saturday, november 25, 2017
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EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE
THE COMET
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THE COMET
saturday, november 25, 2017
THIS issue co-editors: Ron Evans & Holly Thorpe contributors: Cory Calhoun, Dustin Hays, Dan McConnell on the cover: At The Phase of The New Moon by Robert Wilson WEB: thecometmagazine.com facebook.com/thecometmagazine instagram: @thecometmagazine info@thecometmagazine.com
twitter: @cometmagazine
mere objects........................PAGE 4 crossword...........................PAGE 7 events..................................PAGE 8 ABSTRACT SUCKS...................PAGE 12 b-sides..................................PAGE 16 comet tales.........................PAGE 18 edgar rue comic..................PAGE 20 the spacepod.......................PAGE 22
robert Wilson in his wenatchee studio
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COMET HEADQUARTERS november 25, 2017
Note From The Editors. Don’t worry, we can’t believe it’s already this time of the year either. And with everything planned for this month, this most magical of seasons will speed by as quickly as it arrived. Issue 3 is one full of great discussions about art, some truly whacky stories from Ron’s Spacepod segment and some very bad puns. If you catch the puns, good on you. If you laugh at them, well, I’m sorry, but you can’t be helped. Ron’s story about artist Robert Wilson is equal parts delightful and mind-expanding. Wilson shares insight and wisdom about his craft and about being an artist. The story makes the world of abstract art — and perhaps art in general — seem a little less daunting for us non-artists. And for those who study and practice art, you may enjoy their conversations about style, form and the future of artists and their work. I had the pleasure of speaking with artist Sarah Jane, who created the exhibit on display now at the MAC gallery at Wenatchee Valley College. The exhibit, which features the submissions of over 60 other people, is a statement about sexual violence and the stories so many carry with them because of it. I highly recommend visiting the exhibit, which will be on display through Dec. 15. Visually, it’s laid out beautifully, and the content is heartbreaking and potent. Wondering what a compilation of Wenatchee’s greatest hits would look like? Wonder no more. Music columnist Dustin Hays was recently tasked with the intimidating project of putting together an album that features the most talented and unforgettable artists in this area’s history. He talks about the decision-making process and how he’s piecing together this album in this issue’s column. As for events, it should come as no surprise that there’s roughly one billion things going on this month. Besides the lectures, book signings, films, exhibits and other rad stuff happening, everywhere within 50 miles of here is doing something fun for the holidays. This
whole month is full of stuff you can do to continue putting off shopping for presents. As always, Comet Tales features the fine work of local writers. If you write or know someone who does, consider submitting. Personally, Comet Tales is one of my favorite sections of the magazine each month because I get to meet writers and read work that inspires me. You can submit at comettales@thecometmagazine.com. Finally, in Ron’s Spacepod segment, he begins the story of Mel’s Hole. “I’m not interested in the holes of strangers!” you exclaim. Well first of all, you’re probably lying. Second of all, you’ll be interested in this one. Reading Ron’s account of this weird and local phenomena is going to make your brain twitch — in a good way. Enjoy this issue and we’ll see you again next month. Until then, from our weird little headquarters to yours: happy holidays. We hope it’s full of good food, good people and good booze. Or at least one of the three. Cheers, Holly Thorpe Co-editor, The Comet Magazine Ron Evans is the co-owner of RadarStation art gallery at 115 S. Wenatchee Ave., host of the Tales from the Spacepod podcast, author of “Edgar Rue,” and creator of many other things, many of which have robots in them. He is co-editor of The Comet and our lead designer. Holly Thorpe is a journalist, a bartender and an okay poet. She has a cat named Stark and a puppy named Jameson that you should know about it. She is co-editor of The Comet and owner/founder of BUZZ NCW, a beer, cider and spirits blog. Check it out at buzzncw.com.
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MERE OBJECTS: exhibit shares stories of sexual violence
by holly thorpe
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or the past month, artist Sarah Jane’s exhibit “Mere Objects” has been display at the MAC Gallery at Wenatchee Valley College. The exhibit is a bold commentary on sexual violence, created from the submitted materials of dozens of people from across the globe. Glass spheres suspended from the ceiling are filled with items which represent individual experiences with sexual violence. We spoke with Jane about why she chose to incorporate the voices of others in her exhibit, and what this process of curation has been like. The exhibit will remain on display at the MAC Gallery until Dec. 15 and Jane will speak at an artist’s reception on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5-7 p.m. Jane is continuing to accept submissions for the exhibit. You can learn how to participate and read about Jane and “Mere Objects” at mereobjects.org. The Comet: Why did you choose to make the exhibit participatory by asking people to submit their own stories? Sarah Jane: I really love how partici-
patory art disrupts the established roles of artist and viewer. For me, inviting participation adds a wonderful element of unpredictability to my process, keeping me on my toes and stretching my creative boundaries. I believe it can be equally valuable for viewers, inviting them into the meaning-making process and allowing them to shape the resulting piece. For this particular project, the use of objects chosen by individuals allowed me to make the piece very personal and intimate, while still protecting the anonymity of the participants. I initially requested letters as a way to identify any trolls, but one of the lovely unpredictable surprises of this project has been the thoughtful and powerful things that many participants choose to write. Once I realized how powerful the letters and stories were, I began making them a more central part of the project — in fact, I will be reading from several participant letters at the reception on December 1. How many people have sent you items to be included? And where are
