arts Center’s 10-Minute Plays. I landed two roles, one directed

by Sarah and one co-starring Sarah.

We often joke that we do creative projects together so we’ll have an inarguable excuse to hang out. When it came time for me to stage the show I’d written, Sarah offered to direct. “Yes, please,” I said, knowing she’d invaluably written and performed her own one-woman shows to acclaim. I know this: Without Sarah, I would be performing a shell of a show.

Let me tell you: If I can do this, anyone can. If you have an itch to do something creative, maybe even something grand, do it! Dream it up. Get plugged in. Go to events. Introduce yourself and flatter people who are doing what you want to do. Talk about what you love and the projects you’re working on. And then listen. Find your own personal Sarah (she’s taken!), a mentor and a champion of your work, a person or group to open doors you need opening. Most importantly, do the work and put in the time. Do what you love.

And I’m telling you, Durango will open its arms.

Poetry is using a little bit of words to say a lot. They just have to be the right words. Song lyrics are poetry. Rude bathroom graffiti is poetry. And then there are those great poets of human history, who express more in one verse than most of us will successfully say in a year. Many are dead. But this doesn’t prevent their words from reverberating through time.

Poems can gift you lovely, quotable captions for the all-important Instagram post. Rumi is a classic choice. Try: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.”

Poems encapsulate nature in a way neither you nor I ever could. Tony Hoagland wrote, “A little dogwood tree is losing its mind; overflowing with blossomfoam, like a sudsy mug of beer; like a bride ripping off her clothes, dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds.”

Poems are the simplest, searing descriptors of break-ups. Mark Strand wrote, “We have done what we wanted. We have discarded dreams, preferring the heavy industry of each other.”

Poems are even better descriptors of love. Frank O’Hara asked, “What good does all the research of the Impressionists do them when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank?”

Poems explain who we are without the need for context, resolution or verbosity. Pablo Neruda wrote, “My soul is like an empty carousel at sunset.” Who hasn’t felt that way?

—— Anya Jaremko-Greenwold

Hate it It’s kinda weird, me hating poetry, given that I have a graduate degree in creative writing, 65.7 percent of my friends are poets, that I created a literary journal of humor and published poetry, that I’ve written a decent amount of poetry for a non-poet and that one of the best poets I know once called me “a poet at heart.”

I get it. And I still hate poetry.

Talk about a literary genre that has become so stodgy, lifeless, irrelevant, out of touch and lacking energy. Slam poetry! Now that’s some poetry I can dig. Because that’s where the energy is; that’s people actually saying something that matters.

As opposed to this other nonsense, people stringing together words in an attempt to be, well, all poetic, hiding meaning, obscuring emotion, saying what you’re trying to say by being all mysterious and elusive. Why are you making me work so hard to figure out what you’re trying to communicate? Knock it off! Just come out and say what you’re trying to say.

My favorite is when poets get up to read a poem and they give you a five-minute introduction to a 15-line poem, explaining their motivation, the thing that led them to write the poem, how it came about. And then they read it and I’m like, “Your story about the poem was way more enlightening and entertaining.”

Maybe someone should write a poem about that.

—— David Holub

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[Expert Advice on Trivial Affairs]

Cyle Talley | Get Smart

Civic Engagement Don’t worry. We hear you ranting about government corruption and how screwed the environment is (congrats on making it through your freshman year at the Fort, by the way). Let former City Councilor and Mayor Michael Rendon tell you about what you can do about it.

How did civic engagement start for you?

You start by caring about the world. The people around you, the environment, about justice, the future. Look around you.

If there’s something going on that you don’t like, start asking questions about why it exists. I tend to think that if I don’t do something to change it, it’s not going to change. Taking personal responsibility is a big one, the idea that you’re part of the problem until you become part of the solution.

it, then it works out fine. But it could be a problem if those issues aren’t talked about.

I’ve seen it strain people’s relationships. I think it doesn’t have to if you know yourself and if you communicate with those you care about.

How do you maintain a work/ life balance?

I strongly believe in a quote from Ed Abbey which basically says that half your life should be spent defending the natural world and trying to protect it, and the other half should be spent enjoying it, How much of a time commitenjoying life. My life as far as work and ment is there? volunteer stuff has always been about The great thing about community involvemaking change, making a difference; but ment is that you can put as little or as I’ve also equally been enjoying life, too. much time into it as you want. There’s Generally what I’ve done is I’ll work three no shortage of nonprofits in Durango, so or four years – environment, politics, if you wanted to volunteer at the homesocial issues, justice – and then I quit evless shelter, with kids, or animals, or old erything and go travel or have some weird people, whatever your thing is, if you experience that I’ve always wanted to volunteer an hour a week, the organizahave until I run out of money. Then I come tion will be more than willing to work with back and do something else. I’ve had a you to use your hour. Or if you want to get good balance of doing the volunteer stuff, into something like City Council, it’s going but also doing stuff for myself. I’ve been up to be more like 10 to 20 hours a week. most of the mountains around here, been on a ton of the trails. I guess the question You’re involved in some emois: What do you want to spend your time tionally-taxing causes, what BCI Media file doing? I mean, I guess I could look at porn keeps you going? »» Michael Rendon after being sworn in as mayor in 2010. every night, or watch movies – people do I get a big sense of fulfillment seeing that, right? I have friends who tell me that justice be corrected, seeing discrimination they play video games all night. There’s end, seeing the world be a better place and that’s OK, I just think that we’re here for somenothing really wrong with that, or watching movies or because of the actions I’ve done. That’s very fulfilling thing bigger, and I feel like it’s a much more enjoyable doing whatever you do, but you’re only on this Earth for me. The other thing is that volunteering is good and meaningful life to work toward the betterment for a very short period of time. You could sit around for you ... especially if you’re working for the benefit of your community. It makes me feel better about and play video games all night, that’d be OK. But don’t of someone else. I don’t know the exact psychology of myself, it makes me feel that the community is on a you want to see the world? Travel? Make a difference it, but it’s fulfilling. There’s something about putting better path. And generally, the people that you get in your community? That’s what I enjoy doing. Half in a day of work for something that you believe in, for to work with are amazing people who care about the the time is spent making change and the other half is, something that’s really hard, but doing it because it’s same issues you care about. It’s fun.

I don’t know if selfish is the right word, but doing the the right thing to do; that’s really satisfying. things I love and that make me happy, so that I can What sort of sacrifices do you make So working for the betterment of your have the energy to work the crisis center or push for because of your civic engagement? community contributes to your happipolicy change. ness?

Relationships, sometimes. When I ran for City Council, I talked with my partner ahead of time, and Cyle Talley talked to Michael Rendon for an hour and Absolutely. I think it’s completely fair to say that I’m we talked about how I’d be gone for these nights dearly wishes he could share the entire interview with a happier person because I volunteer and give back and these things. As long you have that conversation you, as Rendon’s quite the fellow. If there’s anything you’d to my community. It’s meaningful. What’s the point of life? We could just do things for ourselves all day long, ahead of time and you’re conscious of what goes into like to Get Smart about, email him at: cyle@cyletalley.com ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 5

[sound]

Downtown Lowdown | Bryant Liggett

Indie hip-hop’s Aesop Rock: ‘At this point it’s a compulsion’

T

Bryant’s best

he latest release from Ian Matthias Bavitz, aka Aesop Rock, is what critics of the professional, armchair and Amazon variety are saying is already the hip-hop album of the year, a wordy blast of self-reflection amid rich and multi-textured production.

“The Impossible Kid” is a lyricallysmart, musically-deep, sonically-raw album, a dose of audio reality within a genre that at the mainstream level is a lot self-indulgence and bragging, stinking of wasted money and overproduction.

Aesop Rock will perform in Durango on Saturday at the Animas City Theatre, along with Rob Sonic, DJ Zone and Homeboy Sandman.

To read Like any genre, look an extended for the artists who get interview tagged with the descripwith Aesop tor “indie” and that’s Rock, go to likely where you’ll find dgomag.com valid content worthy of further exploration. Keeping independent is also what’s kept Bavitz a respected player in the game; he chooses to steer clear of “the business,” which is perhaps the best approach to keep some integrity within your art, and keep your head above water in an industry with so many players putting out forgettable music.

