Category: Ecstasis

by jad

Stand With Pride

My first Seattle Pride has been a good one. A few of us joined St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish for morning worship, then bussed to 4th and Marion where we gathered with the Diocese of Olympia to represent The Episcopal Church as witnesses to #TheWayOfLove. I knew this Pride was going to be special, because I would be very carefully carrying St. Peter’s beautiful processional banner for the first time. I also knew that something glitteringly spooky was up when I realized that this Sunday would be the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul—the two banners we raised across Seattle today. … Continue reading “Stand With Pride” →

by jad

St. Mark’s, Sanctuary Church

I’m proud of the @dioceseofolympia for taking this bold stand of providing “urgent & morally necessary action” to keep a loving and hardworking family from being separated by a cruel and unjust border regime. The Dean of St Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral announced this morning that our “beacon of hope on the hill” will be providing sanctuary to Jaime, as he continues to face the threat of deportation despite having a legal pathway for remaining with his family. Jamie, Keiko and Yoshi have been supported in this long battle by @oneamerica, @church.council, and numerous members of the community, who will continue … Continue reading “St. Mark’s, Sanctuary Church” →

by jad

We Are One

This past Saturday, I went through a rite of passage called reception, in which I was made a formal member of the Episcopal Church and the global Anglican Communion. There were hundreds of us there, milling about St Mark’s Cathedral, with lots to remember and do; and still, I couldn’t help but notice these vibrant and intriguing paintings lining the back walls of the sanctuary. There was something almost liturgical about them; I made a mental note to come back and get a better look. The last time I saw artwork in this space, I had just arrived to this … Continue reading “We Are One” →

by jad

Tender Touches: Cornish’s BFA Expo 19

Here’s are some thoughts from my favorite pieces at the Cornish College of the Art’s BFA Art and Design Expo 2019: # “You Never Left” A sense of tender vulnerability cuts across many of the works in this show; a good number express this vulnerability through the elevation of domestic space, familial memory and quotidian craft. Here is one example: @stupidstinky’s sculptures and embroidered works are an invitation into a gentle and generous intimacy that feels far from self-indulgent. The works approach the universality of good storytelling, and the sheer amount of artful “clutter” on display is a delight. # … Continue reading “Tender Touches: Cornish’s BFA Expo 19” →

by jad

Union: Yes!

If parliamentary procedure can be fun, then tonight was that. Wrote up, put forward and got approved on my very first Robert’s Rules-style resolution for anything ever at the Seattle Transit Riders Union members meeting this eve. Stoked to be finally connecting these dots stretched out across a decade’s worth of stuff and nonsense.

by jad

Memory and Place and Monument

I was moved by Trinh Mai’s tender and careful artworks; in her statement, she writes: “Art is the channel through which I connect my spiritual to my earthly existence…For me, it has made the intangible tangible and the unseen visible, and at times, offers comfort in the seemingly unbearable. It is my form of study and prayer…” Mai’s is one third of a ‘triptych’ of exhibits organized by @uwgradschool called ‘Memory and Place,’ showing until May 3 at Gould Gallery. ‘Memory and Place’ also featured the work of Studio Zewde. The exhibit explores the idea of the memorial as more … Continue reading “Memory and Place and Monument” →

by jad

Threads of Remembrance

This is a map of some of the impact of Executive Order 9066, signed by President Roosevelt on February 19, 1942 to authorize military authorities to exclude civilians from any area without trial or hearing. The order didn’t single out Japanese Americans, but they were the only group to be imprisoned as a result of it. St Peter’s held its last service for the remainder of the war on April 26, 1942, with Rev. Kitagawa ending his stoic entry in the church register that day with these lines: “At least a part of the congregation is leaving for the Puyallup … Continue reading “Threads of Remembrance” →

by jad

Seattle Womxn’s March, 2019

This morning, I was at the Seattle Womxn’s March with comrades from Seattle DSA, PSL, Socialist Alternative & others, as part of the Revolutionary Feminist Contingent. Just some good, clean intersectional fun, and my first proper demo in this country. We walked from Cal Anderson Park to the Space Needle, where I secretly hoped we’d all stomp our feet like we used to do back in the day, streaming into downtown Beirut. Instead, we bumped into a couple of fire-and-brimstone “preachers” denouncing the godless. This would have been a bummer, if it weren’t for the amazing responses from the crowd; … Continue reading “Seattle Womxn’s March, 2019” →

by jad

#GivingTuesday: Cascadia

Today is #GivingTuesday, the global giving movement that started in the US to mark the charitable season post- Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday madness. This year, consider supporting this little movement that could: CascadiaNow. Why? Because they demonstrate how a wacky idea like reimagining place & identity can be put into practice in this Upper Left corner of Empire, and they do this by being more than just a fiscal sponsor of 20+ grassroots projects with cool swag. They’re fun to hang out with too. If you’ve never even heard of Cascadia, have a look at their website: cascadianow.org There are so … Continue reading “#GivingTuesday: Cascadia” →