The Scottish Play by the Shotgun Players and Musings about Local Theater

Guest Theater Critic: Tom Virsik

Leah and I recently saw Shotgun Player's Macbeth. We can recommend it — but not appropriate for children. Overtly carnal (but tasteful) in parts and LOTS of well-placed stage blood. Audible gasps from the audience at certain scenes of violence.

(Actor playing Macbeth: Craig Marker. Photo Credit: Jessica Palopoli
Source: Shotgun Players)

The leads are great, as is the one witch/weird sister. Director Mark Jackson changes a small part of the plot (but not the lines!) that works well in this version. It is not his best work, though, and a few of his signature techniques are, in my opinion, overused. (And I suspect Jackson recycled a throbbing soundtrack used for a party scene from his American $uicide production). Very stylish and hip throughout and thoroughly understandable. You will remember this production of Macbeth and never confuse it with another. Macbeth has been extended through February 1, 2009.

Leah and I also saw a special one-night performance of Beowulf — a sort of rock opera "song play" based on the epic poem. We first saw it during its premiere run in Berkeley some months back. it is now headed to New York City. I noticed that among its cast is an actor I had originally seen in a Woman's Will production a few years back. (I need to disclose that I recently was invited to and am presently a member of the Board of Directors of Woman's Will). This same actor I next came across in a leading role in a different local company after. Now the actor is headed to NYC! If you are in NYC in April, check it out!

I am a strong proponent of local theater for a variety of reasons. The above tale is an example of one reason — being a part of something bigger. I — with many others — played a small part by reaching into my wallet for tickets and donations to keep local theater companies alive and prospering. That support translates into seeing those companies, the actors, the other professionals, excel and create work that is (in my opinion) beyond mere entertainment. One need only look at the titles of what is playing at small theater companies in the Bay Area to realize that political, ideological, and social themes are being debated and explored on stages almost nightly. Macbeth is, after all, a tale of an unquenchable thirst for power and no fewer than three small companies staged three very different versions of Macbeth within the last year. Coincidence or a thoughtful product of the political climate?

I am aware that especially in this economic climate, the arts in general are facing challenges. I know local theater in the Bay Area is under the gun, including the one organization of which I have personal knowledge, Woman's Will. I encourage you to go see a show at your local theater. Volunteer, make a donation if you can. If the small theater companies perish for lack of support, we will have only ourselves to blame.

Lots of thoughts

Oh so much… in my head… I have had some really great time off… so many ideas… my head is bouncing and I don't know where to start. When I wrote my 100 memorable experiences I initially entitled them 100 accomplishments and then I had issue with that word so I changed it… I want to add one more thing… I had an incredible day teaching on my birthday and I came home and Tom surprised me with birthday candles, cake and sang me Happy Birthday. He also gave me a really great card with a drawing of his. It was so sweet. I really enjoy his thoughtfulness. Just something I want to add to my memorable experiences of 2008. I'm very lucky to have this man in my life. Smile.

I had a really great day today taking Carolee Gilligan Wheeler's class: Personalized Daybook: Fresh Start for the New Year at SFCB. I learned a lot and it was definitely a highlight to meet Carolee. She's very down-to-earth, patient, has lots of great ideas, willing to share and is excited about what she's teaching. I really enjoy and highly recommend her. Check out her upcoming class called Upcycling: The Transformation of Trash. More photos on her website.

On my way home tonight, I got super excited about ideas of making more books. We recycle a ton of direct mail pieces at work and I'd like to figure out ways to incorporate more of those direct mail pieces into my books–a way to make friends with the direct mail, to actually transform my relationship with it maybe. An interesting thought. My work mates already save aluminum cans for me.

On Carolee's about page, she has a link to Joan Didion's article "On Keeping a Notebook". The following part of that article brought up so much for me that I want to make full notebook on my reaction. "…I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind's door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were."

I'm on a mission–obsession maybe, to find my "tribe". Searching out and finding people who are doing what I'm doing. Connecting and creating my creative community. It's happening… with the blog, with the books I'm buying, with classes I'm taking… it feels really exciting to be part of a bigger community. I could also view it as a way of showing up to the community that's already surrounding me.

I met my mom yesterday on BART and we were going to go to the SFMOMA but she had enjoyed the YSL exhibit at the de Young so much that we went back. It was really enjoyable for me to see my mom so passionate and excited. She can talk me into anything. The YSL exhibit is pretty incredible. I was very curious about Haute couture and the statement that it was common for YSL to present 100 looks per collection. He sounded pretty prolific.

