Pardon my delay! I am going to send a couple emails this week to get us all updated, and then I’ll get back in my monthly groove.

In the beginning of June, I went on a solo pilgrimage to Chico, California to pick up a Showcard letterpress that Emma and I bought after seeing it on a letterpress Facebook group. It was selling for a great price, and my mind wouldn’t let it go. I texted my friend Shelby in Chico, who generously offered to store the press until I was able to get there. I sent the venmo payment over and trusted that I could figure out the logistical pieces.

For the next couple weeks, I coordinated my transport to Chico, a rental car, ratchet straps, a place to stay, etc. Then, June 6 came around and I hopped on a flight to Sacramento.

My friend Shelby (who I had never spent 1 on 1 time with before), was the true hero of this trip. She took time off to pick me up from the airport (an hour away from Chico), showed me around the area, taught me about the regional landscape, and let me tag along with her for the whole day and evening. We popped by a Pride storytelling event, and then I got to join her for her radio show that she does with her friend Terry. The show is called Face the Music and they are on air every Thursday night from 7:30-10pm! They feature and celebrate women musicians, specifically. When I was at the studio, Shelby and Terry were playing mostly queer and trans musicians for pride month. Terry has been doing this radio show for 25 years.

After the show, I got to join for their post show tradition of grabbing a slice of pizza before calling it a night.

The next morning, Shelby drove me through Bidwell Park before we went to pick up the rental pick up truck.

When we got back, we pushed the 600lb press up into the pick up truck. A neighbor hopped off his bike and gave us some extra oomph. We tied it down with a tarp and some ratchet straps, and I set off on my 10ish hour drive back up to Tacoma.

As a drove away, I felt so thankful for my brief time in Chico. I loved spending time with Shelby, learning about a new place, and meeting Terry. For the first few hours of the drive, I listened to some bands that Shelby and Terry introduced me to in the studio the night before.

Around 8:45pm, I rolled up to Emma and Bailey’s garage to put the press in her new home. Emma and I are still dreaming up names for our press, so stay tuned!

Our artistic angel of the month is my new friend Wiley Reid! I met Wiley at the volunteer orientation for Tacoma’s Wayzgoose printmaking festival back in May, and we became fast buddies. Wiley is a talented artist, and a very sweet friend.

Artistic Angel of the Month: Wiley Reid

Who are you? Where do you live? 
Wiley Reid (he/him), living in Tacoma, WA. 

What does your creative practice look like now?
As a new transplant from the Southwest, "place" is what I am thinking about most. Project-wise, I've been working on illustrations that draw inspiration from the lush ecology here in this place we call Washington. But practice wise, it's really the tool of writing that I'm finding most important right now. Each week I return to this one pier with my notebook. I situate myself to witness the rhythms of the Puget Sound and I write. Just simply that. What is key is that it's a weekly routine. That brings it to life as a practice- a rendezvous with one's creative energy- not just random, isolated acts of art. Being a weekly ritual allows it to build momentum and sustainability. It also allows me to chart my connection to this landscape over time, to see it become gradually a part of me as I become a part of it. And as such, it reminds me that "place" is both a noun and a verb; it is not just the static physical place, but the active act of bringing oneself into relationship with their environment. 

What aspects of your creative life do you feel most excited about right now? 
Community! Moving somewhere new is a great opportunity to expand the creative mind by connecting with the minds, practices, and works of others. 

If folks want to see more about your work, how might they find you?
My visual art can be found on my website, wileyreid.com. I also publish those writings from my practice on the pier in my newsletter Pier Review. If you want in on Pier Review, or just want to say howdy, hit me up via email at wileycreid@gmail.com