Category: Poiesis

by jad

Until Next Time, Gorgeous

It’s almost September, which means it’s nearly time to put the summer behind me. One or two more hurrahs left for the closest thing we have to an eternal city on this continent. x It’s funny that I still haven’t done any of the most stereotypical things in NYC yet, but this time, I got real close. x It’s also funny how it was only after we got back from NYC that I started watching all these shows about its urban history. We’ve barely scratched the surface of this place, which is why I love it so much. It’s not … Continue reading “Until Next Time, Gorgeous” →

by jad

Cat Power at CHOMP!

I’ve been listening to @catpowerofficial for years and years, ever since @aliciammmm first introduced her to me a lifetime ago, but I never got the chance to see her perform live—there’s a whole era of artists that shaped me from afar when I lived in places they never ventured, and I’d long resigned myself to keeping it that way. But when I heard that Chan was playing at @kingcountychomp this year, and for free (!!!), I knew I had to be there. What I didn’t expect, though, is how moved I’d be. From the first notes of ‘The Greatest,’ my … Continue reading “Cat Power at CHOMP!” →

by jad

Rothko, Sontag, and a Book Called Fotografare

“The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them.” That’s what Mark Rothko said in 1965 about the colorfield work he’s most famous for, an insistence on a “meaning” behind the “abstraction” that his son, Christopher, has reiterated in interviews about the major exhibit he co-curated in Florence this year: “He wanted those who looked at his paintings to experience the same religious experience that he had while creating them.” I’m no art historian and had no sense of his intentions when I encountered a Rothko in real life for … Continue reading “Rothko, Sontag, and a Book Called Fotografare” →

by jad

Overtourism, and Cory Doctorow’s Reverse Centaurs

I’ve been seeing some chatter on here about “overtourism,” a phenomenon that’s viscerally obvious in a city like Florence. And while I’m not above grumbling about the crowds myself, every time the discourse veers into a quasi-actionable register (that proverbial “what is to be done”), I flinch. What is there to be done, really? Because the grumbles never come from people who have not stepped foot on whatever sacred ground is in question; it’s always people who want to be there just as badly as everyone else. And while my heart always goes out to the people who actually live … Continue reading “Overtourism, and Cory Doctorow’s Reverse Centaurs” →

by jad

#JimothySummer: Peace Dropping Slow

It’s official! The summer of 2026 is #JimothySummer! I have never felt prouder of my city. Thank you @councilmember.amr 🥁 and thank you Jimothy! I even teared up a little during this love fest. There were soooo many beautiful artworks that I’ll have to post a follow-up reel later to do them justice. For now, enjoy Seattle at its best 🦝 x “For peace comes dropping slow…” I was planning a follow-up video with more of the artists after yesterday’s lovely proclamation of #JimothySummer by @councilmember.amr, and before the tragic news from the Seattle Center that we all heard about … Continue reading “#JimothySummer: Peace Dropping Slow” →

by jad

Third Side of the Moon

And the cottonwoods in summer are falling like snow many moons ago. (The All-American Rejects – Green isn’t Yellow) x My heart pumps faster than could possibly be alright; I read a magazine before – You only get so many thumps in your whole life. (Modest Mouse – Third Side of the Moon) x I’ve been taking a drive along a memory and had an awful thought: What if I’m wrong and you were right all along? (The All-American Rejects – Get This) x

by jad

Seeking the Fringe at Folklife

I was broadly aware that by taking a step behind the curtains this year and generally being there in the sleepier, pre-crowd hours, that I’d experience a very different Folklife than usual. I remember thinking about that when I stood in front of this window. There’s a special melancholy to the liminal time before showtime, anticipating the crash after you wrap. x They were recording content for their social media, so I didn’t stop to ask, but does anyone know what this dance is called and where it’s from? x At this point, I was actively seeking out the fringe … Continue reading “Seeking the Fringe at Folklife” →

by jad

A Story in Three Acts (I’m a Maximalist at Heart)

A story in three acts. What’s missing is the shot I didn’t take when I blurted out “whoaaaaaa” after this guy came out of nowhere and kicked the inflatable doll so hard, it flew back a meter or so. x I’m actually a maximalist at heart. x Not unlike an A24 film scheduled to be released tomorrow, you weren’t supposed to see this. x

by jad

Two Years Since the Care Bear Polaroid

And just like that, it’s over. The art’s been struck, the crowds have gone home, and for some reason, I slept even worse now that it’s done than I did in preparation and anticipation; I guess my brain needed time to process it all. I’m very grateful to @nwfolklife for this opportunity and for all the hidden helpers that made this possible. Thank you Ben for inviting us into this novel process. Thank you Emma for taking on such a logistical labyrinth. Thank you Pete for figuring out how to even install this non-traditional art. And thanks especially to Faith … Continue reading “Two Years Since the Care Bear Polaroid” →