Meow Wolf Still Rules

art entertainment food drink music nightlife Thursday, June 8, 2017

DGO

MEOW STILL

dgomag.com

Success, surprises, and what’s coming next at the Santa Fe multimedia art installation

FREE!

WOLF RULES

Also: Mountainfilm and the power of documentaries, DAC’s 10-Minute Plays, non-beer drinks to keep in mind, and how we can resist against drug tests

2017

DURANGO PRIDE FESTIVAL

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 - SUNDAY, JUNE 25

Join us!

We are looking for Sponsors! Food Vendors, Bands Retail Vendors, Entertainers, Drag Queens & Kings for Saturday, June 24 We are also looking for businesses and marching bands for our Pride Procession @ 12:00 with our Family Festival in the Park to follow Calling all QUEER artists!

Submit your art by June 19 for the ďŹ rst ever Durango Pride & Durango Arts Center Art Show

www.durangopride.org

For more info on sponsorship, procession and art show please contact: durangopride@gmail.com or Kristi @ 970-385-7202 /durangopride

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DGO Magazine

STAFF

What’s inside Volume 2 Number 33

June 8, 2017

Chief Executive Officer

8 Durango’s best shows

Douglas Bennett

Bryant Liggett showcases some of Erik Nordstrom’s favorite shows from the last decade and beyond in Durango.

V.P. of Finance and Operations Bob Ganley V.P. of Advertising David Habrat

Amy Maestas David Holub Editor/ creative director David Holub dholub@bcimedia.com 375-4551 Staff writer Patty Templeton Patty Templeton/DGO

ptempleton@bcimedia.com Contributors Jaime Becktel Katie Cahill

5

Katie Clancy

DAC’s 10-Minute Play staged readings On June 2, the Durango Arts Center’s theater filled to near-max for a staged reading of the finalists. It was a lowkey, high-energy performance where actors held scripts in hand.

Christopher Gallagher Alexi Grojean Meggie J Bryant Liggett Jon E. Lynch Cooper Stapleton 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

Igniting profound empathy and action Documentary films are windows into the lives and experiences of others, arousing empathy, compassion and a transmuting sense of deep connection. A trip to Telluride Mountainfilm made this all the clearer.

4

Love it or Hate it

8

Sound 8

Album Reviews 9

10 Um, we have other

things to drink

Founding Editors

From the Editor

Downtown Lowdown

V.P. of Marketing Kricket Lewis

4

10 Beer

What do you do when sobriety sounds like a good idea?

You drink other liquids than beer. There are a lot of other possible liquids suitable for drinking, and Robbie Wendeborn will walk you through his favorite non-alcoholic beverages.

11 Vintage Durango 16 Weed Elevated Discourse

16

Seeing Through the Smoke 17

18 Savage Love 19 Happening 21 DGO Deals

16 Resisting drug tests Legally consuming cannabis for either medical or recreational purposes can, and often does, get you called for drug testing that includes marijuana.

22 Horoscope/ puzzles 22 Pages 23 First Person

/dgomag

/dgomag @dgo_mag

ON THE COVER One of 12,597 dizzying stairwells at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. David Holub/DGO

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

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

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@dg

dg

[CTRL-A]

[ love it or hate it ]

David Holub |DGO editor

Skunk smell Love it

I’ll say it again of mind-blowing Meow Wolf: You. Must. Go. Editor’s note: This column originally appeared in the March 24, 2016 issue of DGO, following the opening weekend of “The House of Eternal Return” at Meow Wolf.

T

he adventure started with a group of artist friends who were headed to Santa Fe for the weekend. There would be an art installation opening at someplace called Meow Wolf. That’s all I knew. Just come, they said. With this awesome dynamic group combined with some art space called Meow Wolf ?

Rrrrrrwwwowwwww! Hail yes!

I cannot say it more simply. What I encountered in Santa Fe at Meow Wolf changed my life, altered my DNA, made me rethink what was possible through art, forced me to see the world differently.

I tell you this: You must go.

Part of what made the experience so amazing was that I had no idea what I was walking into. So, as much as I can, I’d like to preserve that aspect for when you go. Because you will go. You have to go. An empty void will exist in your heart for the rest of your days if you don’t go. You must go.

First, I’ll try to describe the indescribable. The 20,000-square-foot, high-concept, permanent installation called “House of Eternal Return,” was built by a collective of 135 artists with $2.7 million donated by famed author George R.R. Martin. The first thing you encounter upon entering is a house, a full-sized, full-fledged, expansive house. You walk in and the house is meticulously furnished and decorated like any real house, down to family photos on the walls, posters and trinkets in the kids’ rooms, books on the shelves, everything. It feels as if you’re snooping through someone’s life. From there, the mind-blowing, mind-twisting, sense-overloading, overwhelming journey begins. Only you don’t quite realize it, or the extent of it or how far it will take you.

From the house are real-life, life-size portals into other worlds, imaginative worlds. Think Alice in Wonderland or Willy Wonka. To get there, you walk through portals, refrigerator doors or an unassuming closet in a bedroom.

Everything in the space is interactive, and you are encouraged to touch everything. Nobs on trees create sounds. A haphazard, spiral staircase makes your surroundings light up as you go up and down.

There is an overarching narrative that ties everything together, which unfolds as you make your way through the installation, something you begin realizing then investigating as you go. That’s where memory and paying attention to detail makes the experience amazing. For instance, a small, 8-inch experimental model of a laser, sound-making contraption on a desk in one bedroom is a fully realized room in imaginary land, with what could only be described as functional laser harp with smoke and laser shows happening around it, a situation that nearly took me to see God. The scope and immensity of the art produced for this show was unreal. The artists produced easily thousands and thousands of works of art in every medium imaginable, filling and covering 70 different individual immersive spaces.

Each work on its own would elicit attention and praise if it stood alone in Durango, or maybe anywhere. One room – a kitchen – was painted in black and white to look as if you were standing inside a real-life cartoon. Elsewhere in one corner was a museum-style display case, full of trinkets and small sculptures. One was a 10-inch killer whale made of dozens and dozens of tiny killer whales. And this was one of a hundred pieces inside a room inside a room inside a world. That’s how the entire installation is. We spent over four hours inside, and I am certain there were many things we never saw.

The show made you question your surroundings and the reality within the reality. I found myself trying every door, opening every drawer, touching everything for what might happen. Often, there was something.

“House of Eternal Return” combines so many pieces: intellectual, artistic, sensory, textual. Upon leaving, our group was exhausted, mentally and physically.

I can’t even begin to describe it.

There’s something ripe, plump, juicy, and metallic about the smell of skunk, like a colossal cross between fermenting tropical fruit and permanent marker. And I can’t quite get enough of it.

My love of skunk has limits. Generally, the stronger the better – like when it’s so pungent your nose starts burning. Yes, burn the insides of my nostrils, you filthy skunk. But it reaches a point where it becomes too strong – like when my dog got blasted once – and then the odor takes on something sinister, something like burning rubber, and it ceases to be pleasant and makes me dry heave.

I’ve loved skunk as long as I can remember. Up until third grade, my mom cooked for our church every Wednesday night. Before and after she prepared the meal for dozens of church folks, my brother and I would play outside by the creek among the cottonwoods. If we got lucky, a skunk would fill the air with its pleasantness.

Perhaps my love of skunk is as simple as positive associations as a child. After all, scent and memory are closely tied in our brains.

I can’t quite peg what it is about the smell I love, namely because skunk doesn’t smell like anything else ... well, except for every apartment complex in Durango.

— David Holub

Hate it Here’s a list of awful things: Donald Trump sucking my toes while sitting in a kiddie pool of chocolate pudding, the Candyman appearing in the mirror while I’m putting eyeliner on, flies descending on my burrito like a biblical plague, tripping down a staircase while attempting a “sexy descent” in front of a crush, and a wet koala screaming outside my window then biting half my ear off when I try to let her in from the rain.

Awful scenarios, all of them. Yet, I would prefer any of these occur rather than having to smell a skunk. Eris forbid actually getting sprayed by one of the lil Pepe Le Pew m-effers.

Skunks are adorable. Necessary to the environment. I just like it when they are absolutely, GD nowhere near me. Their spray smells like malaise and old mayonnaise. Blegh. Hate it.

—— Patty Templeton

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[stage]

[democracy]

DAC’s 10-minute play staged readings

Trump’s rage tweeting

»» Mandy Gardner (left) and Ben Mattson perform in “Bonder-

News you need to know

FROM THE FILES OF

On Saturday, three attackers barreled a van into pedestrians on London Bridge then stabbed more at Borough Market.

servant,” by William Orem

President Trump’s response was to quote, out of context, London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Trump tweeted, “At least 7 dead and 48 wounded in terror attack and Mayor of London says there is ‘no reason to be alarmed!’”

at the 10-Minute Play Festival staged readings at the Durango Arts Center Friday.

