When I was in high school or maybe middle school I had a dream about my paternal grandfather. I’d always tell people about it to get a laugh. There was something about the interaction I had in it that I felt was worth sharing with my friends, but I remembered this dream for years. And now 30 something years later here I am writing about this dream. I have not thought of this dream in probably decades (no more than two), and now something has reminded me of it.

In NYC on the cusp of early fall and late summer all of the fun, highly nerdy art events start to really pick up. I’ve completely ended up in a world of art books, self-publishing zine makers, and really fun courses I wish I had time to take. There is the NY Art Book Fair, Anarchist Book Fair, Secret Art Book Fair at Secret Risograph Club, NYC Book Week, and a constant stream of fliers, events, and artists making statements that nod to self-publishing.

While I was at Secret Riso Club’s art book fair event, I ended up coming up with my own publication idea called “Spice of Life.” It would have art work, prose, poetry, and anything printable work for people in the community to share. I would really enjoy making this. But yeah, “Spice of Life” is what reminded me of the dream interaction I had with my late grandfather.

In the dream he called me over, and the smaller version of myself only complied. I only ever listened. He said, “Moon, variety is the spice of life.” I must not have heard him, because he went on to say “Moon. Variety. Is the spice. <long pause> Of Life.” I don’t remember the rest of the dream, I don’t even think there was a rest of the dream. Variety is the spice of life, and then boom. I wake up thinking all I’ve acquired is a funny story, unbeknownst to me that the trajectory of my life has been completely altered.

Wow, a dream that sent me towards my destiny. This is what I’ve always wanted. For 30 years the truth lay dormant, like a seed in the desert waiting for water. Only now has it revealed its true nature, my new zine publication “Spice of Life.”

I’ve already gone ahead and gifted myself a private tutorial on risograph printing for September 29th - my 41st birthday. I am feeling so excited about this journey I am being sent on. Who knows where it will take me or any of us. We all know it’ll always be good when we heed the call coming from inside the house.

Anyways, if you’re interested in participating, let me know by filling out this form.

Moon

News Letter:

Reading

I did a bunch of reading over the summer. I was trying out something called “Fiction.” I love fiction, and I am grateful for Rose Oser’s recommendations that started me on this journey and improved my overall taste.

• American Pastoral - Philip Roth

• Artful - Ali Smith

• Gliff - Ali Smith

• All Fours - Miranda July

• A Visit From the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan (Still reading)

I also read this little post. If you like writers writing about writing, then you’ll love this story about a writer taking a class taught by Annie Dillard who recently passed away. It’s a writer writing about writing through a story of being taught writing by a writer. I highly recommend it.

Work Updates

I’ll have to update about work. But work is good, and we did a big thing. And I should probably update my portfolio website soon. I am having a lot of thoughts and feelings I need to process. But very positive, and Austria has good baked goods inside of it.

I’ll also be traveling more: Portland, Maine to speak with my friend Emily Lovell about education, art, community, and impacts due to AI. Ohio to attend Open Source Arts Conference, and Detroit to attend the Processing Community Day where I’ll be teaching a 1 hour workshop. WHICH I AM SO EXCITED TO DO. Early November I want to try to visit the bay. So I will start sorting out those details soon.

Music

I think this zine stuff is inspiring me, and I think the concept of lower fidelity print makes me want to record music at a lower fidelity in order to keep moving and make it less of this “serious endeavor” which can be paralyzing. I’m definitely enjoying making polyrhythmic melodies on my guitar. ALSO OMG WAIT. I AM GOING BACK TO MY GUITAR TEACHER. I’m really excited to get back on track.

Bye