“I consider my area to be the art itself. I make music; I know nothing about the music business.

Luckily I have been aligned with some indie labels run by people interested in the business aspect of things, and I let them deal with all of that,” said Bavitz in an email interview. “The best route for pushing out a record changes daily, and each project could use something a little dif-

Friday: Rock music with Farmington Hill, 6 p.m. No cover. Moe’s, 937 Main Ave. Information: 259-9018.

Saturday: Hip-hop with Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic, DJ Zone, Homeboy Sandman, 9:30 p.m. $25. Animas City Theatre, 128 E. College Drive. Information: 7992281. ferent than the last. I basically make the songs, turn them in, and say ‘What do we do now?’”

Hip-hop has always been about the lyric; and finding those words and staying fresh means keeping your ears and eyes open in a constant quest for inspiration. While “The Impossible Kid” has many moments of personal admission, whether it be lamenting about his past or his family, it’s also a very astute album full of lyrical observation that comes at the listener with the cadence and tempo of beat poetry; the characters and situations he raps about unfold in story-like fashion before your ears, whether rapping about himself, people around him, famed BBC DJ John Peel or the members of the band Ministry.

“At this point it’s a compulsion. But once I discovered the benefit of taking notes throughout the day, I started to realize how the inspiration comes from any and everywhere. You may hear something in the grocery store, or watching a movie, or a joke a friend says, or an odd conversation on the street,” Bavitz said. “The key for me is to always be open to the idea that you could hear something out there worth adapting into a lyric.

Those moments when you smile to yourself after hearing something, I don’t let them pass. I write them down. Before I know it I have a long list of those moments, and putting them all together can yield something pretty potent.”

Bryant Liggett is a freelance writer and KDUR station manager. liggett_b@fortlewis.edu.

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DJ DIY or DJ Whine n’ Moan?

As someone deeply involved in the DIY hardcore punk scene on the East Coast during the ’80s and ’90s, most of the issues raised by Jhan Doe seem very familiar. The only advice I could give would be that NOBODY is going to care for your scene as much as you will.

You’re the only one who can make it better.

Perhaps your time would be better spent being DJ DIY than DJ Whine n’ Moan. Good luck, I’ll be very interested in seeing how well you do.

[sound]

HASH BASH HAPPENNING NOW!

What’s new

Dig it in! Next stop is Acme!

— T.P. Libby

Various Artists,“Day of the Dead”

Your choice of strain on our

Available: May 20 via 4AD Records as a digital download, on a 5 x CD set and as a limited edition vinyl boxed set.

Locally Grown, Locally Owned

I never really had a “Dead” phase. Surprising to some of you, maybe not so surprising to others. The closest I’ve come to it was a good friend making it his personal mission – a spiritual thesis of sorts – while an undergraduate in Lawrence, Kansas, to find out precisely what era of the Grateful Dead best suited my preexisting tastes. He was certain that it not only existed for me, but for all those not well-versed in the band’s expansive catalogue/career.

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(His conclusion: I specifically dig the ’68-’70 era. To my dismay, he was correct.)

I was simply exposed to and digging into other genres of music in those early formative years. The clerks at the record store were giving me SST & Dischord cassette tapes, not bootlegs. Fast forward to the present, and the forthcoming collection of Grateful Dead covers curated by the Brothers Dessner of indie rock monoliths The National. Five years in the making, this project was a labor of love that “brought together some of their favourite musicians to reinterpret the songs and sounds of the Dead for a new generation.” Sixty-plus artists, 59 tracks and five-plus hours of music.

A few of the contributing artists: Courtney Barnett, Stephen Malkmus (Pavement), Fucked Up, Wilco, Angel Olsen, and members of Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio, Yo La Tengo, My Morning Jacket, Sonic Youth and Arcade Fire among many, many others.

If that isn’t enough, all profits of the album sales are going to the Red Hot Organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit fighting HIV/AIDS health issues around the world. This is the 20th album of original music Red Hot has produced over the past 25 years to help raise awareness and money to fight HIV/AIDS Recommended for fans of cover albums, helping a decent cause, indie/rock ’n’ roll and the Grateful Dead.

— Jon E. Lynch KDUR_PD@fortlewis.edu

New at Southwest Sound May 20

»»4. Mudcrutch, “2”

»»1. Bob Dylan, “Fallen Angels”

»»5. Day of the Dead, Grateful Dead Tribute Compiled by Members of The National

»»2. Eric Clapton, “I Still Do” »»3. Blake Shelton, “If I’m Honest”

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[Sartorial over-enthusiasm with Heather of Sideshow]

Style Fetish | Heather Narwid

Sartorial storytelling The tales our clothes will tell if we listen We spend our lives in garments that silently speak for us, so don’t be surprised when the clothing gets loud ...

O yes indeed, our clothing has a story to tell, our stories filtered or magnified through their singularly intimate perspective as protector, communicator, identifier and town crier of our desires.

Our adventures and emotions experienced while within them can imbue the garments with meaning and associations of all stripes: memories and nostalgia, self-consciousness and embarrassment, pride and accomplishment, joy and love, contentment and comfort. Our clothing tells beautifully inexpressible truths, yet also lie if we let them. They never leave us and so they witness everything, holding their own secrets and ghostwriting our autobiographies.

Every day, getting dressed provides rich fodder for anecdotes and tales, profound or silly, that can all turn certain clothing items worn by ourselves or other people into important symbols worthy of examination and explanation. It seems natural and human to do this. One more way that we smart, special apes are able to find meaning in the mundane and clarity from confusion colto transform our everyday into art. lected essays from All wardrobes can reveal a Narnia; what over 60 different writers and notables. tales are in your closet? Does your anThe fact of clothing as “a rich and univercient flannel shirt sound like Waylon Jen- sal storytelling device” inspired Spivak nings narrating the “Dukes of Hazzard”? to compile and edit the book over a fourCan a dress conjure a story so profound year period. Spivak was “curious about it has rendered itself unwearable? Has a our garments’ histories and wanted to secondhand top revealed to you some of create a place to record and preserve its own secret history? Did a garment go these stories.” rogue and pull you into a situation you’d The contributors include several men; never have entered without it? Let’s ask I appreciated this egalitarian inclusion the residents of our closets and bureaus and the specifically-male opinions and some questions, see what they really perspectives put forth on this normally remember and what they would have us lady-centric subject. know about ourselves.

The stories are lovely, poignant musings Style Fetish has found two books for on the things worn during impressionexcellent stories, essays and musings able and memorable moments, as well about our clothing and the wordy weight as stories of the garments themselves it can carry. that were responsible in myriad ways for changing the course of a life.

Emily Spivak’s book “Worn Stories” has

“Women In Clothes,” by Sheila Heti and Heidi Julavits is another book about the stories clothing can tell. The authors present their book in intriguingly-named chapters called Surveys, Conversations, Poems, Projects, Collection, Wear Areas and Compliments. Much of the book is presented in a conversational format between women, an effective device to tell these intimate stories and opinions. “Women In Clothes” also delves deeply into the Why’s of style, the reasons we are drawn to or repelled from certain garments and the personal and unlikely places and people from which women get fashion inspiration.

The authors began their research for the book by asking “women worldwide” a huge list of thoughtful questions about their garments and style. I answered

them myself and enjoyed the realizations and new awareness that came from doing so. The book also contains simple and striking photographs of certain clothing collections like fedora hats, dress sets and gray sweatshirts.

Let’s lend an ear to our chatty shirts, gossipy dresses, wise boots and experienced denim. They may know more about our motivations, fears and deepest desires than we do, and will share their insight if only we listen.

Heather Narwid owns Sideshow, a vintage and modern clothing store for men and women – where all the clothing has a fascinating tale to tell. Sideshow is now located in Durango off Florida Road at 208 County Road 250 (at 32nd Street). Sideshow is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m.

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[beer]

First Draughts | Robert Alan Wendeborn

Trust me: Beer bill would be a disaster

D

ear Colorado, I wasn’t born here, I’m not a native, but, like a lot of transplants to your state, I love everything about you.