Maya Lin's work is also on exhibit at the de Young. I was really touched by her work and her process. Listening to her speak about her process on headphones, she states: "…if we know what it is we actually aren't looking at it anymore…" I've been trying to look at things differently. I finally got NetFlix and am looking forward to seeing the documentary, "Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision."

While I was having my wedding ring sized at The Gem Gallery (Tom and I had a great experience here!) in Berkeley, I walked into Village Shoes in search of a pair of slippers. Great service and great shoes. I walked out with a pair of handmade felt Stegmann slippers and they are the most comfortable slippers ever. When I come home, I cannot wait to put them on. Seems weird but I wish I could wear them everywhere.

100 Memorable Experiences of 2008

Lisa Call's blog post: 100 Accomplishments of 2008 inspired me to write my own. Whew! I didn't think I could come up with 100 but Tom helped.

1. I experienced an incredible wedding with Tom, the man of my dreams. When things just click, you know it and it feels right… I knew this was possible but hadn't experienced it before.
2. Tom and I spent a fabulous two-week honeymoon in Savannah, Georgia, Durham, North Carolina and Florida.
3. Saw an incredible exhibit of William Christenberry's work at the Telfair Museum in Savannah, Georgia.
4. Joined Alameda Women Artists and became a board member.
5. Accepted into Frank Bette Center for the Arts Alameda on Camera exhibit.
6. Threw a summer party in our home.
7. Visited my sister and her partner in San Diego and ate lots of wonderful food.
8. Conceived and led Artist Business Circle at Frank Bette Center for the Arts.
9. Started yoga at at Loka Yoga.
10. Inspired by Kelly Rae Roberts to begin blogging.
11. Ran across the Golden Gate Bridge and back on New Year's Day 2008.
12. Spent weekend in Napa with Tom.
13. Took care of my mom's dog. Learned a lot about myself and how my life would need to be different if we were to have a dog.
14. Learned coptic sewing and long stitch link stitch binding via Keith A. Smith's Non-Adhesive Binding Books Without Paste or Glue. If you buy this book or any of his books which I recommend, buy them through him, he'll send you a thank you note!
15. Bought a Vivitar Polaroid Instant Slide Printer and learned how to make emulsion lifts.
16. Started working with scrap aluminum.
17. Bought a modern sewing machine from a garage sale.
18. Lost weight through Weight Watchers and kept it off.
19. Took emergency preparedness courses through Oakland's CORE program.
20. Saw a great KFOG Concert for Kids featuring the Pretenders and Amos Lee at Oakland's Paramount Theater. (Incredible eye candy!)
21. Discovered great ginger snap recipe. (Tom calls them Ginger Slaps.)
22. Conceived, planned and executed our first lawn art sculpture: Hammie with Tom.
23. Planted our first tree.
24. Cleaned our gutters. Tom reminded me of this. Such a great workout!
25. Created more art than I've ever created.
26. Worked outside of my norm and created works in pastel colors.
27. Paid off debt.
28. Bought digital camera.
29. Planned Christmas meal with Tom and didn't suffer from the lack of abundance feeling that I get at times, "Is this enough?" It was enough.
30. Finally painted my lamp my mom gave me years ago.
31. Worked with Tom to design placement of ART letters on studio door.
32. Bought our first gas BBQ.
33. Bought outdoor furniture from the Alameda Flea Market.
34. Ate Southern BBQ.
35. Experienced fried pickles. Yum!
36. Went to the Salvador Dali Museum and then later found the pencils he used at the Alameda Flea Market.
37. Discovered Key Lime Pie and that it's not green!
38. Discovered the Daiso.
39. Took a really great AIA home tour via bikes. Nineteen miles round trip!
40. Stayed up til 3 a.m. with Tom and made art.
41. Discovered lynda.com.
42. Attended a LEGAL same sex wedding.
43. Voted for Obama.
44. Asked Michele Pred to speak at my Artist Business Circle. She said yes!
45. Bought an original Michele Maule.
46. Was incredibly inspired by Cay Lang's Taking the Leap.
47. Took a class with Lisa Kokin and discovered what great things you can do with books and dictionaries.
48. Attended an Oakland City Council meeting.
49. Took a tour at S.F. Recycling.
50. Witnessed my sister's defense for her Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
51. Letterpress printed our wedding invitations at SFCB.
52. Saw the Cowboy Junkies in Napa.
53. Went on a women's retreat to Occidental.
54. Discovered Graton and had fabulous food at Willow Wood Cafe.
55. Bought a great jacket from Mr. Ryder and Company.
56. Saw Chihuly's In the Hot Shop video. This is a great example of "artist as director".
57. Saw the Joseph Cornell exhibit at SFMOMA.
58. Sold more artwork than I ever have.
59. Bought a Royal typewriter and Tom named him Roy.
60. Discovered how yummy frozen grapes can be from Carol.
61. Discovered the Food Mill and their super ginger bars.
62. Discovered radish sandwiches.
63. Ate wonderful turnip soup Tom made.
64. Spent an exhilirating day planting with Tom, my mom and Warren. We planted the plants my mom bought for us for our wedding.
65. Put political signs up in our yard.
66. Asked for trees from the city of Oakland.
67. Bought house numbers.
68. Sumitted work to Rock Paper Scissors.
69. Submitted work to Rhythmix Cultural Works.
70. Changed my name.
71. Exhibited work with AWA at the Alameda Library.
72. Exhibited work with AWA at the Alameda Museum.
73. Sold several handmade books.
74. Got my lip pierced.
75. Wrote letter to my city council representative.
76. Letterpress printed thank you cards.
77. Exhibited at Frank Bette Center for the Arts in "Vision and Revision".
78. Heard about Francis Bacon's studio from Julie Alvarado.
79. Wrote 46 blog posts.
80. Began reading Lisa Sonora Beam's The Creative Entrepreneur.
81. Wrote to Lisa Sonora Beam and told her that I would like to host a class of hers.
82. Created my first visual journal.
83. Experimented with different types of frames including a window.
84. Began reading Kelly Rae Robert's Taking Flight.
85. Wrote a note to Carol C. Parks.
86. Bought LK Ludwig's Mixed-Media Nature Journals on Carol C. Park's recommendation and really enjoy it.
87. Imagined idea of running a non-profit for artists.
88. Bought Jean-Paul Sartre's Nausea.
89. Bought and used ideas from Alyson B. Stanfied's I'd Rather Be In the Studio.
90. Introduced to the concept of "teaching what you need to learn".
91. Read Rainer Maria Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet.
92. Celebrated Julia's 60th birthday with her and extended family.
93. Was treated to a fabulous day in San Francisco by my mom, sister and sister-in-law for my wedding.
94. Met incredible people of Tom's past on our honeymoon.
95. Asked Dona Turner to speak at my Artist Business Circle and she said yes!
96. Gently reminded of connectedness and introduced to the Oakopolis creed of "No separation between art and living".
97. Reminded by Dona Turner of the importance of enjoying one's creativity. She shared an incredibly cute dog she created with my Artist Business Circle.
98. Introduced to an exciting new gallery in Alameda: Autobody Fine Arts.
99. Experimented with solvent transfers.
100. Organized garage and studio.

