Revisiting 2009 Scholar KCF at Christmas
Listen to the essay narrated by yours truly (click the image) As I was telling the automated robot system the make (Chevrolet), model (Silverado), and year...
The Hope of the Swan
Throughout October and November each year, the small, environmental lake on which we live fills with the sights and sounds of migrating trumpeter swans. We...
Portals and Hauntings
Click on the image above to listen to the essay Hauntings and Portals Vaimo bought me a bouquet, a gorgeous autumn arrangement to commemorate our 11th...
Chimp Obsessions
Please excuse my unusual placement of this upcoming event front and center for your viewing pleasure before I dive into this newsletter’s essay. Over the...
The Case of the Two Missing Notepads
“I have to find it!” I exclaim to Vaimo. “I’ve been looking all over and I can’t find it anywhere!” “Have you checked the bookcase?” “Yes.” “What about...
An artist/scholar goes to Branson
“I actually just drove through Kansas City yesterday” I replied to my seat mate who had flown up and who was also cheering for the Royals at Target Field in...
Vacation and Residency
Hiiiiiiiiiii! Have you missed me?! I’ve missed you! I don’t have it in me to write a nicely crafted email narrative for you all - so instead you’ll get some...
Four Years Old
Four Years Old Listen to the essay by clicking the image above Not wanting to dig into my teaching archives to find the exact number, let me use my prone to...
Ergonomic Nostalgia
Nostalgic Ergonomics A classmate (Órale Griñe) recently helped lead the charge for a fundraiser for our middle and high school educational institution....
The Pilgrimage
The Pilgrimage Click on the image above to listen to this essay “Here’s your card, good for $10 off your next purchase, and here’s the next one started” the...
The Loon
The Loon Click the image to listen to this essay The eerie call of the loon greeted me last Friday as I walked down to the chicken coop to let the flock...
On Wholesome Community
Community Wholesomeness Listen to the episode by clicking on the image above I’ve recently found myself spending evenings by the television, under my lap...
In the Red
In the Red Art of KCF Podcast Episode - Listen to the essay here I began amassing student loan debt in the fall of 2005 as a graduate student pursing a Ph.D....
Terrible, terrible
The Delta flight attendant smiled widely as I crossed the threshold into the plane. It’s always a marvel to witness this vehicle up close, a lesson in...
Painting is life
Life is Painting The Art of KCF Podcast - Listen to the Episode by clicking the image above How much time do you spend thinking about painting? Either the...
On Community
The artist reflects on stumbling on accidental community as they also engage community on a serious topic with art.
The Turn of a Page
The Page of a Turn Listen to the essay and show review here Sometime in October of 2023 I started booking things out to January 2024 and beyond. It felt...
The Art of Evaluation
The Art of Evaluation Allow me to pull back the curtain a little for you to see the inner workings of a grant cycle. As my long-time readers have witnessed,...
Bringing it Back
Bringing it Back Last week I had the opportunity to connect with Sharon Nordrum a visual artist, dog trainer, and woman of many talents who shares the...
Liminal Spaces
Space is Liminal Listen to the essay here In Oprah’s favorite book A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle he says there is no such thing as waiting if you’re in the...
Many Paths
Paths, Many Listen to the audio version here Last Friday I found myself at the panadería in Wadena, Minnesota. The shop was still dark and I feared they...
Sucker for love
Sucker for Love Listen to the essay and show review here One of my all time favorite movies is While You Were Sleeping starring the incomparable Sandra...
On Capacity
Capacity On I’ve been asked to serve as a reviewer of an academic article which is teaching lessons to my former academic self. That version of KCF would...
Hopping and Hoping
Hoping and Hopping The grasshoppers had mostly cycled through their phase of boom at the ChicFinn when I left on a transformational pilgrimage in late...
Pull Like Everyone's Watching
Watch Like Everyone's Pulling Listen to the Essay “And next up in the 3500 Farm Class, my nephew. He just started pulling last month, this is about his 3rd...