I love your mountains, I love your rivers, I love your snow, I love your sunshine, I love your open spaces, and I love your cities. I love your beer, I love your love of weed, I love your local food, your local coffee, your local everything, and I don’t want you to change.

Unlike a lot of other recent transplants, I understand why things in Colorado are the way they are, so I’m OK with your quirks and unwritten rules.

These are some of the unwritten rules by which Coloradans abide: The right lane is for slowpokes and scaredy cats, a max limit of two puffs before a pass, there are no friends on powder days, bring your own PFD and don’t buy beer at the grocery store.

This last unwritten rule is up for debate right now, and we could see a ballot initiative this November that allows for full-strength beer to be in our grocery stores. But this is a terrible idea, Colorado! I know it sounds wonderful, I know it sounds convenient and easy, and I hate being a conservative in an argument and want to be open minded, but this idea, Colorado, this is a bad idea.

For a good demonstration of why this would be a bad idea, go to New Mexico. Look at the number of liquor stores there are in Aztec, our closest town. There are zero liquor stores, all have closed, but they allow full-strength beer and liquor in gas stations and grocery stores. The Safeway has an abysmal selection of “craft beer.” By my count there are six craft breweries represented in the entire cooler: Sierra Nevada, Boston Beer Company (Sam Adam’s), Spoetzl Brewing Co. (Shiner Bock), New Belgium, Sierra Blanca Brewing Company (Isotopes Brewing), and Santa Fe Brewing Company. The closest of these breweries to Aztec is Santa Fe Brewing Company, some four hours

Robert Alan Wendeborne/DGO

»» If laws are changed to let grocery stores sell real beer, you can anticipate some terrible changes here in Colorado. In the end, liquor stores will close, and grocery stores will look like grocery stores in New Mexico, devoid of real choice like this “craft beer” section at the Safeway in Aztec.

away. Now, if we imagine this as Colorado, this would be like having only six craft beers in your craft section, and all of them from out of state except two, and both of those are from Denver. There are more local beers on tap at Lady Falconburghs than the entire craft section at this grocery store.

If this is the kind of selection and convenience you want, you can move to Aztec.

Another gripe being levied is that the liquor stores have a monopoly.

Now, by my definition and most definitions of “monopoly,” the system we have in place is the farthest from a monopoly. The owners of liquor stores in Colorado are, by law, not allowed to open another liquor store.

If you want to grow your business,

you can build a bigger store. That’s it.

Almost every liquor store in Colorado is a small, independent business with one location. If they have another location, it’s in another state.

In the end, the biggest reason to keep things the same are those small businesses. There are 1,650 independent liquor stores in Colorado, and if this law changes, nearly half of those would be closed in three years.

This would kill jobs and tax revenue.

It would kill choice. It would also kill vital outlets for small local craft brewers, vintners and distillers, stifling the amazing growth of the craft movement. City Market isn’t going to be carrying that really awesome sour from Distihl or Crooked Stave that they have at W.J. Doyle; they’re not going to have the super knowl-

edgeable staff that they have at Star Liquor; they’re not going to have the awesome dog that you can pet at 6th Street Liquor; and they’re not going to have happy hour like they do at Wagon Wheel.

Unless some 11th hour deal gets struck in the state Legislature, it’ll likely be on the ballot this November, and it’s up to you, Colorado. Don’t let them ruin our small businesses, don’t let them ruin our local beer, don’t let them take our choice.

Robert Alan Wendeborn puts the bubbles in the beer at Ska Brewing Company. His first book of poetry, “The Blank Target,” was published this past spring by The Lettered Streets Press and is available at Maria’s Bookshop. robbie@skabrewing. com

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[visual]

Making art with The Wells Makery Anya Jaremko-Greenwold DGO Staff Writer

Annie Brooks, founder of The Wells Makery, was raised by a family of traveling illustrators and musicians – so naturally she grew up to be a creative herself. The Wells Makery produces watercolor illustrations, logo designs, calligraphy, invitations, drink menus, maps, an upcoming children’s book and more. Brooks also plays music and takes photographs on the side. She travels constantly (most recently to Berlin, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Iceland) and broadens her expressive horizons around the world. We spoke to Brooks about her company and why parents should allow their kids’ artistic ambitions to flourish.

How did your childhood inspire you creatively?

My parents were always so supportive of me. They were living an alternative lifestyle, and always said, ‘Instead of buying an apple, plant an apple tree.’ I never saw them doing “normal” jobs. My mother was an artist, she was always illustrating kid’s books and raising animals to sell. My dad was a musician and a cartoonist on the side. Generations back, we’re all artists and musicians in our family. It’s all I know. I thought you grew up, and that’s what you did! It was incredibly encouraging for them to see my artistic endeavors as job opportunities. They encouraged me artistically in the way that some parents encourage good grades. Like math skills ... they knew this was also a practical way to live. Art isn’t just dreaming.

There’s a big need for it in the world; especially now, with the Internet and graphic design.

A lot of parents tell their kids that being an artist is impractical.

Yeah, like ‘You can’t make money off of it.’ I think that was more true years ago. But now there’s such a need.

What’s it like making a living in Durango with your art?

When I first moved here, I worked for a school and taught art classes. As our photography started to take off, I had to quit, since there was so much travel involved. As I was already a part of the wedding industry through photography, once I decided to make the switch to illustration, all the vendors and bloggers already knew about me. So it was a pretty easy switch. And Instagram! Probably 80 or 90 percent of my work comes through Instagram.

How did The Wells Makery start?

Whitney and I met dissecting a deer skull when we were 8 and 10 years old. We were homeschooled, and grew up in Cedaredge, which is a tiny town pretty close to here. We’ve been making art ever since. It was last year that I was able to hire her; we got busy and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, let’s make our dreams come true and do this for a living.’ It was just me for about the first year, and I was very overwhelmed. Whitney is an incredible artist. I spent a lot of my time developing music and photography, while she’s been focusing more on art her whole life; so her illustrations are a bit more refined than mine.

She’s very meticulous with pen and ink, and has a really good eye for color palettes. I’m thrilled I get to

Courtesy of Annie Brooks

have her onboard. It has also always been my dream to write kids’ books, and I thought it was something I’d do in my late ’60s. But I’m going to do that one a little sooner.

and writing out different autographs.

Calligraphy is a dying art form, but you’re doing a lot of it. How did you learn?

I had no interest in style or trends of any kind until I was in my early teens and I went to Japan. I came home and I was like, ‘Mom, oh no, I love fashion.’ Fashion there is so fun and playful and over-dramatized.

After that, I started sketching little rabbits in outfits.

And places like Cuba, with all the texture, dilapidated buildings and bright colors. The elegance of Europe.

Krakow in Poland, all of the folk art, the fun and playful florals. Seeing the origins and the cultures that have birthed some of the people I follow and admire is such an honor.

It’s sad! I don’t think they even teach cursive in schools anymore. My parents would go on tour and leave me at home sometimes, and my mom’s mom would occasionally come watch me. She would force me to sit down at a coffee table and practice. She’s an incredible calligrapher and fine artist, the most classical artist in the family. So she taught me and I loved it. Since that age, I’ve been making up fake alphabets

How does traveling inspire your art, and what are the most life-changing places you’ve visited?

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For a small city and a mountain town at that, Durango has an increasingly impressive LGBT scene. As American society makes hesitant strides toward mainstream acceptance of queer culture (hello, Caitlyn Jenner), Durango has followed suit. This June marks the Durango Pride Festival’s seventh year; the more LGBT events on peoples’ radar, the more visibility and understanding the community will garner.

But it’s not only about events. Feeling at home inside the comfort of your own four walls is important – yet having a public place to go where you can regularly hob-nob with likeminded people is also necessary. For many LGBT individuals, normal bars aren’t havens. Although our country’s laws have changed to welcome gay marriage, not everyone’s attitudes have magically transformed. There are plenty of homophobes still at large, and running into them on a night out with friends is hardly ideal. Plenty of people would prefer to have their own safe space, and gay bars fit that bill. It’s always preferable to mix and mingle with your own type, hence the invention of sports bars, bars for live music, dive bars, dance clubs, whatever. Fort Lewis College students in the infant stages of coming out or exploring their sexuality would have a distinct locale to visit and get an idea of what the lifestyle is all about.