Turning 37 and The Creative Entrepreneur

Thirty-seven years ago today I was born. Today I'm contemplating that and all that I've experienced in my lifetime. I'm grateful to be here and thankful for a wonderful husband and to have been brought up in a very supportive family.

I'm working through Lisa Sonora Beam's The Creative Entrepreneur and above are images from my own visual journal. I'm still working on the text. It's in some places and not in others and I realize combining the writing and the visual image does not come easily to me. It's something I admire in other journals and works I've seen and and so my attempt at it will give me an even greater appreciation.

Something exciting I've learned through this process is that papers or pieces that were treated as "scrap" or "messups" are no longer, they're now given a new life in my visual journal. They are now a page in an actual book. It's curious and makes we wonder about what else I can breathe new life into. What was junk at one point or even garbage and now has a new life because of you?

I'm really enjoying Lisa Sonora Beam's book and the process of thinking differently. I'm working through objectives, strategies and tactics for 2009 and it's much more detailed than I've ever made it. Really exciting stuff. I'm looking forward to the new year and what it brings. Interested in taking a class in Oakland with Lisa Sonora Beam? Visit her website to find out more about her and let me know! I'm looking forward to potentially hosting a class of hers.

I came across incredible signage at the ZTA Architectural Office in San Diego. Click on places, commercial and then ZTA Architectural Office to see pics.

Support Women Artists Now (SWAN) day is March 28, 2009 and is put together in part by The Fund for Women Artists. I'm excited. I'd like to do something to celebrate… something creative and with women. Interested? Let me know! For many years I've been inspired by others who inspire. It hasn't been enough for me to just witness this, I realize that part of my mission is to be a leader, to connect and inspire others myself.

Art, Animal and Food Fusion

"What are you going to be doing on your trip with your sister?"

"Eating and shopping for food…"

"…and what else?"