NOT NORMAL

President Trump tweets all day, and usually, in a state of rage. Or so it seems, considering his lack of proper punctuation, spelling, or consideration to what his tweets mean to diplomacy, national moral, and U.S. security.

Brett Masse/Durango Arts Center

Scripts & winners in hand

»» A review of the

finalists for the DAC’s 10-Minute Play Festival

This year marks the seventh annual Durango Arts Center’s 10-Minute Play Festival. Writers submitted their most passionate, political, freaky, and fun scripts to the DAC back in February and from the more than 120 submissions, sent from as far away as New Zealand, judges picked five plays as finalists.

a young, hot dude’s bicep. If you’re unlucky enough to go on a date with him, and you probably will because he’s all over the dating apps, he’ll use your question about what his tattoo means to proselytize. “Bonderservant,” by William Orem, gets into the nitty gritty of when missionary work goes wrong.

On Friday, June 2, the Durango Arts Center’s theater filled to near-max for a staged reading of the finalists.

It was a low-key, high-energy performance where actors held scripts in hand. The purpose of the night? For DAC-assigned judges to pick a grand prize play to be awarded $500 and an audience-chosen fan favorite that would get $100.

“Crisis of Character,” by Scott Lummer, gets hella meta as it’s a play about unsatisfied actors in a play. Two female actors realize that their characters are written like crap and seek satisfaction from the playwright in a feminist, fun take on the attention men receive on the page versus women.

First up was “The Truth About Spicy Cajun Curry,” by Erin Glenn-Hash. You know you’re in for an attention-grabber when a couple is fighting over whether they’re going to the Renaissance Faire while the Id and Superego personified tango through the squabble.

“Where’s This Train Going,” by Bruce Guelden, was up next. God forbid a talkative tourist sits next to you on the train in NYC; they might be after more than just conversation.

When an older man thinks he’s dying but really, it’s up to his son to calm him.

“Good Things,” by Peter J. Stavro, explored the father-son relationship and what each generation can tell the other about how bad things “just happen,” but you have to work for the good things.

Servant of God is tattooed across

Why this is not normal

But who the heck won the greenback stacks? From the five finalists, the judges picked “Bondservant” as the Grand Prize winner and the audience, by a very narrow margin, picked “Where’s This Train Going.”

If you didn’t catch the staged reading, don’t despair. The full, costumed production of DAC’s Seventh Annual 10-Minute Play Festival will be held Oct. 13 through 15. Five 10-minute plays, plus a bonus locals’ spotlight play, will only set you back $12. You may even be in for some surprises! The only two plays from the staged reading guaranteed to go onto October’s festival are the prize-winners “Bondservant” and “Where’s This Train Going.”

Details at http://durangoarts. org/7th-annual-10-minute-play-festival —— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes America to be an unreliable ally. Now, Trump has publicly attacked our English allies. Trump thought he could misquote and throw London’s mayor under the bus to make his own travel ban look reasonable.

When, really, none of this is reasonable. A president tweeting everything that pops into his head isn’t a sign of transparency, it’s a sign of instability, impetuous decision-making, and lack of self-control.

Trump often talks about other countries laughing at the United States. Well, if they’re laughing, it’s out of hysterical terror that the most powerful man in the world doesn’t have the ethical fortitude to hold back a tweet, let alone navigate more complex issues.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

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[film]

Jaime Becktel

T H E P OW E R O F D O C U M E N TA RY F I L M S

Igniting profound empathy and action »» A trip to Telluride Mountainfilm delivers a ruthless kick to the gut

S

oft guitar music adds to the depth of the moment as I look into her kohl-rimmed eyes framed by steel-gray cheeks. I’m falling into those eyes, recognizing clearly for the first time this essence gradually coming into focus through her gaze. That essence is dignity – a being’s worth and their innate right to exist, and now that I’ve named it, I see it everywhere. The film is “Albatross,” directed by Chris Jordan, and it’s just punched a hole in my heart that will never heal. I watch these glorious birds – the Laysan Albatross – wheel and dance, soar and glide over the sea. I watch them tend to their precious eggs and downy chicks with incomprehensible devotion and then, I watch them die. It’s not every day that I watch something perish, but in this film, alongside images of shimmering life, there is death and suffering that I can hardly bear, and seeing it alters me, permanently.

Tens of thousands of albatross die on Midway Atoll in the north Pacific every year, their bellies full of sharp, indigestible plastic. Their decomposing bodies form feathered rings around piles of hard, colorful shards, ingested on trans-Pacific quests for food. So many of them lost, their necks arched in different directions like fossils of the bird-like dinosaur, Archaeopteryx. What hits me the hardest is the footage of their active suffering, up close and full on. I watch their writhing pain and flailing agony and my hand alternates between my heart and my mouth, tears of immense sadness rolling down hot cheeks. Our insidious dependence on

Contributed photo

»» A still from “Albatross,” directed by Chris Jordan, of the unaltered stomach contents of a dead albatross chick.

plastic makes us all complicit in the lament of these creatures. I am complicit, and the knowledge of this reality makes me want to do something, anything, immediately.

Jordan poses the following question in the trailer of his film: “Do we have the courage to face the realities of our time, and allow ourselves to feel deeply enough that it transforms us and our future?”

Within this query lies the activating power of documentary films – visual storytelling that continues to evolve in artistry, technique and scope of subject. Documentary films are windows into the lives and experiences

of others, arousing empathy, compassion and a transmuting sense of deep connection. They are mirrors, reflecting back to us our ugliness and our beauty, the dark gore and bright luminosity of our species. They are doorways, leading us into expanded dimensions of thought and technology, offering glimpses of what’s possible in contrast to our personal and collective past. They inform our populace and blow the whistle on greed, corruption, violence, and ignorance. In 2017, they have become rapid transit wormholes allowing for instantaneous action and engagement with a wide array of social and environmental causes.

Stash Wislocki, producer of the Telluride Mountainfilm Festival and director said documentary films have the power and potential to ignite almost immediate action.

“That’s what drew me to documentaries in the first place – their ability to be used as a platform for activism,” said Wislocki, who is also producer of multiple feature-length films, including “Dear Governor Hickenlooper” (2014) and “No Man’s Land” (2017).

“Documentaries used to be primarily journalistic, showing an objective perspective, but over the last two decades, I love how the industry has trended more towards biased films like “Damnation” (2014) and “The Cove” (2009), which both powered a lot of people to make changes. Documentaries allow for direct action to happen quickly. With “Chasing Coral,” (2017) they made the film and then offered this engagement arm through social media that activated immediate awareness, action and change.”

Seattle-based filmmaker Erik Koto debuted his documentary, “The Song Collector,” at Mountainfilm in 2016.

The film is about Morup Namgyal, a Himalayan folk singer who has dedicated his life to preserving the history and heritage of his people, the Ladakhis, through song and the creation of a school where the next generation is taught to appreciate the richness of the Ladakhi culture. Said Koto about the impact of his film, “The most powerful change I’ve observed as a result of making ‘The Song Collector’ is with the Ladakhi people themselves.

There’s the global impact of a film, but the personal impact on the people Continued on Page 7

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[film]

»» A still from “Albatross,” directed by Chris Jordan.

Contributed photo

From Page 6

involved has also been profound.”

Documentaries can be a ruthless kick to the gut, their content challenging and hard to digest.

“I’ve been with Mountainfilm for 20 years and these films still grab me and open my eyes,” Wislocki said.

“I understand that there are intense things in the world, but we need to talk about them in an intelligent manner. It’s incumbent upon us as our social responsibility to challenge ourselves to watch, even when we may not want to.”

Over the recent Memorial Day weekend, I attended the 2017 Telluride Mountainfilm Festival and burned through 30 short and feature-length documentaries in four days. By Monday my mind was awash in ideas and I struggled to maintain balance between the competing sensations of hope and despair. Our planet continues to warm with grave repercussions. Muslim extremists continue to indiscriminately destroy, species perch on the precipice of extinction, Syria is a hell-zone, refugees seek asy-

lum in a walled-up world, and the current U.S. government grows evermore resemblant of a totalitarian regime.

In so many ways we’re a seething, hot mess, but we’re also spectacular.

We’re bravery in the face of tyranny and perseverance through seemingly insurmountable trials. We’re innovation and solution, open hearts and open minds.

It’s been two weeks since I summoned the courage to dive deep into the reality of our time, allowing myself, as Jordan suggested, to feel deeply enough that it transformed me. Since the film festival, I’ve been in constant action and have made many changes, most notably resolving to no longer eat meat. As a way of minimizing my carbon footprint, it feels like the right choice, but really, truth be told, it all started with those kohlrimmed eyes – the eyes of a dying albatross, pleading with me to acknowledge the dignity of her life.

