Counterculture?

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This has been on my mind recently: questions about and satire of the Portland OR culture. Questions about "counterculture" as it is here, or if the "counterculture" doesn't really exist in Portland.

As I often do, I started with definitions and then see where things fit or don't; what paths or rabbit holes appear to give me a deeper look at the things I'm researching or writing about. The first thing that came up was from Oxford University Press, so that would seem to be a reputable resource to quote. And here it is:

1. counterculture
   [ ˈkountərˌkəlCHər ] 
   

   NOUN

   a way of life and set of attitudes opposed to or at variance with the prevailing social norm:
   "the idealists of the 60s counterculture"
   Powered by OxfordDictionaries · © Oxford University Press

Oh, let me say right now that if you are hoping I will give you an answer, I won't. I don't know where the counterculture is in Portland OR or if it exists.

I was recently in an online humor writing intensive with Ariel Gore. I wasn't the only one who poked fun at Portland in the course. In the short one week writing experience there were several pieces about different aspects of Portland "weird." I have also been preparing to interpret "The People's Republic of Portland" at Portland Center Stage this week, which is about just this topic. I laugh at some of the jokes along with everyone else - the ones I know are probably coming in Lauren Weedman's show and the improv sections I've never heard before despite having seen the show several times. I nod in recognition of the characters she energetically shows the audience and laugh and the sometimes only mild exaggerations; the show is funny and she is great. And I think, yes, this is Portland and it's not all bad; but is it "counter"? (Side note: the show is worth seeing and it is running right now; if you want to see the interpreted performance it is this Thursday, April 9th, at 7:30 pm. Get your tickets soon as performances are selling out!)

When does "weird" become the norm? What does that look like? What does it take for the self-consciousness of appearing to be "counter-_______" (fill in the blank) to become the standard? Is it counterculture when there is a right and wrong, when there is pressure to conform, when the individual becomes the mass, and when the focus is inward toward individual or group? What is the counterculture countering? Or has it become so commonplace that there is nothing to counter? Has the Portland Weird Culture become so mainstream that we need a counterculture to the counterculture?

Or is the idea of A Counterculture outdated and we should just look at diversity, instead? What is the role of a counterculture? What has the role of the counterculture been historically and is that still true or still needed? If we don't really need a counterculture any longer, what has replaced it in terms of keeping us alert and alive as people? What keeps us from becoming a bland homogeneous unthinking mass which just plugs in to a pod and melds?

I'm not talking about the extremists. I'm not talking about the mentally unstable or sadistic or the outliers.

And here I start going down the rabbit hole of "what am I talking about?" What do I think is wrong? If I think something is wrong then what is missing or what would make it right?

What I do know is that it feels like "Portland Weird" has become just one more thing to conform to or to resist. One more thing to say "yay, I love it," or "boo, I'm better/worse than you." One more thing to make you feel better or worse about who you are.

Do we need a counterculture? Can or does counterculture exist? Or is this one more label to separate the "them" and the "us?"

2011

1960s  

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Challenge : F is for Float

F is for Float.

It could be a root beer float. Yum! I haven't had one of those in a long time; years. Right now I'm tasting that creamy texture of the vanilla ice cream - make it a really good one, natural, old fashioned, plain vanilla - covered with a real home-brewed type root beer poured over the top. So that the ball of vanilla is covered with a crunchy root beer ice coating, which crunches as you sip and chew. Smooth.

But I'm not writing about that today.

Or it could be a parade Float. Living in the City of Roses, that would be natural. We have the annual Rose Festival and the accompanying parade, which includes the Rose Princesses and the Rose Queen. And the Royal Rosarians. I haven't kept up with the newest technology in Float building, but it used to be that they used actual flower petals - many of them roses, of course - which where applied to the body of the Float to make the creatures and vehicles and the structures upon which the people and animals and various attachments sat as they flowed through the streets of downtown Portland, Oregon, blocking traffic for hours and making it difficult to get from here to there or anywhere.