Ahhhhh summer musings
Musing Summer Ahhhh summer. The verdant greens. The lush fecundity. The joy of the warmth of the sun. A cool breeze in the shade. Minnesota summer has been a...
The Art of the Crop
The Crop of the Top Listen to the essay Every time I pop the squeezable sunscreen’s cap open the smell hits me and I am instantly transported back to my...
"I want art to be a conversation." An Interview with Lyssa Lovejoy
“I want art to be a conversation” An Interview with Lyssa Lovejoy Listen to the Conversation Here “My father was an artist” was a line that stuck out to me...
Pride Happy
Happy Pride Listen to the essay and art exhibit review here In 2016, my friend Zach Packineau collaborated on hosting Brownch - a Fargo-Moorhead Pride event...
Flights of Fancy
Fancy of Flights Listen to the essay here Vaimo and I have taken to logging a lot of hours on our deck this spring. May has been uncharacteristically warm...
Close Encounters of the Art Kind
Close Encounters of the Art Kind (In Wyoming) Listen to the essay here The scholar in me wants to watch the movie referenced in my essay title to draw even...
On Residency
Residency, On A little something different, a photoessay of sorts, a quick snippet for you (sans audio version because I need to get back to my paintings), a...
Spring Elation
Elation, Spring Listen to the essay In Minnesota spring is not only marked by the snow melting, or the ice thawing, but also by the appearance of robins who...
Far from Home
Home, from afar Listen to the essay here Enveloped in color, texture and light and filled with movement on a large scale, I had the privilege of viewing...
Award Season
Seasoned Awards Listen to the essay here The Oscars just aired on Sunday and those into the movie awards have been seeing results rolling in over the course...
On Permission and Freedom
On Freedom and Permission Listen to the essay here I was never permitted to spend the night at the Coronado Club swimming team lock-in. But oh how I longed...
Diary of KCF
Diary of KCF Listen to the essay here In 2021 I requested a five year diary for Christmas and was excited to receive one through the joint efforts of Vaimo...
No More Alarms
Alarms, No More Listen to the essay “Don’t worry about me, I’ll meet you for breakfast at nine,” la Jefa told Primita and me before heading to her hotel...
The Art of Time Travel
The Time Travel of Art Listen to the essay In January 1998 the US release of the film Sliding Doors changed my life. It’s the first time that I can recall a...
The Art of Transition
The Transition of Art Listen to the essay I keep several running lists of dates near me on the timeline of my departure from the academy. My memory has never...
No More Multitasker November
November Multitasker No More Listen to the essay here November is my favorite month of the year, because it is my birthday month. I’ve always been connected...
The Art of Collecting
Collecting Art Listen to this essay here Mama’s first collection that I can recall were miniatures that could fit in a repurposed printer’s block letter tray...
Haunted House Party
Party Haunted House Listen to the audio version of this essay here Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays as a young one because of the candy. I...
Late Adopter
You can listen to the essay narrated by yours truly here Late Adopter I am not an early adopter. In a world in which we are often forced into fixed identity...
What's New is Old
What’s Old is New Listen to the essay here Browsing the front area of the library is one of my favorite pastimes. At my local library when you come in...
The Eight Inch Spike of Paranoia
The Eight Inch Spike of Paranoia Listen to this essay here When Brad called from the truck repair shop with news as to why the Silverado’s left rear tire...
Residency Rest
Rest Residency Listen to the essay here A few years ago I announced to a group of people during a professional development workshop that I wanted to apply...
Visiting Hourss
Hours, Visiting (listen to this essay here) Sometimes these essays fall out of me. Like the human compulsion to speak into the silence even if it may be...
Persistent, Consistent
Consistent, Persistent Listen to the essay here Persistence and consistency have been coloring my days. Persistence is probably a cool, deep blue,...
Pain in the Art
Art in the Pain Listen Here The house is buzzing every time I go outside. A low hum, the buzzing is a vibrational energy that hits me in the exact register...