Jaime Becktel is a writer and illustrator living in Mancos. She can be reached through her website, www.carvedeepercontent.com.

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[sound]

Downtown Lowdown | Bryant Liggett

»» Erik Nordstrom’s ticket stub from the 2002 Hank Williams III concert at Storyville.

Courtesy of Erik Nordstrom

Erik Nordstrom’s favorite shows to pass through Durango

I

met Erik Nordstrom in 2000. I was the music director at KDUR; he hosted a 3 to 6 a.m. radio show. Since that time, he’s become a valuable friend; he came to the hospital when my kid was born and has always been a great source of music, whether it be new stuff recorded in some random studio in a random town, or old music I should have heard about years ago yet somehow my narrow ears missed.

We’ve had hundreds of beers together and just as many late nights filled with hilarity, and he’s a dude whose musical opinion I respect and trust. His bands, Lawn Chair Kings and Farmington Hill, are local staples, two acts that showcase his guitar playing, knowledge of the rock genre in the country and punk variety, and his own songwriting.

I know many people may say “no good music comes to Durango.” That’s a load; here are some of the Nord’s favorite shows from the last decade and beyond, some of which involved liberal drinking, the spilling of said beer, and general revelry that more than likely ended up with a handful of the Durango 40-something, aging punk rockers ending up in Nordstrom’s kitchen drinking more beer that they didn’t need and eating questionable pizza of the frozen variety.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy 2003, Storyville Nordstom says: I remember there being about 20 people at this show, but everyone was mesmerized by

Bryant’s best Friday: Hello, Dollface plays indie-soul, 5:30 p.m.

No cover. The Balcony, 600 Main Ave. upstairs. Information: 422-8008.

Friday: Blues rock with Indigenous, 7:30 p.m. $25.

Crash Music, 104 N. Main Ave., Aztec. Information: (505) 427-6748. his extremely unique songs and delivery. Bonnie “Prince” Billy’s voice conveyed genuine pain and redemption. The band went from deceptively simple folk arrangements to intricate moments of cacophony. The most spoken word of the evening was “wow.”

Hank Williams III 2002, Storyville Nordstom says: The house was packed for this one.

The first set featured Hank’s outlaw brand of country music, and the direct lineage to his grandfather was apparent with his vocal inflection and long face under the cowboy hat. The hat came off for the second set, allowing Hank’s long-haired mohawk to freely fly. The band transformed into “Assjack” and they played aggressive punk/ metal music that featured indecipherable lyrics. There was lots of thrashing, spilt beer, and good times.

Punk Rock Breakfast featuring The Thirteens 2003, Storyville Nordstom says: I’m not sure that everything I wit-

nessed that morning is fit for print. There was a strange sense of spirituality on that Sunday morning, with Erik Mischker screaming in our faces and climbing on the rafters to expose the skimpy undergarment that he had selected to wear on that ignoble occasion. Spilt beer, good times, and some eggs.

BR5-49 2002, San Juan Room Nordstom says: Featuring their original lineup that included songwriters Chuck Mead and Gary Bennett, as well as multi-instrumentalist Don Herron, BR5-49 brought everyone to their feet. I can’t say it was always pretty, with novice dancers twirling each other across the wood floor, often spilling beer in the process.

There were smiles all around on that fine evening in Durango.

My thoughts on the above »»I never should have skipped Bonnie Prince Billy, but I think my kid had just been born. »»Nordstrom left out “The Legendary Shack Shakers” opening for Hank III, and that dude Joe Buck playing in multiple bands. »»Punk Rock Breakfast may have been the greatest, most degenerate-filled event this town has ever seen, a glorious mess of friends. »»BR5-49 killed it.

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

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[sound] What’s new B Boys,“Dada” Available: Friday, June 16, via Captured Tracks as a download on various formats (MP3, WAV and FLAC), cassette tape, compact disc and standard black LP. Be one of the first 300 to pre-order vinyl directly from the label for a shot at one of the exceptionally sharp looking Coke Bottle Clear vinyl versions. Hurry, as these are first come, first serve.

I must admit, I wasn’t expecting a record of tinny discordant postpunk when popping in an album by a band named B Boys. The pleasant surprises didn’t end there. I am a fan

New at

June 9 Phoenix,“Ti Amo” With their sixth album, Versailles rockers Phoenix are poised to once again capture the heartstrings of a generation. The first single, “J-Boy,” starts with an almost foreboding synthesizer chord before exploding into a bacchanal of warm tones and colors, dreamy vocals delivering lines that flow excellently with the melodies of the keys and guitars. It reminds me of this prevailing trend in indie rock to embrace almost new wave vibes in the keyboards and lo-fi vocal delivery.

Great for those summer days with storms in the middle of them, with a perfect balance of dark and light.

Chuck Berry,“Chuck” Controversy aside, one cannot take part in discourse about popular music without acknowledging the contributions of Chuck Berry. The man basically invented rock ’n’ roll. Berry was never one to linger on the idea of albums, he was more of a singles man. “Chuck” is his first album after almost 40 years, and it comes a few months after his passing. Luckily for us, and surprising the skeptics, the man still had it at 90 years old. It’s not all ripping rock songs either, though solos are out in spades. Some of the better cuts on the record are the slower blues tracks, or my personal favorite, “Dutchman”, which is old-school bayou swamp storytelling blues, and it nails the atmospheres.

of the genre, admittedly, but there seems to have been a noticeable lack of “edge” to modern bands of said genre, in my opinion. A lack of curled-lipped, fist-clenching angst even. Don’t get me wrong, I really dig current acts such as Parquet Courts (who, coincidentally, the B Boys toured with a year ago) and Protomartyr. Both bands have made some of my favorite records of the last few years, though they seemingly take a higher-brow, almost literary (?) approach to rock ’n’ roll in their respective overall tone(s). On “Dada,” the debut long

Cigarettes After Sex,“Cigarettes After Sex” If you add the “ambient-” genre qualifier to pretty much anything, I will most likely check it out. That’s how Brooklyn ambient-pop group Cigarettes After Sex got my attention a few years ago. If Phoenix is the happy side of this sound, CaS is the melancholy aspect. The guitars are put through so many effects to become shimmering, luminous beings beyond their neck and strings. Bass and drums cut through the blur, adding an almost elevator music quality to it, in the best way. I know there are fans of Slowdive and Mazzy Star in this town; don’t be afraid of checking out new bands.

attitude in the recording. There is something in this record that hearkens to the genre’s beginnings, falling more in line with the classic albums made in the late ’70s, rather than the distilled versions usually heard today.

Recommended for fans of hard charging, classic post-punk made by the like of Wire, Gang of Four, and The Fall or more modern acts such as Parquet Courts, Protomartyr, or The Gotobeds. player from Brooklyn’s B Boys, there is a sense of throwback energy and

Metal music has been going through an artistic renaissance over the past five years or so, with no genre immune.

But somehow, some bands persist, and when so many death metal bands nowadays feel the need to add saxophones, Suffocation stands tall as the no-nonsense death metal titan they have been since 1988. It’s fast, it’s groovy, it’s

—— Jon E. Lynch KDUR_PD@fortlewis.edu

got an angry guy gurgling sand while shouting to the heavens about death.

These guys always bring the good stuff, though this record has a little bit cleaner production than some death metal does, so be prepared for that if you usually listen to stuff that was recorded in a cave with ’90s cellphone.

—— Cooper Stapleton

Kronos Quartet,“Folk Songs” Kronos Quartet is the reason I appreciate classical and chamber music now, where, when I heard a classical arrangement, they seemed too “soundtrack-y” to be of interest. But when I heard Kronos Quartet play George Crumb’s “Black Angels,” it melted my spirit into a charred and blubbering heap of emotion. That spurred a secret love affair with contemporary classical recordings centered on the musicians of Kronos Quartet. This record is a collection of interpretations of traditional folk songs like “The Butcher’s Boy.” The amount of gravitas and emotional weight carried through by the string performances (and a mighty rendition of the vocals

by Natalie Merchant) transcends the kitschy, older renditions in a way that only Kronos could.

Suffocation,“Of The Dark Light”

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[beer]

First Draughts | Robert Alan Wendeborn

Um, we have other things to drink. Let me show you some

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his time of year can be one of the heaviest drinking times living in Durango. In less than a month there is graduation, Taste of Durango, Iron Horse, and River Days. Throw in some very nice weather and outdoor day drinking, and you have the perfect combination for swearing off alcohol altogether. What do you do when sobriety sounds like a good idea? You drink other liquids.

There are a lot of other possible liquids suitable for drinking, and I’m going to walk you through my favorite non-alcoholic beverages.