But I'm not writing about that today, either.

What I am writing about is to take a Float. As in, Float in a saltwater tank for a period of time, with the door closed, the lights all off and access to light blocked, and no sounds. To Float in darkness for ninety minutes. Let the salt heavy water support your body in its natural position, in the dark and the silence and just be present. To slip into a state where ninety minutes feels like thirty and eventually your mind does quiet and you are ... just ... there. Floating. Supported. Relaxed to the state where creativity lives and flows and you now have access.

The first Float I did was about a month ago. I'd heard about them and they sounded wonderful. And kind of scary. I couldn't really imagine me doing anything like being still for ninety minutes. And the first appointment I scheduled was actually two and a half hours, because of the time slot, which was because of my busy and pretty full schedule. But I thought I'd give it a try.

There was the option of getting out at any time, they said.

But I didn't. I stayed in the entire two and a half hours. And had no idea it had been that long.

Two nights ago I went for my second Float. It was only a ninety minute appointment. And - yes - it really did feel like about thirty minutes.

So when someone asked me yesterday if my "E" word story was about an elephant eating a berry which turned out to be a drug, and I responded that I didn't think so, but maybe. And then I said that I didn't know where the story came from and, no, I wasn't on any mind altering substance, either, when I wrote it. I wasn't.  But it was post-Float. And Floating is said to aid in creativity. The place where I'm going did a project where musicians Floated and then created music; they have a CD of their collected compositions. They also did a Float project with artists. Right now they have a Float project going on with chefs - I can't wait to see how that one turns out.

I'm thinking of talking to them about my idea for a writers and Float project. Really. It's that good.

So. F is for Floating in ten inches of water which has 800-900 pounds of Epsom salts, in the dark and the silence. Ahhhhhh.

Where I Live and Write

I like where I live: Portland, Oregon. I've thought of living other places, but Oregon is home. Oregonians take pride in being Native Oregonians, though I think those numbers are dwindling, or at the least the ratio of natives to non-natives is lower. I can't claim being a pure Native Oregonian; but I"m close. The first four years of my life were spent in a nearby state; but I've lived in Oregon since that time. Most of the time has been in Portland and there were a couple of interspersed chunks of time in Salem.
 
Sometimes I wish I would have been braver and lived somewhere else. Or wonder what opportunities I missed or how I would be different if I had lived in other cities. And if I would have come back.
 
A number of years ago my partner and I considered New York City. Probably Brooklyn. We loved it there. Loved going into Manhattan, walking around Brooklyn. I spent nearly four weeks there a few years ago, working, staying at a friend's place in Brooklyn, taking the train into Manhattan to work, to see plays, to see dance performances. I went to Prospect Park to see Philip Glass perform with the Kronos Quartet; and if you've followed my posts for long, you know I love Philip Glass' music.
 
We could see ourselves living in New York City/Brooklyn. It's so very different than here and yet there was something very familiar and comfortable.
 
In New York City I'd be at the heart of theater and publishing. I'd be in the city that never sleeps. I'd have an amazing list of performances to see year-round. We'd be able to fly to European countries so much cheaper and in so much less time. So much creativity and possibility and energy.
 
I could also see myself living in Taos, New Mexico. Sort of. Our first trip there we fell in love. I understand that there are more famous people and other people with money buying up properties and that things are changing. But I hope the downtown/oldtown plaza is still there. Still the same. It touched both of us and we talked about moving there. It really was pretty unrealistic for me as a sign language interpreter: there is a School for the Deaf in Santa Fe, which is a couple of hours away through the mesas and which, in winter, would be a challenge though I know I'd get used to it and adapt. But two hours in good weather would make it longer or impossible in the winter. And another option is a work place I know in Albuquerque, which is even farther away. So as much as we loved Taos and it touched our hearts and creative spirits, it was not practical.
 
So here I am - we are - still in Portland. I've been here many years and suppose this is where I will stay until I"m not living on the earth any longer. And that's okay.
 