Maybe you want to use a gender-neutral bathroom. Maybe you want to listen to Whitney, Rihanna or Katy Perry belt out their best dance-friendly hits. Maybe you want to hit on someone without having to question their sexual intentions first. Maybe you want to go to a place where the men are well-dressed, nice-smelling and impressive on the dance floor. Not to mention, gay bars are a place where women can theoretically escape the male gaze and let loose without the imminent threat of having to flirt or fend off admirers. Ultimately, everyone could benefit from a little environment that casts off the repressive gender and sexuality norms we’re all so accustomed to. And just think about what it will do for our progressive street cred!

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The power of vulnerability in storytelling Hearts will be on storytellers’ sleeves at the The Raven Narratives’ May performance in Durango and Cortez.

By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold | Photos by McCarson Jones DGO Staff Writer

T

oday’s culture revolves around highlight reels. We showcase only our proudest accomplishments on a résumé (sometimes even exaggerate them a little) and carefully curate Facebook profiles to show exes what they’re missing. As a counterbalance to the trend of artificial humblebrags, “The Moth” started up in New York City: a series of live storytelling events in which normal people (and occasionally celebrities) stand in front of a crowd and own up to the suckiest, strangest, deepest and most illuminating moments of their lives. “The Raven Narratives” was formed in the same tradition, by Four Corners residents Sarah Syverson and Tom Yoder. Their next event in Cortez is Friday, May 20, at the Sunflower Theatre, and in Durango it’s this coming Saturday, May 21, at the Durango Arts Center. Akin to the confessional comedy of Louis CK, this kind of honest storytelling feels relatable and tends to strike a chord with people. Hearing people admit to foibles, heartbreaks and breakthroughs makes us feel better about our own bad times, and hearing what they’ve learned from those experiences can be helpful, too. It’s also cathartic for the raconteurs, almost like talk therapy in a public sphere.

How it works This weekend’s Raven Narratives will feature eight regional storytellers who have privately hashed out their tales for weeks, even months.

There is only one off-the-cuff story per Raven Narratives event: Audience members are invited to put their name in a “crackerjack box” during intermission, and if your name is picked, you go onstage to tell one short story (4 to 5 minutes), the only requirement being that it stays

on theme. The “theme” for the group’s May performance is “Baggage,” intended as both a literal and metaphorical interpretation.

The Raven Narratives’ participants don’t volunteer on a whim. People send in story pitches online and Yoder and Syverson collect names, then spend time sitting down with each potential entrant. “We choose Continued on Page 14

but at the end of “ Ittheis scary; day, being vulnerable

can give you a lot of power.

Power over yourself.

Chris Blankenship

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”

I imagine cavemen sitting “around a fire, before there was

any technology. This is how people connected to each other.

Katie Burford

”

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From Page 12

who relates to the theme best, and we want gender and racial diversity,” said Yoder. “We talk to them about what might be good to emphasize.

Some people tell stories and there’s little details they skim over – but as a listener, you want to know how something smelled or looked like or what color it was – so we try to draw out that richness.” Yoder isn’t looking for perfectly-polished narrators, either.

A much higher premium is placed on authenticity. No points are taken off for saying “um” or “ahh” too much.

The biggest challenge lies in getting to the meat of a story that’s complex and broad in only 8 to 10 minutes. Fortunately, there’s little need to worry about preparing a clever resolution: “Sometimes the stories lend themselves to a moral, and sometimes they’re just like, ‘Wow I can’t believe that thing Syverson happened, and there’s no way to glean a moral from it,’” said Yoder.

All four of the storytellers mentioned here are first-time participants in The Raven Narratives. For local photographer McCarson Jones, “baggage” refers to her family baggage, marriage baggage and the world travels she took with actual luggage in order to leave all that behind. Narratives co-founder Tom Yoder’s story dates back to his life as a 5-year-old, relating to his father’s experience with baggage as a pilot. Katie Burford, owner of Cream Bean Berry, will focus on a key transitional period during which she decided to leave journalism and begin making ice cream for a living. And Chris Blankenship, counselor at Open Sky Wilderness, will speak quite literally about the weight and meaning of the physical things we carry.

Vulnerability in public Few experiences render you more vulnerable than standing before an audience sharing a deeply personal moment from your life. There might be friends watching, but there will also be strangers or even mildly hostile acquaintances (Just kidding). In a secluded town like Durango, there’s a good chance you’ll already know

grocery store!” At events or parties buffeted by meaningless small talk, there isn’t often an opening to break out your most poignant material.

“This story isn’t something I want to bring out at a social gathering,” said Jones. “It’s pretty deep and intense. I have to be in the right space.”

Though the process may seem terrifying, the whole point of Raven Narratives is to let your defenses down in the appropriate setting. As a profession, Jones photographs regular people in various states of undress for her sensual “Underpinnings” series, thus she’s no stranger to eliciting vulnerability from others, and she’s clearly learned a thing or two. “I’m not afraid of how my story will be accepted,” Jones said. “The people who attend want to hear what you have to say. They want to be moved by what you share.” Blankenship is nervous, but similarly confident the audience will be supportive. “We all want to be heard,” he said. “We all want to connect with people through the explanation of our lives. It is scary; but at the end of the day, being vulnerable can give you a lot of power. Power over yourself.”

Owning your failure

not afraid of how my story will “ I’m be accepted. The people who attend want to hear what you have to say. They want to be moved by what you share.

McCarson Jones

half the people in the theater – but they might not REALLY know you.

“There’s a benefit to telling these stories to people you know,” said Yoder.

“You can expose some part of you that people didn’t know about. A lot of the feedback storytellers get is, ‘I never knew all these people around me had such rich stories!’ You start to see the community differently as you look at

”

people and wonder what kind of story THEY could tell.”

Just bear in mind when bearing your soul: You can’t take it back. “On the one hand, I will have friends out there, so they’ll be willing to cut me some slack,” laughed Burford. “But when you’re exposing personal details to people who may just be acquaintances, you’re going to see them in the

Most people want to act as if they have life all figured out. But we’re all just glorified thespians, gamely acting like we know what we’re doing.

There’s no script to follow, no cues we’ve been trained to recognize. We’re winging it, for the most part, though we try our best to hide any obvious confusion. “I’ve had the experience of being on Facebook and feeling like everybody is doing amazing, wonderful things and my life sucks,” said Burford. “This is a palliative to that.

I think people respond to it because it’s in our DNA; I imagine cavemen sitting around a fire, before there was any technology. This is how people connected to each other.”

Flaunting your mistakes may seem antithetical to the self-promotion and résumé-building to which we’ve become accustomed. But personal essays about abuse, childhood trauma or everyday life experiences get huge traffic on the Internet. Reality TV shows where people humiliate themselves and show their truest, most unflattering colors are unstoppably popular. Storytelling of this nature can be likened to switching on the light in a Continued on Page 15

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a benefit to telling these “ There’s stories to people you know. You

can expose some part of you that people didn’t know about.

Tom Yoder

From Page 14

bedroom at night to confront the burglar you suspect of prowling around by your closet. “By telling the story, by owning it, you’re taking the power away from it,” said Blankenship.

“When you shed light on your failure, you’re saying, ‘I’m comfortable with this, I’m not ashamed.’ Those stories are the most relatable. We have the most empathy for that.”

There’s plenty to learn from defeat

”

and rejection (arguably, even more than there is to be learned from success). “I think the best stories come from those moments of failure,” said Yoder. “We don’t want to pull the armor off that we wear all day long; it’s shiny and nice and looks great.

But one of the gifts of storytelling like this is it can make you look at people differently, or even forgive them.

Like, ‘I didn’t know what that person has been through. I never would’ve thought they’ve been through that.’”

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[art]

Anya Jaremko-Greenwold | DGO

Morally questionable artists & their art: Where to draw the line?

I

n case you haven’t heard, filmmaker Woody Allen is under fire yet again. The sexual abuse allegations made against him by Dylan, his daughter with Mia Farrow (Dylan penned an open letter in the New York Times over a year ago) state that she was molested by her father at the tender age of 7.