"More of that and then the art museum…"

On an average weekend, Erin and Dave go to about four markets for food. They say that there was a while when ten was common and twelve has been the record. We arrived in San Diego late yesterday morning and our first stop was North Park Market for Mediterranean feast fixins. Our lunch and dinner consisted of Greek Kalamata olives, French feta, Halloumi from Cypress, homemade tabouli, yogurt cheese with hummus, dolmas, whole wheat pitas, mint-flavored yogurt drink, Poblano peppers, fresh dates and Dave's homemade multi-colored salad with red paprikas from Bulgaria, (I thought this only came in a powder!) grapes, walnuts, Asian pears, frisée, arugula and red leaf lettuce, feta, Mediterranean cucumbers and red onion. Yummy!

In between we trecked to the downtown location of Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego for my benefit. This is one of my favorite museums. I drag my siblings here whenever I can. I really appreciated a particular exhibit entitled: Artists Respond to a Changing Planet. I couldn't get over the story told by an artist who interacted with Kenya children and introduced them to colored pencils. What a treat!

As I'm writing this, we're preparing dinner. It's all about the food. This morning Dave picked up coffee for us from Peet's and Erin cooked us breakfast: aka miso soup with a poached egg, Szechuan peppercorns and primary dashi from a cookbook Tom couldn't put down last night called Japanese Cooking A Simple Art by Shizno Tsuji. After breakfast we headed out to the unique and fabulous Catalina Offshore Products and picked up incredibly fresh swordfish and bay scallops. Just experiencing Tommy and his antics is worth the trip. He grabbed a gift of baby abalone shells for me when he found out I was visiting from out of town. Tom commented that I'd be able to do something with them. It was really funny when we saw an art piece later that day consisting of similar shells.


Above images are the swordfish and the Bay Scallop Ceviche Erin made for dinner.

We returned home with the fish and Erin made buckwheat soba noodles with seared scallops. We dipped the noodles in a noodle dipping sauce (Tsuke-jiru) Dave prepared. (Recipes from cookbook above.) It's incredibly enjoyable to eat and share such wonderfully different foods with Erin, Dave and Tom.

I woke up in the middle of the night, dreaming of getting tattoos on my arms and walking down streets of mismatched houses. I had such excitement, a desirous feeling of getting up and writing, documenting my experience, wanting to capture my emotion, translate it, share it… not that this excitement had much to do with the dream but it was in me just the same.

One of the highlights of our trip was Dave's chai tea. So good… I wasn't feeling well and it helped me feel much better.

Dave has a giant stuffed bear named Sergei and on previous occasions Dave has discussed Sergei's need for glasses. Inspired and working with what we had, I suggested a wire hanger. (I initially suggested we go to the art store but am grateful we went this alternate route.) Dave found a hanger and Tom quickly fashioned it into a spectacle shape. I patiently removed the kinks from the wire and added some copper wire Dave found. We needed something to attach the glasses and Dave came up with some dental floss. Tom tied it around Sergei's head. So simple and fun. I really enjoyed this collaborative process.

Erin and Dave also treated us to the San Diego Zoo. Fabulous fun and such great inspiration for art and fashion. I was really taken by the birds, something I didn't expect. But then I imagine that might have to do with Nick Bantock or Joseph Cornell or Martha Stewart.

I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. I'm inspired to eat some different foods… add flax seed to my morning yogurt, enjoy more birds, stop more often and enjoy life.

Card Catalog Inspiration

One of the highlights (I just love little drawers) at Building Resources in San Francisco plus they have tumbled glass! Looking forward to working on the garden in the spring…

Interview with Hedy Peterson

Hedy Peterson makes beautiful, well-crafted handbags. I'm very lucky to carry a fun black leather bag with purple, red and brown suede polka dots that she designed especially for me. Many years ago, I met Hedy when I was looking for a bag to carry my portfolio. I couldn't find anything I liked and she designed a stunning black bag with a heavy duty zipper for me.

I get lots of great compliments on my bags and I want more people to know about Hedy Peterson. Read on to experience her inspiring interview and see photos of her work. Check her out on Etsy.com!

Where can you be found on the web? Or out in the real world?
I’m currently working on a website: HandbagBoulevard.com which should be up before too long. I have a shop at Etsy.com under the name of hedilu. I also do open studio in Berkeley, CA on Saturdays from 10-5 so people can come see where I work and buy directly from me.

What do you create?
I design and produce handbags and small accessories mostly in leather. I also make a small collection of Christmas ornaments (mini-stockings and tote bags) that I originally designed for a group of decorators in San Francisco who were doing a charity fundraiser.