This is Home. And this is where I sleep and walk, swim, work, write. There is more to explore here and I am so fortunate to have the options of beach, mountains, forests, desert all within short drives. And a bigger city experience a few hours north in Seattle. It's beautiful and I'm not sorry I've landed here, that I live here, that I haven't left.
 
I read a story about how this video was made (on KATU) and then I watched the video. Beautiful. 
 
 

All Lanes Open

I was wondering what to post and feeling the need to write something. It's been a week since I posted here. Busy, distracted, wrapping up the second of the two overlapping online writing workshops. Making it through each day, being where I needed to be and when I needed to be there.

And here it is again Sunday.

Then I saw the headline: "All lanes open on Morrison Bridge". I realize that people outside of Portland, Oregon will most likely have no relationship to that headline. But especially for those of us who travel frequently between the east and west sides of the river, this is great news. Being down one of the central bridges has been a pain for a long time. Construction on the bridge started last June and it has just reopened.

So I was thinking that feeling is what I'm searching for in other parts of my life. Yes, I'm happy to have my primary bridge available, again. Very happy. And there's more.

I've been feeling a little backed up in my life, which includes my writing life. Feeling like the flow isn't quite there. Like there are too many detours and sometimes, like with the physical bridges, the alternate route is blocked. Or raised for a passing barge / financial need / someone else's priority. I'm good with workarounds and hanging in there until it passes and finding patience.

And.

I want my lanes open. Creativity to flow like water and to be able to follow my chosen path.

All lanes open.

Yes.
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workshop plus: FAT: Feminist Artists Together, A (Wo)Manifesto

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A new writing event/workshop I received an email about today. This is a brand new group in the Portland, OR, area - I don't know anything about them. But it looks interesting. Let me know what you think if you attend; I'll be interpreting ZZ Top for part of it and working for the other part.

This is the start of something big. Whether or you know it or not, you are already a part of it. FAT (Feminist Artists Together) is a collective of female artists and feminists (that’s you, boys!) who have joined together to support one another in the making of art. This ultimate goal of this enterprise is to provide outreach and education to young women interested in any and all forms of artistic expression.

Some upcoming FAT events:
FAT Writer’s Festival and Workshop: Focusing on Poetry, Prose and Memoir. Lead by Alexis White (Carleton English ’08, OSU MFA Poetry ’11) Claire Wilson (Smith College BA Women and Gender Studies, Spanish, Marlyhurst MA Divinity ’11) and Sarah O’Mally (Carleton College BA Spanish, University of Portland MAT Education). At the Lotus Seed. Friday 8/27 6-9 pm, Saturday 8/28 11-3 pm, 8/29 6-9 pm. Cost is $10 per day or $25 for the weekend.

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submit: Reading Local is seeking submissions from Portland writers

Reading Local is seeking short fiction and nonfiction from Portland writers

Arthur Smid is helping Reading Local Portland find short stories to publish.

From Arthur:

"By seeking out emerging talent, requesting stories from established writers, and accepting submissions, the online literary journal at Reading Local Portland will create awareness among writers of their contemporaries and build an audience for new work. The goal is to provide an online page of Portland-based literary fiction and narrative nonfiction.  

Beginning in September, Reading Local will publish one new story (up to 1,500 words) each week from writers living in the Portland area. We are not able to pay contributors at this time. Authors retain all rights and own their work. Send your story (up to 1,500 words) with a brief bio (and link to your website) to smidarthur(at)gmail(dot)com."

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The Annual Rock Creek Symposia on the Creative Process

...from Portland Community College...

This week a series of three symposia over three consecutive days brings together working artists from various disciplines—poets, novelists and visual artists-- to discuss their creative process. The three symposia follow the evolution of a work of art by posing questions such as how do artists begin a work of art? How do they develop it? What happens when they run into problems? When do they know a work of art is finished?