Dylan’s brother Ronan has publicly backed her story, and last week published a seething op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter declaring support for his sister and condemning both Hollywood and the press for allowing Allen continued success in the film business. Allen was never convicted of these charges, and his defenders (including another of his sons, Moses Farrow) allege that Mia took bitter revenge following her divorce from Allen (who went on to marry Mia’s adopted daughter, Soon-Yi), implanting the false notion of Allen-as-molester in Dylan’s head from a young age. Phew. A tangled web, to be sure.

I have no superior knowledge of this case. I fervently believe abuse victims should be encouraged to speak out, as they are far too often silenced. I’m happy Dylan and Ronan were given the chance to tell their stories. And I agree with Ronan: Far too many powerful men escape justice in the face of heinous crimes because they’re protected by status, money or artistic acclaim. Graphic testimony from 30 or 40 of Bill Cosby’s rape victims was needed before global opinion of the legendary comic began to shift.

It’s essential to discuss this, to hear and consider every perspective. But recently, many people have called for censorship of the art itself, a hasty and troublingly restrictive course of action. Some declare the treasuring of Woody Allen films (a common pastime of cinephiles the world over) renders you a supporter of child rape or an advocate for the dismissal of abuse victims. I think the censorship of art is dangerous, regardless of an artist’s ethics.

“Alice Through the Looking Glass,” the hallucinatory follow-up to Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” (2010) hits theaters at the end of this

Wikipedia

»» Lewis Carroll’s 1858 photograph of Alice Liddell as a beggar girl.

month. Today’s digital landscape afforded Ronan and Dylan the chance to publish inflammatory articles reaching a wide audience – but the author of “Alice,” Lewis Carroll, lived and worked in the 19th century pre-Internet. That’s probably why so few people know about his controversial relationship with Alice Liddell, the real little girl who served as Carroll’s titular and narrative inspiration. There is no direct evidence of foul play between the grown man and his child friend, but Carroll (like “Peter Pan” author J. M. Barrie after him) spent an inordinate amount of time hanging around kids, Alice

being his favorite. He took beautiful photographs of them, often in mildly seductive poses. Some of these photos feature Alice herself, white dress slipping off her shoulder. Possibly innocent. Possibly an echo of a more adult sentiment. It’s hard to know.

There are many great artists who have had led dubious or even morally destitute private lives.

There are also scores of similarly powerful men who haven’t used their money and status to make art that shapes and inspires us (the Koch Brothers, Martin Shkreli, Donald Trump). Making good art is by no means a consolation for nastiness. But despite the accusations leveled against Allen, I cannot so easily relinquish the joy his films have brought me.

His movies (especially the early, funny ones) are love letters to New York, celebrations of neuroses and uncertainty, musings on the philosophical implications of death. “Annie Hall” taught me real love doesn’t fade just because a relationship ends. “Manhattan” taught me you can fall in love with a place as easily as you can with a person. “Love and Death” made me laugh harder than any film ever has. And I’ll never stop rereading “Alice in Wonderland,” a book of dazzling nonsense and mad fantasy. We cannot discard works of art and literature because the men behind them were assholes. Carroll’s contribution to the eternal collection of human expression is too important. So is Allen’s.

I want art to be good, challenging and life-affirming. Even if the artist is reprehensible, the art is offensive and the message flawed, dark or unpleasant, I defend the artist’s right to make it. Artists are mere mortals who will eventually die – but their work lives on. Once released into the world, art ceases to be a contained and static entity and becomes a piece of humanity instead, belonging to no one and everyone. A million different interpretations are heaped upon it, and it absorbs them all, like a giant sponge. That’s where the distinction needs to happen. As Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote in The Atlantic, “You could even say that art is akin to an artist’s child, and so we shouldn’t blame the progeny for the sins of the parent.” Touché.

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[movies] Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Playing at Stadium 9 Rating: R Genre:

Comedy Directed by: Nicholas

Stoller Written by: Seth

Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Brendan O’Brien, Nicholas Stoller, Andrew J. Cohen Runtime: 1 hr. 32 min.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 67% Synopsis: Young parents Mac and

Kelly Radnor find their troubles are far from over after a sorority moves in next door that is even more debaucherous than the fraternity before it, and they have to ask for help from their former enemy, Teddy.

The Angry Birds Movie Playing at Stadium 9 (Also available in 3-D with surcharge) Rating: PG Genre:

Animation, kids & family Directed by: Clay Kaytis, Fergal

Reilly Written by: Jon Vitti Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 55% Synopsis: In the 3-D animated

comedy, “The Angry Birds Movie,” we’ll finally find out why the birds are so angry. The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds – or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad) and the volatile Bomb (Danny McBride) have always been outsiders.

But when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to figure out what the pigs are up to.

‘Nice Guys’ delivers blood-splattered fun

By Richard Roeper The Chicago Sun-Times

Well, here’s a paragraph I never thought I’d send your way: Forget about Kevin Hart and Ice Cube in “Ride Along 2,” or Zac Efron and Robert De Niro in “Dirty Grandpa” or Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson in “Zoolander 2.” Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling are the funniest duo of the year so far in “The Nice Guys.”

Crowe is a deadpan hoot as a hulking thug in a hideous blue leather jacket, and Gosling scores big laughs with some perfectly timed physical shtick in director/co-writer Shane Black’s homage to the gratuitously violent, lurid, politically incorrect buddy films of the 1970s and ’80s.

Black was the screenwriter for the original “Lethal Weapon” (1987), and he’s had an up-and-down career since then, hitting a new high recently with his standout directing job on “Iron Man 3” (2013). It’s not always clear if he’s lampooning or paying homage to the bone-cracking R-rated buddy movies of 30 and 40 years ago; maybe a little of both. Maybe we’re not supposed to overthink this one.

In this loony, blood-spattered 1970s period piece, Black takes us on a convoluted, darkly funny journey that begins with the spectacular and horrific death of a porn star and ends with an extended shootout in which much glass is shattered, many twisted bodies wind up on the pavement and a number of individuals risk their lives to gain possession of a porno movie that’s actually a scathing indictment of the Big Three Detroit automakers.

For real.

Gosling is a seedy, booze-soaked private eye named Holland March, who’s not above taking money from a delusional old lady who has hired him to look for her “missing” husband, who’s been dead for years. (Hence the ashes on the mantle bearing his name.)

Crowe plays Jackson Healy, who also calls himself a private eye, but seems to be more of a goon-for-hire, using brass-knuckle punches to scare off predators and intimidate his targets.

When Margaret Qualley’s Ame-

Daniel McFadden/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP

»» Ryan Gosling, left, and Russell Crowe star in “The Nice Guys.”

The Nice Guys Playing at Stadium 9 Rating: R Genre: Drama Directed by: Shane Black Written by: Shane Black, An-

thony Bagarozzi Runtime: 1 hr. 56 min.

Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 96%

lia, a mysterious woman in a yellow dress, hires Jackson to dissuade Holland from trying to find her, Jackson introduces himself by punching and kicking Holland and finally snapping Holland’s left forearm.

And that’s about the 10th most violent scene in this film.

After this meet-brute, somehow Holland and Jackson decide to team up to track down Amelia, who participated in the aforementioned artsy porno activist movie that will expose Detroit automakers for polluting the air rather than spending the money for catalytic converters.

Someone out there REALLY doesn’t want this movie to see the light of day.

A number of individuals involved with the film have turned up dead, and it looks like Amelia could be next unless Holland and Jackson find her first.

Angourie Rice deftly takes posses-

sion of every scene she’s in as Holland’s 13-year-old daughter, Holly, a whip-smart kid who has to act as a caretaker for her drunken father and has mad P.I. skills of her own to boot.

Black, cinematographer Philippe Rousselot and the production design team re-create an ultra-smoggy, 1977 Los Angeles filled with touchstones from the era, from the signage at The Comedy Store touting Robert Klein, Richard Lewis and Tim Allen, to the billboard for “Smokey and the Bandit,” to the fashion and the cars of the time, to a hired assassin nicknamed “John Boy” because he resembles the young hero of “The Waltons.”