How did you learn your craft?
I mostly taught myself how to design and sew leather. There was not a school closer than England when I first started, so I just had to do a lot of trial and error.

Where do you find inspiration?
That’s a question that I have some trouble coming up with an answer for. Since I’m a very visual person, nothing escapes my sight and I think I synthesize much of that input. In other words, a beautiful pointy toed shoe and a brown and white puppy I just met may come together in my creative mind to become a brown bag with white stitching and a pointed flap. But, for me, it’s all about taking a bit from over here and something from over there and spinning it from inside myself. That’s the best explanation I have for it.

What motivates you?
I just love the creative process. I’m very motivated by the materials I use. A beautiful piece of leather or a sublime piece of hardware motivates me to get going and turn it into something else.

When did you start your business?
Sometime around the middle seventies.

What early creative memories stand out for you?
When I was about 14 years old, I asked my grandmother to help me make a purse and together, we made a beautiful little shoulder bag using crocheted pieces and cotton backing. Before that, when I was much younger, I used to gather up every toy and lots of other stuff (small pieces of wood, boxes, old thread spools and who knows what else) and set up my own little town on the floor of my playroom. It took up the whole perimeter of the room and took weeks to make. I still don’t know what that was about. Perhaps I missed my calling as a developer. (chuckle)

Why did you decide to start your own business?
I was working at a bookstore doing accounts receivable. I have no idea how I could have possibly gotten that job since I could hardly type and to this day do not balance my checkbook. But there I was..miserable in a job that didn’t fit me at all. One of my roommates had a booth at a cooperative craft store in Palo Alto called ‘The Artifactory’ and that looked very attractive to me, so with $55, I was able to rent a booth for one month and buy some clothes at the second hand store. I cut up the clothes and made them into skirts, jackets and shirts and sold them at the Artifactory. My first business was called ‘HedTrips’. It was a good name in the ‘70’s.

What do you love most about creating your work?
The feeling of being a creator is a hard one to explain. It’s the flow of creation through me that keeps me going. I guess it’s the connection to all of creation and the energy that created me and everything else. It’s the stepping into the flow. And I’d be lying if I said the outcome wasn’t important. Seeing that finished product after hours of doing detail after detail and working to get each one of those right is so great.

What's a favorite book of yours and why?
I fell in love with the writing of Robertson Davies after I read ‘Fifth Business’. It’s art on the printed page. It’s clever and intelligent and witty and draws on the metaphysical in the storyline. All the things that draw me in.

What advice would you give to women starting their own business?
I don’t think I’d be giving too much advice to someone else other than to ‘go for it’. I feel like I’m still figuring things out for my own business. When I started, I didn’t have any idea at all how to run a business. I just knew how to create and I tried to plug in to marketing that fit my product.
OK -- if I had to give advice, I’d say learn some basic business skills. Or find a partner that has business savvy if your forté is the creative part.

What's the biggest challenge you face in your work?
The previous question spotlighted my biggest weakness. I think I’ll take my own advice and take some business classes.

How do you get unstuck?
I go and do something else for a bit. There’s nothing like gardening or doing the sanding on a wood project to loosen things up. It has to be something that takes my attention off the stuck area. If I just go for a walk, I just stay mired in the problem.

What's your approach to balancing your time between work and life?
I have a set schedule for my work. Sometimes it flows outside of that schedule, but mostly it’s never a problem for me. If I have to be out of the studio for a time, I just make it up later. I have a tv at the end of my big cutting table, so if I find myself working at night, I don’t have to miss watching ‘The Office’ or any of my other faves.

What do you love to do in your free time?
I enjoy anything outdoors. I have a couple of bikes that I like to ride. I also really like to go dancing. Cajun/Zydeco is very cool. I’ve always been athletic, so any kind of sports or games is fun for me.
What are you working on right now?
About half a dozen different things. I always have a few things brewing in my mind, so when I finish with a project, I can pluck out another and get going on it right away. I’ve been producing a series of woven bags and I know I haven’t made all of those that will be in the collection, so for today, it’s that. Tomorrow, I may have a different answer.

What's one thing you wish you knew when you started your business?
How to be absolutely fearless in the face of great obstacles. I now believe that nothing is worthy of fear.

What's your favorite quote?
All my favorite quotes seem to be set to music. I don’t have just one, but for the sake of answering the question, it’s this: "and, in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" ~the Beatles. Brilliant.

Anything else you'd like to say?
Thanks, Leah.