Coffee Coffee is a beverage created by using water (I will return to this “water” later) to extract color, flavor, aroma and other characteristics, most notably, caffeine, from the pit of a tropical stone fruit. The pit, often called a bean, even though it is not actually a bean, is heavily processed by being fermented,

Alexi Grojean/Special to DGO

washed, dried, roasted, then ground in different ways according to local tradition, appetite of consumer, and numerous other reasons. Coffee can be served hot or cold, so it’s quite versatile. I highly

recommend coffee. It’s great.

Juice Now, “juice” is a fairly broad term, and you may

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[beer] find yourself asking, “What is juice”?

At the very basic sense, juice is the liquid portion of a fruit or vegetable.

Common fruit juices include apple, orange, cranberry, pineapple, and mango. Common vegetable juices include tomato, beet, carrot, and I’ve heard people will often juice kale.

Juices can be lots of different colors or textures. Just because it is a liquid derived from a plant, doesn’t mean that it is a juice. The sap of a maple tree is collected during the winter and used to make maple syrup, though this is not in the typical sense “juice.”

It’s also important to note that animals, though their bodies have ample amounts of liquids inside of them, are not used for the creation of juice.

Juice is pretty decent. I’d definitely give it a try if you haven’t.

Milk Milk is a hotly debated term in the consumer beverage market. On the surface, there appears to be many, many different types of milk, derived from many different sources: Almond milk, rice milk, coconut milk, milk milk, chocolate milk, etc. But what is milk, really? Milk refers to the white, medium to full-bodied liquid produced in the mammary glands of female mammals, which is fed to their young. If the young are separated from the mother and the milk is continued to be extracted, the mother will continue to produce milk indefinitely. Milk is pretty weird if you think

about it. When you drink milk, you are drinking a liquid that was extruded through the nipple of a mammal.

Milk is OK; I liked it a lot better when I was kid and it’s pretty good on cereal and very decent if turned into yogurt (a fermented milk product). Two and a half stars.

[Vintage Durango]

Water Out of all the possible non-alcoholic liquids that a person can safely consume, water is perhaps the most abundant and necessary. Water is a clear, light to no-bodied, naturally-occurring substance found on Earth and possibly throughout the universe, and is necessary for all known forms of life. Water can naturally be found warm, hot, cold, or it can even be a solid, in the form of crystal water – ice – or a gas, in the form of steam.

Most water on earth is salty, but there are abundant sources of “fresh,” or non-salinated, water. Water is so abundant that it regularly falls from the sky. Water is the best. There is not another beverage I’d suggest over water. I recommend serving it over ice. Bubbly water is also very good.

Good luck on your attempts at liquid sobriety. But remember, in the words of Frank O’Hara: You’ll never be mentally sober.

Robert Alan Wendeborn is a former cellar operator at Ska Brewing and current lead cellar operator at Tin Roof Brewing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

CHILD LECTURER!

DONALD TRUMP IS ...

»» Photo of Sony’s microcasette technology in the August, 23, 1992, Durango Herald.

Tiny sound Ahhh, the 1990s, when folks were impressed by a tiny tape that could record a whopping 90 minutes of “clear digital sound.”

Maybe there’s a secret techno Christ to thank for the constant expansion of technology, or maybe it’s just Moore’s Law. If we’re picking science gods, I’d be partial to worshiping a statue of Richard Feynman, physicist, lock pick, author, and Tuvan throat singer whose seminal Caltech lecture, “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom,” inspired minds like K. Eric Drexler to form the field of nanotechnology (nanotech being the creational of functional systems on a molecular scale).

So, think about nanoparticles that try to sniff out cancer in a body; 1 mmwide batteries; and contact lenses that hold the same tech as an entire virtual reality headset. Basically, tiny freakin’ tech.

Twenty-five years from now, what will we look back and laugh at? The idea of watching Netflix instead of having it projected into our brains by a molecular implant?

—— Patty Templeton

DGO A new video series at dgomag.com/videos ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, June 8, 2017 | 11

MEOW WOLF What went fab their first year and what’s in the works » »»» CEO and co-founder Vince Kadlubek talks about expanding the Meow Wolf experience, radically inclusive art, and pushback from traditional art markets

I

s that a house or an amalgamation of wormholes leading to parallel dimensions? Both!

The House of Eternal Return is a permanent, multimedia art installation that opened in March 2016, and takes up 20,000 square feet and, in the very least, two hours of your life to traverse through. It’s the enchantingly offbeat outcome of over 100 artists’ efforts to concoct a psychedelic, immersive art experience.

Meow Wolf is the arts production company behind it all.

They went from being a ragtag group of DIY artists to an internationally known art collective pushing a radically inclusive art movement in the span of a year.

DGO spoke to Vince Kadlubek, CEO and co-founder of Meow Wolf, about what they’ve learned and where they’re headed.

Outside of the pure number of people coming through, about a half a million of them, what’s something Meow Wolf’s really proud of at the House of Eternal Return?

Keeping true to our character and continuing the DIY aesthetic, because it is DIY, only on a much larger scale now. Maintaining that.

Not feeling like we have to contract out the operations or the finances or the fundraising. We do all of it ourselves. I’m really proud of that.

Christian Ristrow’s “Becoming Human Sculpture” Courtesy of Meow Wolf

At every step, there’s new learning

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How will the House of Eternal Return morph over the years, or will it be maintained as is?

The community we have built with our team and our fan base, the customers, it feels like, yes, we are a business, but it feels like we are something more than a business.

We’ve maintained this collective character and collective mentality, and a good amount of our customers feel that, too – like they are supporting a movement as much as they are supporting a single experience.

The House of Eternal Return had its first birthday in March. What’s a hella learning curve Meow Wolf faced during that time?

»» Vince Kadlubek, CEO of Meow Wolf, with

of the momentum and control it rather than have the momentum control us.

We closed down for two weeks in January. We added four major exhibition pieces that we promoted as being new rooms, new experiences.

We’ll probably do that once a year.

Then, maybe a couple years from now, we may do a larger expansion.

It is going to be minimal. It doesn’t need total overhaul. We want to keep it fresh.

Patty Templeton/DGO

»» A black and white room in the House of Eternal Return at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. curves that are of equal magnitude.

When we first started, it was understanding investment and fundraising and how to properly staff a team of artists and fabricators.

Once we opened, it has taken an entire year to get our operations to the point of being able to feel confident, step back, and let the thing run itself. There’s HR and insurance and all of the responsibilities of

employing 100-plus people.

Now that we have the operations down, I wish we would’ve been better prepared for success.

We were preparing for opening the doors to something we knew would be popular, but we weren’t planning on this being such a success so fast and I wish we had. We could have been better positioned to stay ahead

How the heck do you upkeep a logistical nightmare like the House of Eternal Return?

The audience is really a lot more respectful than you might imagine.

Everyone we meet in the theme park industry can’t believe that we just let people touch whatever they want. Things get damaged here or there, but for the most part, people are really respectful.

We close down once a week. Every Tuesday we’re closed. We use Continued on Page 14

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[Meow Wolf] From Page 13

Tuesdays to keep the place fresh. We don’t outsource the cleaning or maintenance; we do that, the artists do that. The people who made the exhibits are also taking care of it and improving it on a weekly basis.

Did Meow Wolf buy an enormous Caterpillar plant in Santa Fe? Yeah. It’s a manufacturing space. It’s where we’re going to be able to make all of the things that we’re currently contracted to make and then future major exhibitions.

Word on the street’s that there’s a mobile Meow Wolf in the works.

We are working on a traveling exhibition that will go to multiple venues around the country. Currently, we’re in negotiations to where that will land first.

There’s also rumblings of a new Meow Wolf installation in the works ...

We’re looking at two cities, specifically, Denver and Austin. Those are the cities we have the most momentum behind, but we are also looking at Houston, Las Vegas, and Minneapolis – those cities also have momentum behind them. We aim to look toward the next 20 years and various cities to create these permanent installations, utilizing the creative talents of that community in collaboration with the Santa Fe Meow Wolf team.

We’re hoping to have some announcements this summer as to where we are solidly going, but it is currently still up in the air.

Photos courtesy of Meow Wolf

»» ABOVE: The stage inside the House of Eternal Return at Meow Wolf in Santa Fe. BELOW: More rooms inside Meow Wolf.

In future exhibits, will there be more of a push to make more spaces accessible to individuals with disabilities?

We’ve had that concern on multiple occasions in the past year. Seventy percent of [The House of Eternal Return] is viewable by someone who is in a wheelchair. With that said, we do want to create, in future exhibits, an even higher percentage of accessibility, even though we do pass code and it is ADA compliant.