Wednesday February 17, 10 am RC TLC (3/102) “In the Beginning”
Q: What is the origin of a work of art and how do you get started?
Answers from: poet Peter Sears, novelist Stevan Allred, novelist Joanna Rose

Thursday February 18, 10am RC TLC (3/102) “In the Middle”
Q: How do you develop a work of art through doubts and unexpected turns ?
Answers from: fiction writer John Zackel, painter Christopher Knight, novelist Stevan Allred

Friday February 19, 10am RC TLC (3/102) “The End”
Q: When is it over and how do you know?
Answers from: painter Christopher Knight, sculptor Ben Buswell, novelist Joanna Rose

moderated by Mark Andres and Alison Apotheker

These symposia are free and open to the public. The series is funded by a generous grant from ASPCC.

NaNoWriMo: stat update

Go, Portland! We are ranked 7th in the world for visits to the NaNoWriMo website, so far.

Actually us Pacific Northwesterners in Portland do pretty well on the overall stats. We're right up there in average word counts and total word counts. And now we're high on the list for visits to the headquarters.

Two days from now I will be sitting at the kick-off write-in spot, waiting for the big 12:01 AM on November 1st, "GO"... and the noveling will begin. Jenny and I will both be there at the start line; Alexander will join us a couple days later. We have plotted out some compatible writing times - catching pieces here and there. Hours to boost each other up or commiserate or just be two or three bodies with our laptops and our in progress novels, typing away.

We are Portland NaNoWriMos and proud of it!

event: MANOR of ART

from Milepost 5:

Over 100 artists have been invited to turn the yet-to-be-renovated rooms of The Studios building into three floors of installations and exhibits. This 10-day festival will include live music by local bands, theater and performance art, artist round tables, and daily guided tours of the 100+ exhibits.
The Studios is phase 2 of Milepost 5, formerly the Baptist Manor Retirement Home which was founded on the property in 1915.
Event Times and Dates:

• Opening Event: 6-9 pm Friday, August 14.
• Gallery hours: 1-7pm daily, Galleries open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Guided docent tours of exhibits: 2pm daily.
• Music by various local bands: Friday 14th: 6-9pm, Saturday 15th: 3-9pm and Friday 21st: 6-9pm, Saturday 22nd: 3-9pm
• Artist Round Table: 2pm Sunday Aug. 16th.
• Experimental Theater by Hand2Mouth Weds Aug 19th, Thurs Aug 20th
• Saturday Closing Event hosted by Sam Adams, Mayor of Portland.

All Events are Free and All-Ages

(A suggested donation of $1-$10 for admission)

Manor of Art is graciously sponsored by: Nike, Tri-Met, Muse Art and Design, Beam Development, Art Media, Scion, Paris Group Realty, Weiden+Kennedy, TinyLeviathan.com, Art Institute of Portland, 94.7 KNRK, PDXartscene, Mobile Malloy Productions, Montavilla Neighborhood Association.

Food provided by Palm State Gumbo

Beer and wine services provided by Manor of Art

With a Special Thanks to: Chris Haberman, John Graeter, Hand2Mouth Theatre, Ezra Johnson-Greenough, Leigh Lowry, Gavin Shettler, Micheal Feilds, Matthew Haggett, James Smith, Ry Malloy, and the hordes of incredible artists and volunteers it takes to do something like this!

A production of Portland City Art and Milepost 5

Go to their website for more information, including a list of participating artists.
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bumper sticker

Among other political stickers on the rear of the typical southeast Portland car in front of me, there is one I haven't seen before. Nestled amongst the more common ones, such as one for KBOO community radio and 'keep portland weird!' is:

"We're making enemies faster than we can kill them..."
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A New Resource

Announcing the start of a new resource for writers and other creative types.

Cafe Connoisseurs and Writing Capers

Join Jenny and me as we wander the streets of Portland (or wherever else our feet or vehicles take us) in search of places to write. All content generated will be completely biased and based on our own personal experiences at said establishments.

Trust us, we are fair minded people.

Usually.

photograph by Dot.