With a running time of 1 hour, 56 minutes, “The Nice Guys” has a little extra padding that isn’t necessary, i.e., a trippy dream sequence that’s just weird and devoid of laughs, and a mini-subplot about one of Holly’s friends.

But Crowe and Gosling save the day.

They both look like hell for most of the film, with neither actor demonstrating a wisp of vanity as they throw themselves into this cheerfully nasty mess.

Gosling in particular kills it, whether he’s battling a bathroom stall door while trying to keep a gun trained on an intruder, literally stumbling onto a corpse or doing the worst job of breaking a pane of glass over a locked door in the history of the movies.

�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 17

[ weed ] Seeing Through the Smoke Christopher Gallagher

Cypress Hill: Godfathers of weed-worshipping hip-hop

I

’d like you to use your imagination (or memory for us oldsters) and try to picture a scenario: It’s fall, 1991. There’s no such thing as a “legal state.” There’s no medical marijuana, certainly no recreational marijuana, no ballot initiatives on the horizon for another half-decade, no decriminalization, no laws in D.C. that nobody can understand, nothing.

Weed isn’t legal in any way, shape or form.

There’s police harassment. There are felony charges. There’s mandatory minimum sentencing.

Hip-hop is leaving it’s Old School phase, gangster (I left the “r” there for Tipper Gore) rap is taking over and things are shaping up to give us the Golden Age of 1993 to 1994.

All of the sudden, from every dorm room, from every basement apartment full of 20-somethings, from every car bought for 500 bucks and outfitted with another 500 worth of stereo equipment was Cypress Hill. It was lit.

With an eponymous debut featuring a skull with a cannabis fan leaf descending the forehead and a track list that included “Light Another,” “Stoned Is The Way of The Walk” and “Something For The Blunted,” the West Coast trio of Lawrence Muggerud aka DJ Muggs, Senen “Sen Dog” Reyes and Louis “B-Real” Freese established itself as the epicenter of cannabis-worshipping hip-hop, paving the way for Snoop Dogg, Red and Meth, and Wiz Khalifa to sing the praises of “the joint,that marijuana,the sensi,the kind, mota, boca loa-loa, Maui Wowie,

Mexican greenbud, cheeba, cheeba, Yeska, Humboldt County, the crypt, the chocolate Thai, the Afgani, the Meefrakan, the Indo, the skonka, the bad breath sens.”

Backed by Muggs’ beats, B-Real’s exaggeratedly nasal-delivered stories of Los Angeles Latin street life selling pounds, carrying shotguns and dealing with “pigs” like the infamous “Sergeant O’Malley,” the group hit the road and began a career delivering, arguably, the best concerts in the

»» Cypress Hill’s Louis Freese, known as B-Real, performs in London in 2015.

Associated Press file photo

history of the genre, embodied by a six-foot mechanical joint used as a stage prop and punctuated by Sen’s yeoman work on percussion and guttural lyrics that perfectly offset the high-pitched whine of his stage and studio brother, Freese.

Cypress Hill’s debut album momentum rolled into seven releases by the turn of the millennium, a music festival tour aptly named Smokeout, and, as time passed, a role as godfathers of the cannabis movement.

The 21st century has seen the release of less Cypress Hill music than the 1990s, but they have become ensconced in a wide range of areas including education, legalization support and, especially in the case of Freese, entrepreneurship; B-Real (aka Dr. Greenthumb after a character created in a series of late ’90s songs) has expanded his influence among marijuana lovers to include ventures selling a line of glass smoking equipment, cannabis seeds, opening a dispensary in California and creating his own strains known as Tangerine and Jet Fuel OG. He has also kept his big toe dipped in the entertainment waters through his web series B-RealTV. As Cypress Hill travels its 25th turn around the sun, there is a new album on the way, shows to be played, money to be made and a legacy to be expanded upon. It’s been an interesting transition from rough young potheads to cannabis OGs, and the future looks hot for the trio. Do yourself a favor, DGO. Catch these guys if you get chance this year, and in the meantime, throw on some Latin Lingo and spark another Owl. Christopher Gallagher lives with his wife and their four dogs and two horses. Life is pretty darn good. Contact him at chrstphrgallagher@gmail.com

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18 | Thursday, May 19, 2016 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[review]

[Netflix and chill — 420 edition]

‘The Jungle Book’

Associated Press

»» Snoop Dogg may or may not have renamed the strain Cush to Green Crack.

Green Crack What is it?

Despite its popularity as a new strain in Colorado, this 21.9 percent THC bud was first bred in the ’70s in Athens, Georgia, as “Cush.” As it made its way to California it became popular in the music industry for its energizing yet focused high, and is rumored to be renamed by Snoop Dogg as Green Crack.

This mostly-sativa strain is the result of crossing a Sweet Leaf indica and a Skunk #1.

The effects The example I had gives you an immediate and strong head high by the time you’ve exhaled your first hit. The buzz is racy and euphoric with very little body effects. Because of its strength, I backed off after only a few hits, but pushing her might end up in the most intense psychoactive experience of your life.

The smell Opening the jar gives off a very fruity citrusy aroma that finishes more like fresh mango, which is actually one of its nicknames.

There’s only one human actor in Jon Favreau’s new film “The Jungle Book,” an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s beloved story, but the carefully selected voice actors allow the movie to brim with humanity all the same. Faithful to the 1967 Disney original, the “Jungle Book” reboot (currently in theaters) tells the tale of Mowgli, an orphaned boy raised by animals in the Indian wilderness. The animals refer to Mowgli’s human qualities (like drinking from a cup) as “tricks,” but they still love him. Except Shere Khan the Bengal tiger, who wants to kill him.

Nine stoned thoughts I had while watching:

honey, but also instills a spirit of invention and individuality in the boy. “They’re not tricks – it’s the Mowgli way!” he tells his human friend.

5. I changed my mind about the dogs vs. cats thing.

Bagheera the panther is wise and kind, so Disney is suggesting cats can be good or bad, depending. I’m OK with that.

6. I normally hate CGI; it’s an imitation of life, and a poor one at that. It will never fool us. But the animation of Shere Khan is stunning, and the scene when he’s terrorizing four wolf puppies in front of their mother nearly gave me a heart attack.

1. This movie is about dogs being better than cats, isn’t it? Shere Khan is sly and nasty, whereas the wolf pack is sweet and noble. As a cat lover, I’m a bit offended.

7. Would you have sex with Scarlett Johansson as Kaa the snake? It’s creepy-sexy. The snake is super seductive because she wants to eat Mowgli, but I feel like most men would probably fall for that in a heartbeat.

2. I like the idea of jungle animals worshipping elephants and thinking they’re old gods. Elephants are badass. They mourn their dead. I would totally worship them.

8. The animation of the behemoth monkey King Louie is also great. He has saggy boobs, giant swollen facial glands and Christopher Walken’s voice, which is the weirdest and most perfect combo.

3. There’s a scene in which a seemingly innocent creature manipulates Mowgli by preying on the universal human inability to resist a cute lil’ animal. It’s funny, but would Mowgli retain that instinct, brought up as an animal himself?

9. There are too many chase scenes. I want more sequences of joyful leisure, like Mowgli and Baloo floating down the river belting out “Bare Necessities.”

Pretty sure Baloo has smoked some jungle herb in his day (he’s voiced by Bill Murray, after all).

4. Baloo the bear is both a nice guy AND a con artist.

It’s cool to show that complexity. He uses Mowgli to get

—— Anya Jaremko-Greenwold

TAKING YOU HIGHER

$7 Lunch Special Monday-Friday 11am-4pm

The look It’s a very tasty sweet inhale with a bit of earthy mint on the exhale.

This Week’s Events THURSDAY 5/19 $3 pints 2-1 Ladies Night & Open Mic

The taste I like the fruity, earthy taste, and it’s smooth enough for big inhales.

The final verdict Approach this one with caution. It’s very pleasant in normal doses, but when you take her deep, she has the potential to take over your brain and make you nonfunctional. This is a fantastic daytime strain for those boring tasks around the house or a nice walk in the foothills.