they from, generally? As of today, there are 67 participants, and new objects continue to arrive. There are participants from across the US, and a few from Canada. There’s a map on the project website that shows where all the letters have come from. I can imagine this eventually becoming a global project; certainly it is a global issue. May we ask if you created any of the spheres that are on display? I did, obviously because of my own history of sexual violence, but also out of solidarity with the other participants. Tell us about some of the items you’ve received that have most resonated with you. Every one feels sacred, because it represents a human life marked by incredible pain and profound courage. Even when I don’t know much about the individual or the objects they’ve chosen, I feel humbled to be entrusted with this part of their story. Some objects, like the tiny book or the paper crane, stand out because of
their creators’ painstaking care. Others are deeply cathartic, like those from participants who’ve asked me to ritually destroy things associated with their experiences. Others — like the bottle filled with glitter “because he can’t take my shine away” — are joyful and sassy. What resonates most with me is seeing how everyone relates to the project differently, which comes across in the incredible array of objects that people have chosen to send. What was it like to reach out to people to ask them to participate? Were you nervous? And how did they respond when you first explained the exhibit? This project is emotionally demanding, and I often feel unqualified to hold these stories with the reverence and tenderness that they deserve. And yet so many people have this absolutely ravenous hunger for their stories to be heard, validated, and believed. So I try to swallow my anxiety and listen hard and hope it can be enough. Many participants describe it as a healing, empowering, cathartic experi-
THE COMET
ence. Some say this is the first time they have told anyone, or the first time they have acknowledged even to themselves how serious it was. And a few have also told me that it’s very difficult for them to see the participant numbers continually adding up higher and higher. Why did you choose to address sexual violence with this collection? And what do you hope people will get out of this exhibit at the MAC? Nobody chooses to be a target of sexual violence, but that is a significant part of my own story, and I am committed to making art that is rooted in lived experience. The most important audience for
this work are those who have experienced sexual violence. I very deliberately chose the word “honoring” in the subtitle for this project, because that’s how I want people to feel when they view the exhibition — that this is a space where our incredibly painful stories can be held with absolute honor and dignity. I want every person who has experienced sexual violence, regardless of whether they choose to participate, to come away knowing that they are not alone. The secondary audience are those who have been fortunate not to experience sexual violence, and who may be unaware of its prevalence or its longlasting impact. Personal narrative can
be a powerful tool for awakening compassion and understanding, which is a necessary first step for societal change. We noticed that there’s no deadline for people to send you materials. How long will you continue accepting them? What’s the future of this exhibit? I truly hope I will see the day when “Mere Objects” becomes irrelevant, but that feels deeply unlikely at the moment. In the meantime, the project will travel to more locations and continue adding new participants along the way. And honestly, it just feels right to not have a deadline. Recovery from sexual violence is a lifelong process for many
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of us. Not many people are ready to participate as soon as they learn about “Mere Objects,” so I’m glad that I can encourage people to take as much time as they need. What else should people know about this – or about yourself ? One sort of understated aspect of this project that I’m really pleased with is its physical design. I chose to use entirely manufactured materials, including clear glass bottles and steel ball chains, in order to remove my “hand” as much as possible and allow the objects themselves to be the most visually interesting part of the piece. All photos provided by the artist.
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saturday, november 25, 2017
THE COMET
FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS by Cory Calhoun
Note: Unlike last month, this crossword can be solved without specific knowledge of Wenatchee, à la nationally syndicated crosswords. (Though 7-Across does offer an extra hint that locals should find helpful.) Once you solve the puzzle, look for an un-clued hidden bonus answer that’s related to the puzzle’s theme—and is (roughly) shaped like the thing it describes. Good luck! ACROSS 1 Urge 7 Mountain pass in Austria (… that shares its name with a Wenatchee sporting goods store) 14 Brandish 19 Good apple 20 Zigzag 21 _____ Grows in Brooklyn 22 See 31-Across 23 Eric of the ‘70s-’80s cop show CHiPs 24 Demand made in a checkers match 26 Chilean dictator _____ Pinochet 28 The M in TCM 30 Stir-fry vessel 31 With 22-Across, the masses 34 “___ Crossroads” (Bone Thugs-nHarmony hit) 35 Concorde, for short 37 Will Shortz’s employer: Abbr. 38 Pultizer Prizewinning playwright Horton 40 It’s spoken in Bangkok 42 Satisfied 44 1960s-1970s talk show host Dick 46 How most editorial marks are made 47 GMC truck model 49 The Seven Kingdoms, for one 51 The “Lost Colony” 53 Made to order 55 Japanese for “without orchestra” 57 Airport checkpoint org. 60 Incentives 62 They promote a shiny coat 63 The closest of pals 67 They may be high 68 Filter type 69 Happy Days actor Williams and Hell on Wheels actor Mount 71 Character with the catchphrase “Who loves ya, baby?” 72 Protestant Reformation figure 74 Make a _____ oneself (overeat)
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Mississippi setting of a Neil Simon play Word following dog or lop One-named folk singer and activist Affected by 95Down, with “away” Image Microsoft console “It is freezing!” Made aware of the latest news Canine specialist?: Abbr. Scored 72 on a round of golf Like a naughty joke Plucks Sport in which clay simulates a bird It can cause a code error when broken Ham sandwich slice Invitee who replies Word with 460+ definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary Left-hand home keys Hoist with a crank It’s often found on the right side of faces Lout Letters on a lotion bottle One in office, slangily Life of Pi director _____ Lee Forbidden Whitman’s _____ Native of Italy’s main port city Arcane term for a writer of aphorisms (… that sounds like someone who’s really into cute lawn ornaments) Recessed area They can help you make it to the top Twilight Sparkle, e.g. Logger’s holler German secret police agency Copper coatings Pass on