We recognize the significance of each individual piece of work and each individual room and want to be able to have as many people as possible, no matter who they are, to be able to experience those spaces.

That is definitely on our mind. a business that has the ability to create a windfall of funding and resources for an entire demographic of creatives that have previously gone without funding.

In a for-profit sort of way. This isn’t having to beg for funds. This is real economic ecology at play.

Any mega cool events happening at Meow Wolf this summer?

We have music shows every week based on artists coming to town.

The thing we just launched and announced is “Summer in the Multiverse.” It’s a theatrical overlay to the exhibition and to the entire property. Throughout the summer, from now until the end of August, visitors will get theatrical activations both inside the experience, in the lobby, and in the parking lot. It’s a psychedelic performance festival. [Marketing Director John Feins added, “Over 100 performers in 50 different types of performances, all happening at random, every day until Aug. 20 ... Santa Fe and northern New Mexico talent ... You’re talking about acrobats, aerial-

ists, fencers, mimes, actors, and musicians.]

How does supporting local Santa Fe come into Meow Wolf’s mission?

We are interested in local products and interested in local space and being able to cultivate local ideas.

This type of work, fringe, psychedelic, underground, base current creative industry has never had a real economic import system ... We see ourselves as

What about Meow Wolf’s non-profit side?

We’ve dedicated $125,000 to DIY arts and music venues across the country. They are the type of spaces we come from: Warehouse space, under supported.

Usually people in their 20s and 30s who are trying to create space for alternative ways of thinking and alternative ways of working with each other that doesn’t fit into the normal capitalist framework.

Continued on Page 15

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[Meow Wolf] From Page 14

Patty Templeton

Ghost Ship [where 36 people died in a fire last December at an Oakland, California, warehouse art collective] is a good example, a turning point, for these spaces. Because of that tragedy, so many municipalities really cracked down on alternative art spaces, so we felt it was important for us to stand up for the type of environment we came from.

What about local non-profit work?

Locally speaking, we have nonprofits in the public system that will receive support from our operations. We’re of Santa Fe, we’re from Santa Fe, and us, right now, this thing is going to give back. The community has supported us incredibly since we’ve opened and we’re excited that we can give back to that community.

Meow Wolf has sparked some ire from more traditional art markets. How do you respond to those that say Meow Wolf is trend over substance?

This is nothing new for us. We’ve always sort of pushed the limits of that.

There’s not much room for the general population to take part in the experience of art ... Mostly because the general population doesn’t have the funding to be able to support that economy ...

Whereas, what we produce is affordable enough for the general population and it is also relatable because you’re going inside of space and that is something everybody knows. Everybody can go inside a room and their brain starts to detect what that room is like.

It’s an accessible form. Because of that, it gets tagged with the term “entertainment.” Any art that is available to the general population gets pinned as entertainment. That’s another way for the art world to keep exclusivity on their stake. That’s fine. We can be called entertainment. That’s not a problem. We don’t really care. We know that imagination, that creativity, is being both consumed and sparked by our work. That’s what we care about.

We care that there’s real creativity being experienced and real creativity being encouraged at our space. Whether that is art or entertainment, it doesn’t matter. We know what our product is and we are psyched about it.

—— Patty Templeton DGO Staff Writer

A walk down Fascination St. What to expect if you’ve never been to or heard of the House of Eternal Return

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through this infusion of over 100 he author L.M. indie artists’ imaginations.

Montgomery wrote, The long of it: A Victorian “There is such a house resides inside Meow Wolf. place as fairyland, The Seligs lived there – until but only children can find they disappeared when an experthe way to it. And they do not know that it is fairyland iment went awry. You, constant until they have grown so old reader, get to wander their abanthat they forget the way. One doned abode. Make one turn too bitter day, when they seek it many, and FWANANANA (obvs, and cannot find it, they realize that was totally a sound of spacewhat they have lost; and that time-travel), you end up in a difis the tragedy of life.” Montferent universe. gomery goes on to say that There are secret portals aplenonly a few folks retain the ty, so open every door. You never route throughout life and we know if you’ll end up in front of now call them singers, poets, a furry, towering monster, the artists, and storytellers. musical bones of a behemoth, free arcade games, an enormous Surely, the House of Eternal neon fish tank, glitter trash, Return is a modern day fairywhite lab-coated scientists, faux land, and Meow Wolf, the DIY taxidermy, a wigged-mop bucket arts production company reCourtesy of Patty Templeton waterfall, Baba Yaga’s chicksponsible for it, are architects of »» Patty Templeton contemplates a laundrified awe reconnecting the world to en-legged hut, or a retro travel wormhole in the House of Eternal Return at Meow trailer. wonder.

Wolf in Santa Fe. Because holy effing S, stepping Side note: My favorite portal into the House of Eternal Return involved the laundry ... is a mind-bender. It’s a psychedelAnd dudes, you’re going to want to stop and take pictures. ic selfie heaven where every inch Like everywhere. All the time.

– all 20,000 square feet of ’em – is And, usually, you can snap a pic a breath of Neverland and a strut that looks like you’re the only down Fascination Street. one in the joint. On mid-day on I have a best friend. She’s the a Saturday, there was a crowd most beautiful, smartest, funniof folks traipsing through, but est best friend in the Multiverse the House of Eternal Return is and, after she aeroplaned from so massive that there’s always a Chicago to Durango to visit, smidge of space that can become I asked, “Dude, wanna drive completely your own. four hours to Santa Fe to see a The House of Eternal Return, gonzo art exhibit? We can go to and Meow Wolf’s general vibe, Trader Joe’s after. Then drive is of radically inclusive art that home. One-day trip. You in?” She people of any price point and squawked ascent in our secret knowledge-level can enjoy. You language of Muppet noises, and Patty Templeton/DGO don’t need a dang art degree to off we went. GD always up for »» Meow Wolf mug bought by Patty Templeton in decipher what’s here. It’s a collecadventure, that one.

Meow Wolf’s assault on normalcy remembrance of a helluva gorgeous day. tion of rad rooms that represent begins outside. Gargantuan sculpother worlds in the most charming, spectacularly over-stimulating way. Hail Eris and all tures – a robot, a wolf, and a spider – stand sentinel in the that’s chaotic, the House of Eternal Return brings deep, small-ish parking lot. (Don’t worry, there’s plenty of free street parking, just watch out for signs and private drives.) attainable beauty and mega fun to anyone who goes in.

We’d bought tix online, stopped at the lobby desk to get So, of course, I bought a mug in the gift shop on my wristbands, and ZING, we flung ourselves through space way out. and time into the House of Eternal Return.

End note: My best friend wants you to open the refrigThe short of it: You need at least two hours to get erator ...

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[ weed ]

[ review ]

Gorilla Glue #4

Elevated Discourse Meggie J

What is it?

We’re subject to drug tests. We can resist Editor’s note: While DGO and Meggie J promote fair and progressive cannabis laws, we do not condone or promote being high on the job. Be responsible, folks.

W

ith the ambiguity that exists today between legal Colorado cannabis and federally illegal marijuana, employees working throughout Colorado, and legally consuming cannabis for either medical or recreational purposes can, and often do, get called for drug testing that includes marijuana.

A few weeks ago this happen to a good friend of mine who I’ll call Joe. Joe, a regular marijuana user, had gotten the news early in the morning that his employer was performing a company-wide drug test and everyone had two days to provide a urine sample. Nervous about the potential of a negative result, as well as being seen, he asked if I would purchase a system cleanse for him. I boogied on over to my local dispensary and picked up some Magnum Detox Instant Flush, which the bud tender recommended, then headed out to Joe’s.

Despite cannabis’ legality, Colorado employers still retain the right to administer random drug tests. Other states, such as Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, and Rhode Island have some type of duty to accommodate the medical use of marijuana. Colorado, however, does not. This was challenged by Brandon Coats, a quadriplegic who used medical marijuana to soothe back spasms, when he took his former employer, Dish Network, to court after being fired for testing positive for THC on a randomly-administered drug test. Coats lost. He appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court where Justice Allison Eid stated when delivering the opinion of the court, “This case requires us to determine whether the use of medical marijuana in compliance with Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Amendment, but in violation of federal law, is a “lawful activity” under Colorado’s lawful activities statue.” In a split decision, the court upheld the earlier decision, affirming that an employees’ off-duty marijuana use was not “lawful activity.”

Because of this decision, and the continuous ambiguity between federal law and Colorado law, employers maintain the right to test their employees at any given time, a costly and time-consuming paradox that will likely continue to exist until either federal prohibition ends or constituents successfully lobby their legislative representatives to amend the law .

But, until then, as my friend Joe brought to my attention, there’s one way employees can resist: The cannabis cleanse.

Cleanse systems and test kits are readily available

Gorilla Glue #4 is an extremely heady hybrid.