It’s definitely a mood enhancer and will elevate your spirits immediately on the first hit. I really liked it during mid-day, and the high wore off comfortably within an hour and a half.

—— Patrick Dalton Durango Recroom

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�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 19

[love and sex]

After years of free porn, is it time for a penance?

Savage Love | Dan Savage

Over the years, I have consumed what I believe to be an average amount of porn for a 44-year-old hetero guy. I have never paid for it, and I am now facing a troubled conscience for that fact. I could obviously just subscribe to some site or other now, but that would benefit only one company and/ or set of performers. Is there a Dan Savage–approved charity relating to the adult film industry to which I could donate?

Seeks Penance And Needs Knowledge “Porn performers almost never get royalties for their scenes when they work for big studios,” said Conner Habib, a writer, activist and porn performer. “If you buy into the trickle-down theory of things, then more money for the studio should mean more money for the performers. If you don’t buy into that – and not everyone does – there are other options.”

To get your money directly to the performers whose work you’re currently enjoying/stealing, SPANK, you can patronize smaller studios run by performers, book time with independent webcam models and purchase porn created by performers on sites like Clips4Sale.com.

To atone for your years of freeloading, SPANK, you can and should make large donations to two organizations.

“The Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC) (apac-usa. com) is the largest performer-based organization in the world, and its membership is made up entirely of performers,” said Habib. “Full disclosure: I’m the vice president, but no donation money goes to me or any board member. It all goes to the organization, which works to improve the working conditions, quality of life and safety of performers, as well as to fight anti-porn laws and stigma.”

Habib also recommended donating money to the Sex Workers Outreach Project (swopusa.org).

“This isn’t a porn-specific organization,” said Habib, “but it works to protect and fight for the rights of all sex workers. Since many performers are doing other forms of sex work, donations go a long way to help porn performers.”

Habib will be hosting an online lecture/seminar about the upside of porn on June 5. His talk is titled “Pornworld: Why Pornography Is a Healthy Part of Our Culture,” and you can find out more about it by searching “pornworld” at Eventbrite.com. You can – and you should – follow Habib on Twitter @ConnerHabib.

I didn’t talk to my nearly-70-year-old dad for most of my 20s. Now that I’m back trying to maintain relationships with my parents, I am struggling.

My dad is the king of the overshare. He makes creepy comments about women who are about 30 to 40 years younger than him – including women who were kids when he met them but are now grown-ups. Not something I want to hear. I don’t think he is abusing anyone, just being creepy, but I desperately want him to stop with the inappropriate comments.

He makes about one creepy comment per phone conversation. If he were a person at work, I would be able to stand up for myself and say, “That is not appropriate.” But when he says creepy stuff, Dan, I’m a deer in the headlights. I go silent, it’s awkward and I keep hoping he’ll understand how weird he’s being. I would say something, but bringing up things that anger me causes him to act overly sorry, and that routine is annoying, too.

I asked my mom (they divorced a long time ago), and she had no suggestions. She was just like, yeah, he’s like that. Any suggestions on what to say?

Seeking Help Regarding Unpleasant Guy

“Dad! It creeps me out when you make comments about women you wanna [bleep]. I realize you’re a sexual person, and I honor that, and blah de blah blah blah. But these are thoughts you share with friends, Dad, not with your adult children. There’s no need to go into your oh-so-sorry routine, Dad, we just need to change the subject.”

My husband and I have been married for 16 years. We have been polyamorous for the past five years.

We are a bit mismatched sexually in many ways. Polyamory was our solution.

For much of this time, my husband had a girlfriend. Before I go on, let me say that I adore my husband in all ways except sex. We are raising a child together and are a good fit otherwise. I no longer have any desire to have sex with my husband.

Lots of men and women write in to complain about their partner’s low libido. This is not the case. My libido is fine. I just don’t want to have sex with my husband.

Whenever we would have sex in the past, I would get anxious and try to avoid it. We each have our issues.

He feels insecure and has trouble maintaining erections. I always felt desexualized – not by him, but when I was younger. Being a poly woman dating in my 40s has been incredibly empowering and sexy. But my husband’s experiences have been different. He is frustrated because it is hard for him to meet women, and his frustration is made worse by the fact that I don’t want sex with him either. When he had a girlfriend, our sex life wasn’t as much of an issue.

What should I do?

He’s unhappy. I’m frustrated. Neither of us wants to divorce. Should I force myself?

Lady In Baltimore Isn’t Desiring Obligatory Sex It is a truth universally acknowledged – in the poly universe anyway – that a married poly woman will have an easier time finding sex partners than a married poly man. Some men in open/poly relationships present them-

selves as dishonest cheaters rather than honest nonmonogamists because women would rather [bleep] a married man who’s cheating on his wife than a married man who isn’t cheating on his wife.

Go figure.

Anyway, LIBIDOS, the answer to your question – should you force yourself to [bleep] your husband?

– depends on your answer to this question: How badly do you want to avoid divorce? Because if your husband can’t or won’t pretend to be cheating, LIBIDOS, and if women won’t [bleep] him because he’s in an open marriage, your refusal to [bleep] him could wind up incentivizing divorce.

So to save your marriage, LIBIDOS, you might wanna [bleep] your husband once in a while. Forcing yourself to [bleep] someone is tiresome and dispiriting, I realize, but you can always close your eyes and think about someone you’d rather be [bleep]ing – a time-tested stratagem employed successfully by millions of people in loving, stable and sexually enervating/dead marriages.

And because you’re off the hook when your husband has a girlfriend, LIBIDOS, you might wanna do everything you can to help him find a new one – a stratagem employed by tens of thousands of women in poly relationships. You don’t want your husband stewing alone at home while you’re out [bleep]ing your boyfriend(s), LIBIDOS, because that ups the odds of your resentful/ un[bleep]ed husband asking you to close up your relationship again or asking you for a divorce.

So help him craft messages to women he contacts online, go to play parties and poly mixers with him, and vouch for him to women he’s interested in.

But between girlfriends, LIBIDOS, you’ll probably wanna [bleep] him once in a while. Lube for you, Viagra for him, pot for you both.

Dan Savage is a nationally syndicated sex advice columnist writing for The Stranger in Seattle. Contact him at mail@savagelove.net or @fakedansavage on Twitter and listen to his podcast every week at savagelovecast. com

20 | Thursday, May 19, 2016 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[happening]

Photo via The Jam for the Arens Fam Facebook page

»» Brian Arens, Tracy Arens and Quinn Deffenbaugh

A jam for a good cause

Courtesy of Carute Roma

»» Gypsy band Carute Roma will play along with The Afrobeatniks at Ska Brewing on Sunday to benefit the Arens family.

Thursday Art opening for Chandler Wigton, 5-7

p.m., Raider Ridge Cafe, 509 E. 8th Ave. Tim Sullivan, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle

Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Jack Ellis, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699

Main Ave., 247-4431.

Laugh Therapy, 8-10 p.m., The Irish Em-

bassy Pub, 900 Main Ave. Karaoke with DJ Crazy Charlie, 9 p.m.,

Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., 3752568.

Karaoke, 9 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

We Are Broken and We Are Whole, An

Evening of Experimental Storytelling, a oneman show written and performed by David Holub, 7:30 p.m., $10 suggested donation at the door, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., www.durangoarts.org.

Friday Andy Janowsky, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond

Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Dustin Burley, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium,

699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Open mic, 7-11 p.m., Steaming Bean, lo-

cated downstairs at the Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200, theirishembassypub. com.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

Saturday Henry Stoy, piano, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-

One of the best things about living in a community like Durango is that we all pull together when the going gets tough.

Recently, Tracy Arens and Quinn Deffenbaugh have both had significant medical expenses, and could use a little help.

This is where we come in.

From 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St. in Bodo Park, you can catch some live music and bid of auction items at The Jam for the Arens Fam. Ten buck at the door gets you live music by Carute Roma and The Afrobeatniks, along with special guests from Salt Fire Circus. There will also be a silent auction featuring gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants, art, gift baskets, acupuncture and massages, Spearhead tickets and more.