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Pumpkins first appeared, for short Jurassic Park’s _____ Nublar Recon role Shaper of ‘90s infomercials Home to Iowa State University Musical pauses Play adapted into a Puccini opera Letters after “JK” in a snarky text message Cheese in a waxy skin Like floors given a new surface Cushy gig for easy money It may be Irish “Seriously, do not worry!” Sea eagle Walking-intensive prep One who’s had a drop in rank _____ out (barely made) Middle Eastern country est. 1971: Abbr. Tech workers’ software arsenal Figs. on driver’s licenses “What have we here!” Gandalf portrayer Speaking frankly … or what you’re doing when reading this puzzle’s shaded letters aloud Lennon’s love Global competition grp. _____ Studios of The Toxic Avenger fame Astronaut-shaped trophy, for short Reduced to a pulp Ostrich-like bird from Down Under Imports banned in 2014 from entering the U.S. Gratuity It has shingles Soft Scrub competitor
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Young pigeon Houston player Au _____ (with milk) Tallest-ever NBA player Manute Deep inlet Sent a document, in a way Glosses over Complimentary bar? Warm Put the whammy on Offender Torso armor component Call for delivery Putting on a prom tux, e.g. Tom who sang “Ol’ 55” One way to wager on horses, for short Moulin Rouge director _____ Luhrmann Beats by _____ (headphones brand) They often carry produce or laundry Deadly snake It’s tested by 23andMe Hair braiders or climbing vines Easy-to-tighten fastener Key a few rows from 105-Across 5
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setting org. “Now or never!” The Cascades, e.g.: Abbr. Calgary cops, in short _____ roll Bygone telecom acquired by Verizon Part of a kimono outfit Iteration: Abbr. “Able was I _____ I saw Elba”
SOLUTION TO OCTOBER’S PUZZLE
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THE COMET
GTFO: EVENTS WORTH LEAVING YOUR HOUSE FOR
lucid concepts
Nov. 17-Jan. 5: Lucid Concepts Photography at Moses Lake Museum The Moses Lake Museum & Art Center never fails to impress. The current exhibit is “Lucid Concepts: Casually Capturing Life” By Justin Alaniz. The show opened Nov. 17 and will be on display through Jan. 5. The featured artwork right now is “Strength” by Justin Alaniz. From the museum: “Justin Alaniz is a local photographer whose unique photographic exhibition will be one of person and environment. From his project based imagery of strangers and the homeless to candid portrayals of both human and landscape, his will be a unique presentation of life and land, human and emotion.” Admission to the museum is always free. Get their full hours and more info at cityofml.com.
Nov. 28: Roadside Geology with Marli Miller Get stoned. Rock out. Put the pebble to the metal. Okay, that last one was lame. But weak geology puns aside, check out this signing by a Pacific Northwest geologist happening Thursday, Nov. 28. Dr. Marli Miller, author of “Roadside Geology of Washington” and “Roadside Geology of Oregon,” will be signing copies of her work at A Book For All Seasons at 4 p.m. From the bookstore: “Miller has studied the Pacific Northwest for decades and is a leading expert on our region. The Evergreen State has a wild assortment of rock, from 45-million-year-old sandstone exposed in sea cliffs at Cape Flattery to 1.4-billion-year-old sandstone near Spokane…. With a brand new, completely updated second edition ‘Roadside Geology of Washington,’ you can appreciate spectacular geologic features along highways across the Pacific Northwest.” Come on, we all have a rock nerd in our life. Take them to meet the author and then hit the road to see the sights for yourself.
mirACLE on 34th street
Nov. 29: Four Minutes of Fame
Dec. 6: Backcountry film fest
Shake the stage fright and share your writing at Milepost 111 brewery in Cashmere. Write on the River is hosting their “Four Minutes of Fame” open mic on Wednesday, Nov. 29. Local writers of all experience levels are invited to share their poetry and prose. Or, just come listen in. Socializing begins at 6:30 p.m., readings will start at 7 p.m. Plus, Milepost 111 has awesome food and beer. To sign up for a reading slot, email info@writeontheriver.org.
El Sendero Backcountry Ski and Snowshoe Club presents the annual Backcountry Film Festival on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. From numericapac.org, this is a “series of winter-inspired films about the backcountry; skiing, environmental, social, climbing, and just plain fun in the winter outdoors
Dec. 17: Empty Bowls community bowl painting Nov. 30-Dec. 2: WHS Magrigal dinner Merriment abounds at The Madrigal Feaste. The Wenatchee High School Vocal Department presents this evening of eats and music, featuring the Wenatchee High School choirs. It will take place in the WHS Auditorium. From the Facebook event: “The Madrigal Faire will be open each evening at 5 p.m. with seating beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at wenatcheeschools.org/whs or at the WHS ASB office.”
Missed November’s community painting? No problem. Swing by Pybus Public Market and get creative for a good cause. The 6th Annual Wenatchee Valley Empty Bowls Community Bowl Paintings aim to “Inspire creativity, build community, and raise awareness about food insecurity and hunger in Chelan and Douglas counties.” From pybuspublicmarket.org: “Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight the growing issue of food insecurity and hunger across the world through artistic expression, community engagement, and education on how to contribute to hunger relief actions.” Community paintings are from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 17, Jan. 14 and Feb. 18.
Dec. 1, 15, 29: Movies at the Library The library is having movie screenings with popcorn! Plus, they’ve got good taste in movies. Here’s the schedule: • Dec. 1: Star Wars: The Force Awakens • Dec. 15: The Santa Clause • Dec. 29: Toy Story
Dec. 17-19: Monthly Movies on the Big Screen
The Numerica Performing Arts Center presents three classics to get you in the holiday spirit: • Miracle on 34th Street: Sunday, Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. • How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Monday, Dec. 18 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. • Scrooged: Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m.