Different growing conditions and nutrients can affect its ultimate phenotype, giving it either more indica or sativa characteristics. Although its genotype is diesel-based, with Chemm’s Sister, Sour Dubb, and Chocolate Diesel in its lineage, it contains a cannabinoid profile that leans more toward an indica. GG#4 tests at 36.3 percent THC.

Details

The effects

GG#4 comes on with a light, euphoric head buzz that converts into a full-body high within 20 minutes, giving you the feeling that you are “glued” to the couch. After the initial rush, the high settled into my body and I felt relaxed and calm, but not sleepy. Because of its overall calming effects, GG#4 is good for pain, anxiety, and people who suffer from OCD.

$17 a gram, $50 an eighth, $230 an ounce at Telluride Green Room, 250 South Fir in Telluride. (970) 728-7999.

Alexi Grojean/Special to DGO

in many pharmacies, and dispensaries carry many highly effective and instant full-body flushes. The Magnum Instant Flush was one of several on the shelf when I walked in to the dispensary. Bud tenders said they’ve sold hundreds of them and no one has ever returned complaining of its efficacy, only to restock for the next time.

In addition to the system cleanse, Joe called another friend to run to the drug store and get a few sample tests. He also reached out to a naturopathic doctor who recommended doing a sauna, which is excellent for cleansing because it works in both your parasympathetic system, relaxing and opening up your blood vessels, and sympathetic system, rushing the toxins out of your body by getting your blood pumping and allowing your body to sweat. After a full day of saunas, drinking lots of water, and no smoking, and the test scheduled for the next morning, Joe took his first sample test. He did not pass.

The next morning, he woke up and ate a light breakfast. After re-reading the simple directions, he drank 16 ounces of water and the entire contents of the cleansing instant flush. Allowing for only three more bathroom breaks before testing, and a small glass of water to sip on, his urine would be clean for up to six hours. Joe went in to work and took his test.

He called me afterward: He passed. Then he asked if I would go back to the dispensary and get him another bottle, for next time.

Meggie J is a published poet and freelance writer living in the Four Corners. She is an avid reader, rafter, and connoisseur of cannabis. She can be reached at coxwell.meggiej@ gmail.com.

The smell GG#4 has an extraordinarily pungent, powerful smell, with a clean, crisp, high, pine scent that floods the senses. Flowing underneath is a deeper scent of earth and chocolate.

The look These buds look like they were dropped in a vat of powdered sugar like funnel cake at the fair. Light green and covered in tiny white trichromes, with fluffy orange hairs, make this is one a pretty little gorilla.

The taste “This is no ordinary diesel,” was my first thought at this wonderful combination of flavors. Chocolate Diesel is a fantastic strain and its presence in GG#4 creates a beautiful balance of citric top notes, deep, round cherry flavors with a bit of a nutty note and a lovely earthy tone that reminds me of a dark chocolate torte.

The final verdict GG#4 is sticky, sweet and smelly, reminiscent of a full-bodied red wine. It just has everything you could ask from a hybrid, marrying perfectly all the attributes from its lineage. Its buzz is pleasant, and not overwhelming for such a high level of TCH. Its flavors co-mingle to create a lovely bouquet. Highly recommended.

—— Meggie J

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[ weed ] Seeing Through the Smoke Christopher Gallagher

Be thinking about what you can do with all that weed

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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you are going to be able to do with these ladies past the normal “Trim the buds, dry the buds, smoke the buds” that you should start to plan for now.

Here are a few finished products to think about that I will give detailed descriptions for the preparations of over the next few weeks: Butter or oil to cook with, bubble hash, juice, candy, tincture, and hash oil that is very unlikely to risk blowing up your house during the preparation process and will provide you with some of the most potent extract available from cannabis plants. These preparations will offer you the ability to use the cannabis that you have begun to lovingly nurture in ways that will range from “non-psychoactive in the least” to “practically tripping” and will interact with your endocannabinoid system in a plethora of wonderful ways to affect what Wikipedia describes as “a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood and memory, and in mediating the psychoactive effects of cannabis.”

I will present ways to keep your costs to a bare minimum and the processes by which you come to these products as simple as possible (trust me – if I can do it, you can do it).

Next week: How to make Rick Simpson Oil, one of the most potent and medicinally-valuable preparations to be made from cannabis. In the meantime, enjoy the stirring return of warmth to our corner of the world, take some time to read up on the cannabis-related things that make you feel fuzzy inside, water your crop, and take a few moments to act like one of these plants and let the sun shine on your face.

E 8th St

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his is the time of year when I just bug out; cannot contain myself – the greens have arrived ... grass up to my knees, chasing my hips; a dozen dozen flowering buds whose names I will probably never learn; natural walls going up, creating an entirely different world from the one we looked on a month ago after winter’s long, frigid denudation; everything active: The birds have returned from their southern climes as hungry as can be, the peepers song whirring through the night, “Another year! Another year!” And as the days stretch to reach the solstice, the vegetation grows.

As for the lovelies in your garden, this is the time (give or take a couple weeks) that they should be switched over to a 12-hour on, 12hour off light cycle so that they may get about the work of flowering to begin their journey to create those beautiful, useable buds that will become your pride and joy over the next few months. In order to initiate this change, simply place them in total darkness for one full day, then swap out your veg lights for high pressure sodium bulbs or plant them outside in a spot where they will get as much light as possible on a daily basis.

OK, OK – I could spend the rest of June writing about the wonders of growing (but, there’s not much going on right now aside from watering, so I’ll check in monthly with some advice on best practices).

There’s pinching leaves, raking soil between my fingers, spinning pots one quarter turn with each watering to assist full and equal development, but let’s keep our eyes on the prize here and do a little time-traveling to the end-of-life cycle of these little cannababies. They are going to at least double their size from the day their vegetative phase ends and their bloom cycle begins. And there is a lot

Alley Grassburger

Durango Coffee Co

Main Ave Strater Hotel

��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, June 8, 2017 | 17

[love and sex]

Savage Love | Dan Savage

My boyfriend gets his moves from porn ... and they suck I hate how my boyfriend has sex with me. He is 40 years old. It used to be fine, but a year ago he started adding new moves he obviously got from porn: smacking my pussy with an open palm, vigorously rubbing my clit, wrapping his hands around my neck. I’m not anti-porn; what bothers me is that even though I told him these moves don’t feel good on my body and hurt me, he doesn’t care.

I’ve told him that it is painful when he slaps and manhandles my clit, and he responds that he likes it and I should feel happy that he still wants to [eff] me six times a week. It’s not that I don’t want him to enjoy himself, but I don’t feel like his enjoyment should come at the price of mine. I don’t know how to get him to listen to me.

Porn Lessons Erasing All Sexual Energy Your boyfriend listened to you, PLEASE. You told him you don’t like his porny new moves; he told you he likes them and intends to keep doing them. So this isn’t about listening – it’s about caring. Your boyfriend is hurting you and “he doesn’t care.” Dump the mother[effer] already.

And while you’re not anti-porn, PLEASE, and I’m certainly not anti-porn, it would appear that porn – the default sex education for too many people, young and old – is part of the problem.

“The porn industry, like every other area of popular culture, is dominated by a closed loop of white guys talking to white guys about other white guys,” said Cindy Gallop, legendary advertising executive, consultant, and public speaker. “The most easily-accessed mainstream straight porn is all about the man, with zero empathy for the female experience, taken to ludicrous (and for the woman, painful) extremes.”

Like you and me, PLEASE, Gallop is not anti-porn. But she’s fighting shitty porn – and the shitty expectations it can instill – with real-life contrast via her innovative #realworldsex site/platform MakeLoveNotPorn.com.

“It’s a social sex-video-sharing plat-

form designed to be a counterpoint to the porn industry while promoting good sexual values and behavior,” said Gallop.

“We need to be able to view great #realworldsex in all its messy, funny, beautiful, silly, wonderful, ridiculous humanness in the same medium that we view porn: online. That’s why MakeLoveNotPorn. com exists. We’re pro-sex, pro-porn, and pro-knowing the difference.”

Gallop wants not only to balance out porn with socially shared #realworldsex, but to see the porn market flooded with porn made by women – which doesn’t mean porn made “for” women, she points out, but more disruptive, creative porn for everyone. “Seeing more innovative porn – porn that men would find just as hot – would result in everybody having a much better time in bed,” said Gallop. “Men need to see there is no bigger turn-on than being in bed with someone who you know is having an absolutely fabulous time because of you.”

Unfortunately, PLEASE, you’re having an absolutely miserable time because of him.

“PLEASE’s boyfriend is operating in his own closed loop,” said Gallop, “the belief that sexual gratification is all about him. He has no idea what sexual gratification really could be. She needs to leave him.”