Rob Webster, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Tim Sullivan, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Karaoke, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

Open Mic Night, 8 p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

Ave., 259-9018.

Monday

Wednesday

Durango Shimmy Mob’s fundraising event for Alternative Horizons,

Four Corners Arts Forum, 9 a.m., KDUR

Fashion Fusion deConstructed,

1-4 p.m., the American Legion, 878 East Second Ave., Shelley Millsap at 589-9882 or https:// www.gofundme.com/durangoshimmymob.

Happy Hour Yoga, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Ska

$17.50/$28, 5:30 p.m., Fort Lewis College Ballroom. Durango Arts Center, Durangoarts.org.

Brewing Co., 225 Girard St., yoga and a pint of beer for $10, www.skabrewing.com.

Black Velvet, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle

Greg Ryder, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Robby Overfield, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond

Ace Revel, 6-8 p.m., Eno Wine Bar and Cock-

Pierre Bakery, 601 Main Ave., 385-0122.

Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Greg Ryder, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699

Main Ave., 247-4431.

91.9/93.9 FM, www.kdur.org.

Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Ace Revel, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699

Main Ave., 247-4431.

tail Lounge, 723 East Second Ave., 385-0105.

Bluegrass Jam, 6-9 p.m., Irish Embassy

Tango class with Leslie Carlson,

Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200, theirishembassypub.com.

Sunday

7-8:30 p.m., Groove U Durango, 26369 U.S. Highway 160, www.tangodurango.info, 5337231.

Open studio figure drawing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., $15/$10, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., www.durangoarts.org.

Henry Stoy, piano, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Jean-

Spoken Word, 7-9 p.m., Steaming Bean,

Karaoke, 8 p.m., 8th Avenue Tavern, 509

East Eighth Ave., 259-8801.

Pierre Bakery, 601 Main Ave., 385-0122.

Irish music jam session, 12:30 p.m.,

Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200, www.theirishembassypub.com.

Jazz church (experienced musician drop-in session), 6 p.m., Derailed Pour

House, 725 Main Ave., 247-5440, www.derailedpourhouse.com.

Blue Moon Ramblers, 7-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

located downstairs at the Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200, theirishembassypub. com.

Tuesday Terry Rickard, 5:30-10 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Outdoor tango practice, 6-8:30 p.m.,

Rotary Park, www.tangodurango.info, 5337231.

Bluegrass Jam, 6 - 9 p.m., Irish Embassy

Pub, 900 Main Ave. Pub quiz, 6:30 p.m., Irish Embassy Pub, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

Two-step dance lessons, 6:30-7:30 p.m., $10, Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., 799-8832.

Terry Rickard, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Continued on Page 22

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[happening]

HOME OF THE COOLEST MARGARITAS IN TOWN HAPPY HOUR

Monday-Friday 2:30pm-6pm 948 Main Ave • Durango, CO 970.259.7655

Courtesy of thelookofsilence.com

Thrive! Living Wage to host film screening La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition is hosting the premier Durango screening of the film “The Look of Silence” on Sunday night at Animas City Theatre.

The film, directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Joshua Oppenheimer, brings to light the mass killings targeting communists in Indonesia in 1965-66 by focusing on the youngest son of a family who had another son who was murdered. The surviving son, an optometrist named Adi, confronts the men who killed his brother – an unthinkably brave act given the fact that the murderers remain in power. This movie serves as a companion piece to Oppenheimer’s film “The Act of Killing.”

The event starts at 4:30 with food and drinks, with the movie starting at 5. After the film, there will be a message from the director and a discussion.

Tickets are $25, with proceeds going to support Thrive!, and you can get yours at ACT or by calling 903-0957.

From Page 21

“Earthly Presence,” through May, Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave.

Geeks Who Drink trivia, 8:30 p.m.,

Art exhibit, by Cheryl Berglund and Au-

BREW Pub & Kitchen, 117 W. College Drive, 259-5959.

Pingpong and poker tournament, 8

p.m., Moe’s, 937 Main Ave., 259-9018.

Karaoke with DJ Crazy Charlie, 9

p.m., Wild Horse Saloon, 601 East Second Ave., 375-2568.

Ongoing Under Pressure printmaking exhibit, through May 19, Barbara Conrad Gallery,

Durango Arts Center, durangoarts.org.

Solo exhibition of paintings by Patrice DeLorenzo, through May 28, Olio,

114 West Grand Ave., Mancos, www.oliomnacos.com.

National Art Honor Society students art work exhibit, through May 21, Du-

rango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.

tumn Cameron, through May 31, Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave. The Thread, solar plate etchings, through June 25, Art Library, Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., durangoarts.org/lauriearcher.

Art exhibit, by Chandler Wigton, through

June 29, Raider Ridge Cafe, 509 E. 8th Ave.

Submissions To submit listings for publication in DGO and dgomag.com, go to www.

swscene.com and click “Add Your Event,” fill out the form with all your event info and submit. Listings at swscene.com will appear both at dgomag.com and in our weekly print edition. Posting events at swscene.com is free and takes about one business day to process.

22 | Thursday, May 19, 2016 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

mantic excursions will appeal. Ooo la la.

Today, your focus is on shared property and the wealth of others. Don’t be envious because it’s just a waste of energy.

Be glad you have what you have.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22)

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You will have to go more than halfway when dealing with others today because the Moon is opposite your sign. This happens for two days every month. No biggie.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your involvement with a pet might be particularly important today. You feel concerned. It will please you to do something so that you feel better organized.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Bizarro

This is a playful, fun-loving day. You might want to play hooky or take a long lunch.

Sports events, social occasions and ro-

You need to cocoon at home or focus energy on your private life. Use this day to take a breather and pamper yourself among familiar surroundings.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) You have a need to relate to others today.

This is why you want genuine, heart-toheart discussions with people, not superficial chitchat about the weather.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Money and cash flow are a concern today.

You don’t like to discuss your finances with others, but you certainly think a lot about them. And today is one of those days.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Today the Moon is in Scorpio, which

makes you a bit more emotional than usual. This happens for two days every month. Just chill.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) If you can sneak away and get some time alone today, this will please you. You need a moment to pull your act together before you take it on the road.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) A conversation with a female friend could be significant today. You might discuss goals, future dreams or how to move forward with organizational plans.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) You feel restless and eager for something different today. Therefore, indulge this need. Go someplace you’ve never been before. Explore your world. Shake

it up a little!

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) Stay on top of banking, debt, taxes and all that red-tape stuff. Information is power, especially when it comes to your own personal finances. Know what’s happening!

BORN TODAY You are an energetic, fine communicator. Many of you are strong leaders as well. You will fight for justice, especially for the disenfranchised. In the next three years, you will experience a time of culmination, success and financial accumulation. That’s why it is wise for you to settle your debts this year. This is a social year that deals with the repercussions of last year’s change. © 2016 King Features Syndicate Inc.

[pages] Maria’s Bookshop bestsellers May 8 - 14 »»1. Rattlestiltskin, by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Erin Camarca (Hardcover) »»2. Durango: A Silver Past, A Golden Future, by Susan Dalton (Hardcover) »»3. The Sympathizer, by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Paperback) »»4. You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero (Paperback) »»5. Troubadour: Song of the Lark, by Clara Pierre (Paperback) »»6. All the Light We Cannot See,

by Anthony Doerr (Hardcover) »»7. We Are Called to Rise, by Laura McBride (Paperback) »»8. A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman (Paperback) »»9. The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz (Paperback) »»10. When Breath Becomes Air,

by Paul Kalanthini (Hardcover)

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IT’S COMING!

FASHION

FUSION de constructed

MAY 25· 2016

FORT LEWIS COLLEGE BALLROOM 5:30 PM - LIVE JAZZ, APPS AND DRINKS FOR PURCHASE

6:30PM - SHOW STARTS

An Amazing Runway Fashion Show Highlighting our Local Businesses and Raising Funds for The Durango Arts Center!

– TICKETS AVAILABLE – online at

www.durangoarts.org or from Four Corners Expos call 970.375.4511 or email sharon@durangoherald.com General Admission $17.50 VIP Seats $28.00 ––– SPONSORED BY –––

A BENEFIT FOR