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THE COMET
old time radio show
Dec. 21: Old Time Radio Show There’s nothing quite as cozy as Christmas-time nostalgia. Check out this performance of “It’s A Wonderful Life” by local performers at the Numerica PAC. You can be a part of the live studio audience on Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., or listen along on KOHO 101. It will be re-broadcast on Christmas Eve at 7:30 p.m. From numericapac.org: “From the announcer’s authoritative, contained enthusiasm to live sponsor spots and jingles, to the use of period microphones, to the sounds effects crew right there with the actors – the result is a nostalgic evening of entertainment from yesteryear.”
‘TIS THE SEASON There’s so much going on for the holidays that we didn’t even know where to start. So instead of a list of every Santa visit and place to go caroling, here are the broad strokes of some of the places you can go to get festive this month.
Cashmere Celebrate “Christmas and Cashmere” on Dec. 2. This event hosted by the Cashmere Chamber of Commerce takes place along Cottage Avenue from noon to 3 p.m. From the event page: “Enjoy a complimentary warm beverage, holiday treats, goodie bags, indoor arts and crafts, festive music and entertainment as you cozy up around a fire pit.” Plus, of course there will be photo ops and a visit from Santa. For more information visit cashmerechamber.org.
Leavenworth Leavenworth sort of treats having the holiday spirit as a competitive sport. You probably have your own favorite thing to do in the Bavarian village during this most
wonderful time of the year (even if that favorite thing is avoiding the traffic and liking your friends Instagram photos of the lights). You can see a full calendar of live music and family events at leavenworth.org, but here’s a general overview of what’s up this month:
Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17: Christmas Lighting Festival and
BOOK SIGNING
Wenatchee There’s a lot going on this month, but here’s some of the other wintry events that caught our eye:
Nov. 30-Dec. 2: “Bah Humbug!” by Stage Kids at the
Craft Faire
Numerica PAC
Dec. 1: “A Handbell Christmas” with the Marlin Hand-
Nov. 30-Dec. 3: Journey to Bethlehem at the Seventh Day Adventist Church
Dec. 2: The Magic of Christmas in Beautiful Bavarian “Icicle Falls”
Nov. 30, Dec. 7-8: Winter Paint & Sip at Inspirations
Dec. 5: Holiday Party at A Book For All Seasons
Dec. 2: Christmas Family Fun Day at the Wenatchee
bell Ringer
Dec. 16: “Love, Santa” signing at A Book For All Seasons
Dec. 8, 10: Village Voices concert Dec. 8-9: Snowy Owl Family Christmas Show at Snowy Owl Theater Dec. 15-16: Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide at Snowy
Owl Theater
Chelan From Nov. 17 to Dec. 25, Lake Chelan has their “Small Town Christmas,” an ongoing celebration featuring Santa photos, free holiday matinees, children’s activities and more. Check out the full schedule at historicchelan.org/small-town-christmas.
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Ceramic & Art Cafe
Valley Museum & Cultural Center
Dec. 3: Mingle and Jingle in downtown Wenatchee Dec. 16: Breakfast with Santa at the Wenatchee Valley
Mall
Don’t forget about Pybus...
Pybus goes all out for the holidays, too. Check their calendar at pybuspublicmarket.org for the full schedule of Santa visits, gingerbread house building and more. Highlights obviously include the annual visit from Santa via a giant red helicopter on Dec. 3 and free Santa photos all month long.
Are you putting on a cool event? Is your band playing in town? To have an event listed in The Comet, email info@thecometmagazine.com
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THE COMET
saturday, november 25, 2017
wenatchee first friday What better way to get into the spirit of giving than to support local artists? First Friday this month features some exciting new faces and even a few new spots to check out — including the newly renovated Wells House. Cindy Rietveldt with Wenatchee First Fridays helped put together this list of shows, along with their First Friday hours. Remember, while most places have special events, artists receptions and free admission during First Friday, the art itself is on exhibit all month long in most locations.
Lemolo Cafe & Deli
The Hunter’s Wife
Series with a fourth book in the current arch on its way. Ai-
114 N Wenatchee Ave. First Friday hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
112 N. Wenatchee Ave. First Friday hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
mee is a jewelry maker who has a passion for all things nerdy. She specializes in wire wrapped key jewelry in an assortment of styles.”
Lemolo Cafe & Deli welcome Brandy Hoffman for the month
In December The Hunter’s Wife will be featuring paintings
of December. She says of her work, “I’m a self-taught art-
by Martha Flores. Martha’s expressionist art comes from the
ist, and I love using symmetry and high contrast to create
heart and her canvases range from abstract organic forms to
magically inspired pieces.” Her use of recycled barn wood in
figurative works all in her trademark bright colors.
115 S. Wenatchee Ave. First Friday: 5-9 p.m.
Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center
RadarStation art gallery presents “Abstract Sucks”: A juried
127 South Mission Street wenatcheevalleymuseum.org
group show of abstract and non-objective art. Or at least an
framing and accents of genuine quartz crystals add an earthy
RadarStation
bohemian feel to her work.
Mela 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. caffemela.com First Fridays artists’ reception: 5 -7 p.m.
attempt at that. Many of the pieces will be created by nonabstract artists in an experimental effort to understand the
First Friday hours (FREE admission): 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
often confusing and intimidating world of non-objective art.