You can find Cindy Gallop’s viral Ted Talk and a documentary about Make Love Not Porn at ifundwomen.com/ projects/makelovenotporn. Follow her on Twitter @CindyGallop.

I’m 28 years old and have been with my boyfriend (also 28) for three years. Our relationship is monogamous and vanilla. I’m a pretty sexual person: I’ve been to bondage clubs and burlesque shows, and I’ve had my fair share of sexual encounters with men and women. I like to dominate and be dominated. However, my boyfriend is non-aggressive, non-dominating, and non-initiating. I ALWAYS have to initiate and I’m ALWAYS in the driver’s seat. I’m tired of this. I enjoy strong masculine energy!

I’m a feminist, but sometimes in the bedroom it can be incredibly hot to

feel like a sex object. We’ve talked and talked, and tried some light bondage (he didn’t like it), and talked about a threesome (he’s opposed). He says sex just isn’t something he “thinks about a lot.” How do I get him to show some sexual aggression?

Wants Him Aggressive More Keep reading, WHAM. My husband of 17 years has never been into sex – which I always knew was a problem, but the other stuff was good. He’s into pornography, though, and I’ve busted him many times. To say I am resentful is an understatement.

He uses corn oil for masturbating, and I’ve been reduced to marking the bottle and booby-trapping it to see if he’s been up to his tricks. We have two children, so that’s what keeps me from “pulling the trigger.”

Gagging In Chicago GIC: You have three options.

1. Pull the trigger.

2. Redefine your marriage as companionate – it’s about child-rearing and family life, not about sex. If your husband is free to find fulfillment in the bottle (of corn oil), and you’re free to find fulfillment in the bedroom (of another man/ men), maybe you can make it work.

3. Continue with what you’re doing now – your husband sneaking off to have a wank, and you monitoring (and booby-trapping?!?) every bottle of corn oil that comes into the house.

WHAM: Your boyfriend isn’t going to become someone else – he’s not going to suddenly become more interested in sex or more sexually aggressive – so if you don’t want to be sending me a letter like GIC’s in 14 years, end this relationship. People who want healthy, functional, monogamous LTRs – free from booby traps and busts – need to prioritize sexual compatibility at the start. That doesn’t mean things can’t go off the rails later (see the first letter), but they’re less likely to.

I desperately wanted to be GGG in my past relationship. My partner chronically complained that I wasn’t giving him enough sex. I felt so guilty that I put up with some very coercive situations. I became an orgasm dispenser for a dumbass whose beard prickled my clit painfully, who complained my G-spot moved around, and who fell asleep fingering me. I put up with his shit for far too long.

It would have been helpful to be told that GGG needs to be MUTUAL and feel good for both parties.

Sassy Unconquered Babe GGG – good in bed, giving of pleasure, and game for anything within reason – is what we should be for our partners and our partners should be for us. So it absolutely needs to be mutual, SUB, and there are definitely limits.

“Being GGG means considering a partner’s reasonable sexual requests,” I responded to a reader who asked for a GGG clarification back when we had a brand-new and completely sane president. “Not all sexual requests can be fulfilled, and not all needs can be met. But two people who want to make their relationship work need to carve out a mutually satisfying repertoire that doesn’t leave anyone feeling frustrated or used. Does everyone get everything they want? Of course not.

But each of us has a right to ask for our needs to be met (without being abusive or coercive) and the responsibility to indulge our partner’s reasonable requests if we can (without being abused or coerced). We should also recognize when the gulf is too great and end the relationship rather than engaging in sex acts that leave us feeling diminished and dehumanized.”

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.

18 | Thursday, June 8, 2017 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[happening]

DGO’s weekend picks in or near Durango Banjos and big skies in Pagosa From Friday, June 9 through 11, the 12th Annual Pagosa Folk ’n Bluegrass takes over Reservoir Hill Park in Pagosa Springs. Tickets range from $35 to $50 for day passes all the way up to $350 for VIP access.

Loudain Wainwright III, The O’Connor Band, and the Lil Smokies headline the three day festival. Other bands include Molly Tuttle, Ten Strings and a Goatskin, and The Dustbowl Revival.

Deets at www.folkwest.com

Oddball art at Sweet 11 Gallery Dan Groth is a local artist known for work that’s “More fun than coal-rolling a big toad on a unicycle,” according to Dr. Ghost Van Goofstubb, M.D., on the show flyer.

Groth’s mind-bending, weirdo, thoughtful illustrations will be on display upstairs at Sweet 11 Gallery, 863 ½ Main Ave., on Friday, June 9 from 5 p.m. to 9. It’s a one-night-only show of printmaking, illustration, watercolor, and pen and ink work.

Storytelling at the Strater Sit a spell and open them ears for two storytellers at the Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave. On Thursday, June 8, from 7:30 p.m. to 9., the Turners, a pioneer Four Corners family, take over the stage to highlight local history.

In Part I, Rod Turner, a fourth generation-Native American, will explore family stories going back to 1861 – 20 years before the train arrived in Durango. In Part II, Jack Turner will speak about his grandfather, Ansel F. Hall, the first chief Continued on Page 20

»» Loudain Wainwright III

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[happening] Thursday Ben Gibson Duo, 5 p.m., Animas

River Cafe, DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio, 259-6580.

Burger and Band Night with Lisa Blue Trio, 5 p.m., $20, James

Ranch Terraces, 33846 U.S. Highway 550, www.jamesranch.net.

Tim Sullivan, 5:30 p.m., Diamond

Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 2474431.

Real Boy, 6 p.m., Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave., 3753380.

Kirk James, 6-8 p.m., Dalton

Ranch, 589 County Road 252, 2478774.

»» From the show poster for Dan Groth’s show “Oddz ‘n’ Ends,” at

Internet safety class for parents and grandparents, 6:30

ond Ave., 259-2606.

tion meeting, 5:30 p.m., Com-

Men Who Grill, 11 a.m., Buckley

mons Building, 701 Camino del Rio, 903-0957.

Park, 1200 Main Ave., www.wrcdurango.org.

Henry Stoy piano, 11 a.m., Jean

Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave., 247-7700.

Veterans car giveaway, noon,

Durango Elks Lodge, 379 County Road 240, 247-2296.

Black Velvet, 5 p.m., Animas River

Cafe, DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio, 259-6580.

Robby Overfield, 5:30 p.m., Di-

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

Greg Ryder, 7 p.m., Office Spirito-

rium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Ben Gibson Duo, 7-11 p.m.,

Sweet 11 Gallery.

p.m., Florida Grange, 656 Highway 172, 247-3166.

Derailed Pour House, 725 Main Ave., 247-5440.

From Page 19

Ace Revel, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Sunday

naturalist of the National Park Service, and his pal, famed photographer Ansel Adams.

Doors at 7. Tix are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

Info: www.henrystratertheatre.com

Dolores River Festival Get in the sun down by the water at the Dolores River Festival at Joe Rowell Park in Dolores. Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, Gene Avaro Jr., The Yawpers, and Selasee and the Fafa Family headline the fest. Music starts at 11 a.m. with Hello, Dollface, and goes all day long. Plus, merch, food, and a beer tent.

Durango-native stories, 7:30 p.m., $10-$15, Henry Strater Theatre, 699 Main Ave., 375-7160.

Friday Lisa Blue, 5-8 p.m., Glacier Club,

Encaustic Workshop, 9 a.m.,

1221 Main Ave, 828-1340.

Tuesday Master’s Men Colorado, 6:30 a.m., DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio, 259-6580.

Guided nature walks, 9:45

a.m., Purgatory Ski Resort, 100 Skier Place, www.purgatoryresort.com.

Emotional intelligence workshop, 11 a.m., $97, First Na-

tional Bank of Durango, 259 W. Ninth St., 247-3020.

Tuesday jam, 6 p.m., Steaming

Bean, 900 Main Ave., 403-1200.

The High Rollers, 6 p.m., 500

Main Ave., www.highrollersband. com.

Yoga with Kelli, 10 a.m., $8, Absolute Physical Therapy and Wellness, 277 East Eighth Ave., 764-4094.

Useless Knowledge Bowl Trivia+, 7 p.m., Durango Brewing

Henry Stoy piano, 11 a.m., Jean

Black Velvet, 5:30 p.m., Diamond

Pierre Bakery and Wine Bar, 601 Main Ave., 247-7700.

Lacey Black, 6 p.m., Fox Fire

Italian reading and discussion, 6 p.m., $148, DurangoSpace,

Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave., 259-2606.

600 Glacier Club Drive, 749-6475.

Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 2474431.

Solo jazz guitar, 6 p.m., Cyprus Cafe, 725 East Second Ave., 3856884.

Vivid Spring Le French Watercolors, 4 p.m., Apple Orchard

Co., 3000 Main Ave., 247-3396.