December at the museum is all kinds of fun. The Beauty of
Following the reception, RadarStation curator Ron Evans will
“CLAY+ART+USE=CRAFTED” is a contemporary interpreta-
Bronze Exhibit will open upstairs featuring more than 700
lead a discussion on abstract art with jurors and guest speak-
tion of a traditional craft by Wenatchee artist karendawndean.
miniature bronze sculptures made by Wenatchee 5th graders.
ers Robert Wilson and Alessandra Piro. To read The Comet’s
The exhibition emphasizes how carefully crafted vessels
Come by and learn about the program and support these
story about Robert Wilson, see page 12.
fit the hand and serve as counterpoints to mass-produced
young artists. The main gallery still hosts Apple Capital
objects. You are invited to explore the heft, shape and hand-
Records: A Musical History of the Wenatchee Valley. Visitors
holds of tea bowls, mugs, plates, and bowls. Also on exhibit
can help decorate the rock ‘n’ roll Christmas tree!
are large and small bas-relief landscape wall forms. Playing jazz that evening will be musicians Jim Paul on sax and Tom Davies on guitar. Complimentary refreshments available.
Tumbleweed Shop & Studio
Two Rivers
105 Palouse First Friday hours: 5-8 p.m.
102 N Columbia 2riversgallery.com First Friday reception: 5-8 p.m. Jen Evenhus is featured during December in a collection of abstract and impressionist oils and pastels using her signature style. In “The Beauty of Imperfection” Jen shares her encounters with the beautiful Northwest from hiking trails above Leavenworth to low marshes filled with cattails to ocean beaches that she has loved since childhood. The musician this
Wells House 1260 Fifth Street (off Ninth Street at the end of Nelson Avenue) First Friday hours: 5-8 p.m. Admission is free Having recently completed the first phase of renovation on
This December Tumbleweed Bead Co. is featuring them-
this 108-year-old home, the public is invited for a tour of this
selves. Tumbleweed believes in keeping life and accessories
historic home, decorated for the holidays. Photos of Wells
simple, fun, and beautifully designed. Jessica & Tyler Russell
& Wade Hardware holiday windows from 1934 will be on
and their team strive to make style a little easier by help-
display. Light refreshments will be served.
ing you feel fabulous all around. Tumbleweed jewelry is elegant and fashionably versatile. Our jewelry is handmade in Wenatchee (above our shop) using recycled metals. Each piece is made with love.
THE MAC GALLERY Wenatchee Valley College Music and Art Center 1300 Fifth Street First Friday reception: 5-7 p.m.
First Friday is guitarist Lance Tigner. Wines by Cougar Crest Winery will be available.
Robert Graves Gallery Wenatchee Valley College First Friday reception: 5-7 p.m.
Ye Olde Bookshoppe
In “Mere Objects,” Sarah Jane brings attention to the seri-
11 Palouse St. First Friday hours: 5-8 p.m.
suspended glass globes, each filled with evocative materials
From the bookshoppe: “During the First Friday Art Walk we The Robert Graves Gallery proudly presents a retrospective
will have two artists and an author (all local)! Tara Fife has
of the renowned Wenatchee artist Russ Hepler and his work
been painting as a hobby since junior high, specializing in ab-
in abstract expressionism. The artist will speak at 6 p.m. on
stract painting. S.M. Winter is an author of urban fantasy and
Friday. On display until Dec. 14. .
young adult novels. She is working on her current Elemental
ous issue of sexual violence with a poignant installation of obtained from people who have experienced sexual violence. The objects are suspended in tiny round bottles and bathed in light, suggesting wholeness and transparency. And yet they are fragile; after all, these are not easy stories to tell, or to hear. There will be artist’s lecture at 4 p.m. on First Friday. To read The Comet’s interview with Sarah Jane, see page 4.
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painful decision
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THE COMET
abstract sucks: a conversation with robert wison
by ron evans s I passed numerous stacks of apple bins, pallets and a small city of factory chimneys pumping out billowy man-made clouds, it struck me that this was an odd part of town to find the studio of renowned abstract painter Robert Wilson. The elegance and sophistication of the bulk of Wilson’s work seemed to be at odds with the stark industrial landscape he has surrounded himself with. However, as I chatted with Robert, it became clear that this might actually be the perfect environment for him to practice his particular brand of wizardry. “I’m here everyday. This is my office. This is where I go to work. I did the whole ‘in-home studio’ thing for years but I much prefer being able to come to a separate location to work. I’m much more productive.” In an industry where it’s not terribly uncommon to speak in ethereal or grandiose metaphor, Wilson seems a bit more grounded in an almost blue collar approach to his craft. While he focuses on the abstract or “non-objectivism”, as he prefers it, he also firmly believes in the importance of simply being able to draw.
A
Majestic Red “It’s key to continue your growth with things like anatomy, landscapes or more finely rendered art. That’s where you learn control. You can tell by looking at a painting, no matter how abstract it is, if the artist has control. But not in the sense of illustration where you’re controlling every line and every shape. To me it’s about emotion. Am I conveying emotion? Abstract is very hard to do because it has to convey an emotion without a subject matter.” Wilson had been creating figure drawings and landscapes in his earlier days as a Chicago high school student. That is, until the cover of a magazine changed the course of his creative output. “I saw an issue of Time Magazine that was talking about painter Frank Stella. The pieces were quite abstract, just bold black and white lines. And I suddenly realized that art is about ideas. You can convey ideas through painting. And that took me to a whole new level of understanding of what art was all about.” The evolution from realism to nonobjectivism was an organic one, and Robert believes it can’t happen any other way, although he doesn’t consider
the overall processes to be terribly different from one another. “In a sense, all art is abstract. Even if you do a realistic painting you are abstracting from nature. You are taking from nature and shifting the colors and shapes into your painting.” Robert will be a juror at the upcoming Abstract Sucks show at RadarStation in Wenatchee, along with fellow artist and juror, Alessandra Piro. The genesis of the show came from numerous conversations I have had with fellow artists about abstract. “It’s art for people who can’t draw” is a recurring phrase in these discussions and the show, in spite of the irreverent title, is an attempt to understand a key, but often polarizing, movement and genre of art through the process of doing, rather than looking. For many of the artists entering this show, this will be their first foray into the world of abstract. Wilson’s key piece of advice for anyone looking to try their hand at abstract, or any new type of art form is simple. “If you want to be a good writer, you should read a lot. And if you want to be painter, look at a lot of art. If you want to paint a cat then paint a cat. But
there has to be a sense of authenticity to it.” He does however caution against the Bob Ross-like ‘zen of painting’ and ‘everything is peaceful and easy’ approach to creativity. “I think it’s a real benefit to struggle. To find out who you are through your art. Really, you are redefining yourself when you do a painting. The struggle, tension and sincerity. I look for these things in art.” This lesson may have come in part from Pacific Northwest painter Mark Tobey, the only living painter to have had a showing at the Louvre. “He was staying at a Zen monastery in the far east years ago when he was younger and the zen master brought him into a room with nothing but a floor mat and a painting on the wall. A dark circle had been roughly brushed onto rice paper and that’s all that there was to the painting. The zen master told Tobey to look at this painting and discover what it meant. ‘And when you have done that, come find me’. So Toby stared at this painting and initially thought ‘Well it’s the cosmos. No, that’s too easy.’ He basically spent days and days looking over this piece to figure out what it meant.
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CENTURIES OF LIGHT
hidden mirror
revelation
embodiment of light
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future structure
Finally, he went to find the zen master and told him ‘I give up. What is it all about?’ The zen master said ‘What you look for is the personality of the artist. If you can see the personality of the artist, you’re seeing a good painting.” I told Robert that as he was sharing this story, I thought of the Far Side comic of a group of intellectual-looking people carefully studying a mop leaning on a wall at the Museum of Modern Art. In the next panel, a janitor grabs the mop, leaving the group staring at the wall. There may be value in both of these examples but the notion of mysticism mingled with bewilderment plays a large role in the disconnect from abstract for many artists and art enthusiasts. Call it ego, anxiety of simply ignorance, but many of us feel a certain “is this a joke?” type of knee-jerk response to certain pieces of abstract art. I, myself, have at many times felt that the creator of a piece I’m standing in front of is around the corner with his
buddies giggling and whispering “Oh my God, he’s actually looking at it!”. Egos and exaggerations aside, Wilson himself runs into this response to art from time to time. “I question the validity of a lot of contemporary art. Are future generations going to enjoy this piece? Are they going to see something unique about our civilization? But then I just keep going until something strikes me and I find it exciting again.” Wilson stresses encouragement over criticism as a rule. “You never want to criticize or put down the artist. Encouragement is always the best medicine to develop good artists. There should never be any snobbery. I’m involved with the Two Rivers Gallery and there you have beginners and more established artists all together. This is a good thing. There’s always something to learn.” On the topic of learning, Robert did most of his outside of school. “I took art classes at the University of Washington as well as evening classes at the Edi-
son Technical School which I prefered because it was a lot more free. But ultimately I found things were moving too slowly so I dropped out. And that was the extent of my formal education. But my education goes on today on the internet, especially Instagram. These are great sources to look at new contemporary art.” Wilson acknowledges the continued importance of galleries but feels that Instagram is one of the best things to happen to artists. “Collectors can come right to the artist. Galleries are limited by geographic access. But if I put something on the internet, Saudi Arabia can see it.” Exposure, convenience and eliminating the middleman for art deals aren’t the only things the internet has brought, however. Theft, piracy and an overwhelming deluge of content, style and quality are also more prevalent now than ever. In a world where you can constantly scroll through past and current art of all genres until you are
bleary-eyed, I often wonder if we have seen it all. I asked Robert if he thought we may be approaching an “it’s all been done before” scenario where there is little to no real territory left to discover in the world of tangible art. Without hesitation his eyes lit up, he leaned back in his chair as if glancing into a crystal ball and replied “I think we haven’t even begun to touch the possibilities of where art can take us.”