Mancos Water Conservancy District Board meeting, 7

p.m., The Mancos Water Conservancy District, 42599 Road N, 5337325.

Farms, 5513 County Road 321, 5634675.

Inn, 7758 County Road 203, 2470751.

Wednesday

Greg Ryder, 7 p.m., Office Spirito-

Ben Gibson Duo, 4-8 p.m., Bal-

rium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

cony Bar and Grill, 600 Main Ave., 422-8008.

Children’s story time, 10 a.m., James Ranch Terraces, 33846 U.S. Highway 550, www.jamesranch.net.

$20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Saturday

www.doloresriverfestival.org

Durango Farmers Market, 8

6 p.m., $148, DurangoSpace, 1221 Main Ave., 828-1340.

Summer parties at Ska

a.m., Durango Farmers Market, 259 W. Ninth St., www.durangofarmersmarket.com.

Bluemoon Ramblers, 7 p.m., Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., 247-4431.

Dustin Burley, 7 p.m., Office Spiritorium, 699 Main Ave., 375-7260.

Submissions

Bayfield Farmers Market,

Monday

To submit listings for publication in DGO and www.dgomag.com, visit www.swscene.

Gates open at 10 a.m.

Check out http://skabrewing.com for details and more Ska-BQ Thursday shows.

Animas View Drive, 247-4789.

$175, 484 Turner Drive, Suite 104, www.zeromachine.net.

Free show. 21 and over.

Encaustic Workshop, 9 a.m.,

Durango Arts Center, 802 East Sec-

Thrive! Living Wage Coali-

DEALS

8:30 a.m., Bayfield Roadside Park, 41746 U.S. Highway 160, www.bayfieldgov.org.

DGO

Your sun-drenched Thursday evenings will never be empty. Ska has music from now till yer dancin’ shoes fall to bits. This Thursday, June 8 from 5 p.m. to 7, Amoramora will bring their jazz fusion mountain rock to Ska Brewing, 225 Girard St.

Piedra River full-moon campout, 9 a.m., $495, Mild to Wild, 50

Ride the Rockies, all-day event, Buckley Park, 1200 Main Ave., www. ridetherockies.com.

Kids coding camps, 1 p.m.,

Beginning Italian language,

com, click “Add Your Event,” enter the event info into the form, and submit.

Listings at www.swscene.com will appear on www.dgomag.com and in our weekly print edition. Posting an event on www.swscene.com is free and takes one day to process.

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20 | Thursday, June 8, 2017 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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To advertise in DGO Deals contact us at 970-247-3504 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Thursday, June 8, 2017 | 21

Horoscope ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This is a great week to travel or to learn something new. Sign up for a course or book a trip for future travel because you want to expand your world. (Let’s not forget that you are the pioneer of the zodiac!)

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Discussions about shared property, inheritances and insurance issues will be profitable for you this week. You also might talk to someone from another country or a different culture.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Interactions with partners and close friends will be upbeat and pleasant this week. You might discuss a way to improve profits or make more money in the future.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Bizarro

Work-related travel is likely right now.

Whatever you do this week can boost your earnings now or in the future – or both. Respect your moneymaking ideas, especially those regarding real estate.

LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) This is a lighthearted, fun-loving week!

Enjoy playful activities with children.

Likewise, enjoy the arts, movies, sports events and fun recreational experiences.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Discussions about family matters or real estate will be profitable this week.

This week, you have a choice: You can enjoy cocooning at home, or you can entertain others at home. It’s your call.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) Your positive attitude is what will float your boat this week. And as we all know, the power of positive thinking is enormous! (It also affects others in a

good way.)

SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Act on your moneymaking ideas because they could lead to future profits for you. Work-related travel might take place this week.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) This week, the Moon is in your sign dancing with your ruler, Jupiter, which is a positive thing. It promotes domestic peace and happiness; it’s also good for business. Ka-ching!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) It’s easy to feel quietly content and pleased with yourself this week – and you should. Nevertheless, be patient with partners and close friends.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) You will enjoy schmoozing with friends

and members of groups this week, especially people from other cultures and different countries. It’s a good week to think about goals.

PISCES (Feb. 19 to March 20) You are high-viz this week, and people see you in positive terms. Why not use this to your advantage? Ask for what you want.

BORN THIS WEEK You are fun-loving and friendly. You have a detached objectivity plus strong willpower. This year is more personal and focuses on family and loved ones.

However, you will experience success and financial accumulation in the next three years. This is why it is wise to settle your debts this year. It’s a social year that deals with the results of last year’s changes. © 2017 King Features Syndicate Inc.

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22 | Thursday, June 8, 2017 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[Durango’s stories, told in their own words]

First Person | Cyle Talley

‘The thing we’re most scared of is

BEING REJECTED FOR WHO WE ARE, RIGHT?’ »» Molly Ahern, licensed counselor, on the pursuit of our deepest human needs Molly Ahern speaks with her hands, using deft, nimble gestures that suit her petite frame. A licensed counselor, we talk about her practice (stillnessandsoul.com), her history with therapy, and how what she’s learned is imperative to the human experience. I tell her story here, in her own words.

W

hen I was in grad school, I needed to see a counselor, but I didn’t want to see someone who would use a method that I’d recognize from my studies. I found this woman who practices ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

It’s a mindfulness therapy, and I believe in it so much that I now use it in my own practice. That said, I’ll admit that at first, I thought mindfulness was BS. I resented sitting with my eyes closed, breathing slowly. I really thought it was a waste of time, but I badly needed help, and as a firstborn child, I’m a good performer who really likes getting an A, so I surrendered to the practice, and somewhere along the line, I started to hear my own soul. By getting really quiet, and by turning my attention inward, I started to get in touch with this thing that I had completely forgotten. I had gotten so good at being aware of everyone around me, I had forgotten to be aware of myself.

I had such a difficult time learning to hear and respond to my own soul. There’s something about being a first-born child. First-borns perform. Everything you do is being watched and responded to, and so you make sense of the world based on the response you’re getting, which is an external locus of control. The result of that is you’re disconnected from yourself. At a certain time in my life, I didn’t even know what I liked. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my day, much less with my life or my career! I had no answers, because I had lived my life based on everybody else. Learning that, taking control of that, getting put back together, and slowly learning to pay attention to my center and how this or that makes me feel. I started to ask myself, “What

»» Molly Ahern am I drawn to? What am I repulsed by? What feels nurturing or depleting to me?”

We’re not our thoughts, we have thoughts. We can think about our thinking. We’re not our emotions, we have emotions. They roll in, they roll out.

Think about it this way: the self is like the sky. The weather is our thoughts and emotions – like I said, they roll in, they roll out. But when you can sit with the “sky” part of yourself to observe, “Oh, I notice that I’m thinking this,” or “Oh, I’m feeling such and such a way,” that’s where paradigm shifts occur.

That’s where I experienced a true shift – being aware of the things I think and feel, observing them for what they are. That’s what I try to help my clients achieve.

I want to hold a space that allows people to truly be their whole self – vulnerable, raw, messy – and love them for being that person, so that they can experience what it’s like to be accepted for their true

self. I’m convinced that the deepest human needs are to be loved and to belong. And not for our performance or the personas that we wear, either.

That idea first took root with my mentor. I was doing an internship at the Fort, and the first time that I met him, I walked into the office and we had talked for no more than five minutes when he looked at me and said, “I’ve checked you out. I like you.” It was disarming because I felt it was true.

He didn’t see me as a mom, as a wife, a student, or this or that. He saw me. I really felt seen for the first time, and for just being a human being. That was so healing. He’s seen me at my messiest, my highs and lows, and he’s always the same. He loves me unconditionally. I feel like I belong and that I can be my whole self, which really put me back together. So I experienced that power of being loved and belonging, and then had that confirmed by the work of Brene Brown and others who are proving empirically that love and belonging are our highest human needs.

The thing we’re most scared of is being rejected for who we are, right? That’s why we put the masks and personas on in the first place. Research shows us that emotionally safe relationships are what is healing – on a central nervous system level, too.

There’s research that shows that when you’re in a safe relationship and have an open, honest, and intimate exchange, that it calms your central nervous system. Isn’t that fascinating? Our culture is so independent – “I can do this on my own, I’ve got this.”

But the truth is the exact opposite of that. We’re dependent upon other human beings way more than we’d like to admit, and certainly more than we’re comfortable with.

It’s easy to hide. It’s tempting to withdraw, especially when you feel like you might be rejected for who you are. But doing that separates you from what you really need, which is to form meaningful, safe connections with people who see you and know you for who you really are.

Cyle Talley thinks that it doesn’t get much better than Durango in June. Email him at: cyle@cyletalley.com

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