Abstract Sucks opens to the public Friday, December 1 at 5pm. There will be a Q&A with Robert beginning around 7:30pm. This event is free. See page 10 for details to this and other First Friday Art Walk events coming up in December. C
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The world according to nature
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B-SIDES: Compiling Wenatchee’s “Hits” of the Last Six Decades M
usic snobs always bash greatest hits compilations. Whether it’s an unincluded rarity off the flip-side of a single, or a group’s overplayed hit opening the album, there’s always someone that’s left DUSTIN HAYS Musician/Music Historian displeased and unsatisfied. Unfortunately, while narrowing down a list of lo-
East Wenatchee’s Billy & The Kids
cal recordings of the last 55+ years, I played the part of the unsatisfied music critic. As a part of the “Apple Capital Records” exhibit that I co-curated with Kasey Koski at the Wenatchee Museum & Cultural Center, I was tasked to compile an accompanying soundtrack to be released along with the exhibit. With hosting my weekly radio show “Sounds of the Valley” on KORE FM Community Radio I have a wide selection of local recordings from throughout the years, but narrowing the list down to something
that could fit on a CD was harder than I had imagined. I decided to narrow the scope of the compilation to local Rock n’ Roll bands. The museum exhibit focuses mostly on rock n’ roll groups throughout the years that had recorded and released music, so the slew of cover bands, solo acts, hiphop artists and electronic producers that have participated in the local scene weren’t the main focus of the exhibit’s narrative. The 22-track CD will run chronologically from the ’60s to present day, through songs of some of the
most celebrated and talked about local rock bands. Starting with the ’60s garage-rock recordings of The Talismen “She Was Good,” Billy & the Kids “Say You Love Me” and The Chargers “Taxi,” the scenes and groups that were born from that original first wave of rockers will also be featured. Local ’80s bands like Teacher’s Pett, Redwulf, High Risk and Gypsy Kyss and three of the most memorable groups of the ’90s, Limegrind, Moss Dog and The Michael Dickes Band will each have their most
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known recordings included. Towards the end of the ’90s chunk of tunes, Lopez’s 26 second “Bilbo Baggin’s Rock Opera” will welcome the age of local bands that pushed deeper into the the punk genre, and playing harder than any of the bands that came before them. Not All There and 427, two bands born out of the punk scene that Lopez championed in the late ’90s and bridged the gap to the Snatchee Records era of Wenatchee’s music that began in 2009 will also be featured. The compilation will conclude with 5 of the bands that Snatchee Records has have supported and released music for over the last 8 years: The Wreks, Rich & Rare Rebels, Ghost Power!!!, Rogue Gallery and most recently, Himiko Cloud. Though not all of my favorites - or yours — got to be included on this compilation, it still honors some of the most-loved bands, biggest per-
Wenatchee’s Redwulf
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formers and hardest hitters of the last six decades. The yet-to-be-titled CD will be released by the Wenatchee Museum in December, just in time for all of us last-minute Christmas shoppers. “Apple Capital Records” will be open through the first week of February 2018, and the compilation will be available for purchase in the Museum’s gift shop.
Dustin Hays is a Wenatchee musician, local music history aficionado and enthusiastic member of the local music scene. He performs as a solo singer-songwriter around the area and as a member of one of the valley’s newest groups The Nightmares. Hays also hosts “Sounds of the Valley” a weekly radio show on KORE FM Community Radio (99.1/105.9 FM) focused on the local music scene, both past and present. C
Wenatchee’s The Wreks
Wenatchee’s moss dog
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COMET TALES: rEADER SUBMITTED WRITINGS the heart makers BY brooke winslow Is there anything more abundant than the color green? Scientists have turned spinach leaves into beating, human heart tissue. The leaves create a network to transport blood; the stem becomes an aorta. Man stacks leaves on leaves, and sews veins into native arteries to grow strong to the finich. You see, if a picked leaf can be used to scaffold life then perhaps pieces of wood may repair a bone. The weather was dire during the summer Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein. Scientific developments and the possibility of bringing a corpse back to life kept her and her lover warm. What would it take to galvanize a corpse? Could you use a concoction of borrowed blood and bone to ignite another form of life? If you give something the means to beat, will it throb with an earthly vitality? Or will it fall flat like the land we often squander? The idea of a heart so new and lavish fills me green with envy. Is there anything more abundant than the color green?
breakfast run BY jessica simpson The sound of my heart beat drums in my ears. boom-boom boom-boom You sit across the room, miles away, from our intimacy. Stained sweat soaked sheets. Giggles and throaty moans. I watch as you drink your coffee and smile And I wonder if you think of me. He places his hand on yours And for one second your smile slips. My heart catches. We travel parallel, Same job, same mundane studio apartmenttwo floors apart. You tiptoe to my bed at night and I still smell his cologne on my sheets in the morning. We have never dined together, Never held hands in public, but your nail polish matches mine in my dreams. I am lost in the memory of your soft skin against mine seconds before the sun breaks
the silence and you tiptoe away again. My heart beats against my throat as you turn and wink. You undo me. Your blue eyes sparkle with shared secrets. Miles away, he frowns and slams a five on the small cafe table. I watch as you are pulled away. But I’ll be waiting for the facade to slip and I promise to catch you as you fall.
Are you a writer? Send your short story, poetry, essay or excerpt to comettales@thecometmagazine.com and we may publish it in the next issue.
Give back to the place you love.
Thanksgiving Day - December 31st
www.GiveNCW.org
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dick rossetti: 8 questions with a semi-iconic former dj
by ron evans
Former radio DJ for 107.7 The End in Seattle. Current member of “medium energy” rock band Ball Bag and the feature of the documentary “SemiIconic: The Ballad of Dick Rossetti.” We asked him 8 Questions. The Comet: What can an uninitiated ticket buyer expect from a Ball Bag show? Dick Rossetti: Expect the Bag to undercut any other band on the planet by two verses, two choruses and a guitar solo. How has your time in the radio business affected your feelings
about music? It should have ruined it a lot more than it did, luckily I was long enough in the tooth to know what was bullshit and what wasn’t.
How long were you followed around for the documentary Semi-Iconic? I wasn’t really followed, I surrendered all the audio/video tapes of my life to the director (Isaac Olsen) until my life wasn’t as interesting as it once was.
Is there any radio that excites you these days or is it a lost cause? Dustin Hays has got a great thing going there with his local show, other What was your initial reaction to than that it all blows goats. being the subject of a documentary? If you could travel back in time Cool, let’s do it! Better me than some and prevent one band from ever other chode. forming, who would it be? Hmm, can I pick two? Florida-GeorWhat current band is blowing gia Line and Blink 182. your mind right now?
Downtown, a very disturbing Caucasian faux techno/rap act out of Seattle, the very worst of life represented, I love it... How has Wenatchee treated Ball Bag so far? Wenatchee rules, tenfold. Ando is a treasure, his heart is in the right place, very refreshing after dealing with Seattle politics, better class of people. C
Ball Bag will be making ears bleed at Wally’s House of Booze on December 2. A full screening of the documentatry “Semi-Iconic: The Ballad of Dick Rossetti” will be held at RadarStation on December 9, featuring a Q&A with Dick along with Bill Reid and driector Isaac Olsen. Head to RadarStation for ticket. Star 78 Members Only
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by ron evans
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CONTINUED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE COMET
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the spacepod: the legend of mel’s hole - part i
BY ron evans In issue 1 of The Comet I mentioned Mel’s Hole. Perhaps you thought I was merely being coarse, but Mel’s Hole is actually a rather well-known semi-local paranormal legend. Although, I would wager it’s more well-known outside these here parts than inside. Yes, I slipped into old man talk for a bit there. No regrets. Well...LOTS of regrets. Just none concerning this here article. When I was in high school I developed a rather braggable case of insomnia. It could have been the coffee that I had just discovered at Nendell’s...wow...anyone else remember Nendell’s? It was where Fred Meyer is now and I can’t tell you how many...ah, skip it. It likely wasn’t the caffeine anyway, but my complete lack of acceptable social skills, math prowess and boldness that led to many a glance at a digital readout of 3:38 in the galldang AM. Now, I had many ways of dealing with this conundrum in the pre-internet days that now seem downright...unwell. One of them was to listen to cassette tapes of TV shows I had recorded. Like, 13 times in a row. Oh, what? I already said I was likely unwell. Anyway, since I only had 3.5 channels on my 13 inch black and white (good lord, was I a fucking pioneer?) I quickly grew tired of SNL and Home Improvement Audio Adventure Time and eventually discovered something entirely new. Radio. Talk radio was fairly new in the late80s/early-90s but I was familiar with the concept. Most of what could be heard in a town like Wenatchee, Washington in those days was politics, relationship
advice or financial planning. Yawn. Although, considering my life at 42 consists of being politically apathetic, twice divorced and shit-broke, perhaps I should have paid more attench. ANYwho, it was one of these sleepless nights that I happened upon something that would help define the human I would later become. The Art Bell Show. Coast to Coast AM, to be precise. Now, Art started out as a random ‘chat show’ type host MondaySaturday. Sunday, however...why, this was the Dreamland show. A three hour segment devoted to all things paranormal. Mostly UFOs and aliens at first, but this grew into bigfoot talk. Ghosts. Government conspiracies. And all the other shit that may very well not be true but is super cool to think about. Within a few months of finding this show, I noticed Art started phasing out some of the more mundane elements. Academic talks on Jesse Helms began to give way to interviews with Jesse Marcell Jr. (son of Jesse Marcell, the officer first on the scene of the infamous Roswell flying saucer crash). Open lines for ranting and raving about our stance in the Middle East eased into “ghost to ghost” evenings and guests like Bob Lazar, a former Area 51 employee spilling the beans about alleged aliens out in the Nevada desert. Eventually, Art dropped the political chat format and dove head first into the unchartered waters of paranormal talk radio. Before long I was up all night learning about Tesla when I should have been dreaming about Jenny Collins from 4th period English. In 1997 a man named
Mel Waters wrote a letter to Art about a hole in his backyard that apparently had no bottom. Again, I’m not being coarse. The legend went something like (and I’m paraphrasing) “I have this hole in my yard that the entire town has been throwing shit down (old refrigerators, dead dogs, tires etc.) for decades and we noticed it never filled up. So we tried to measure the depth of said hole to no avail.” Art was so intrigued that he reached out to Mel and asked him to come on the show to discuss this alleged freak of mother naytch. Mel had a very buyable way about him. No matter how fantastic his story grew, it was inexplicably easy to believe him. Mel claimed to have tried laser measuring, flashlights, dropping things to listen for the crash — none of which produced any evidence of a bottom. So he began to lower weighted fishing line into the hole. 15 miles worth to be exact. Mel claimed the slack never changed. There was simply no bottom. This alone would be intriguing enough at 1:20 in the AM, but the locals also told of strange properties concerning the Central Washington Butthole to Hell. Dog carcasses that were thrown into the pit were often seen roaming the lands, alive. Not quite right in the head, mind you. But not quite as dead in the pit as you would expect either. Apparently the dogs acted like they did not recognize their former masters. Anyone seen Pet Sematary? Live animals on the other hand would not go anywhere near the hole, apparently. One of the strangest properties this mysteri-
ous pit possessed was that it emanated a “dark” light toward the heavens. At least that’s how the locals described it. Sort of a beam of...shadow for lack of a snappier decsripsh. According to Mel, the hole was just outside Ellensburg near the Manastash Ridge area. Listening to Art Bell try to pronounce Manastash was a grand treat. Of course, hearing an internationally syndicated radio host talking about creepy stuff happening just over the hill from my no-sleeping ass was a thrill in its own right. After the weighted fishing line failed to work any scientifical magic, Mel took this string business up a notch. “What if the string we have lowered down all this time is currently under water?” So he cleverly tied some Lifesaver mints to the bottom of a new line of string and lowered it down. His thought was, if the Lifesavers logo came back a little wonky, that meant it done got wet. Yep. Found the perfect time to sneak back into old man speak, right? Alas, the Lifesaver logo was intact well past a length of 3000 feet. Now Mel was really intrigued. I hope you are all intrigued as well. Tune in next month to see where this wacky story goes. Yes, you can cheat and get online and look ahead. Just like I can date your mom. Let’s both agree to be cool for at least another month, ok?
Continued in the next issue of The Comet.
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