vol. 2, no. 24 | An Order of Magnitude
It was another one of those major markers of time; an event that conjured memories. Do you remember the one last year? That you printed ciphers and observed simulations? How I barely made it at the end? Or the year before, when it was in the old cheese factory, where we first met Mason at the start of his infinite project?
In the future we’ll remember this one too. And I think some of us will remember it for all the significant things that happened in the weeks around it—the first appearances, the last looks, the departures, the returns.
But also, of course, because of the show itself. This year, again, everyone had such cool projects. Loops, evolutions, generators, note-taking software, strange noises, data visualizations, and the kaleidoscopic fractals that grew out of a spinning triangle.
There was so much to look at.
But my favorite thing was watching you read receipts. To see you understand how much you spent, and how much you got.
—Ivan
Happenings
This week:
Death and All Her Friends, Tuesday, October 28
Madison K. is a funeral director, an advance planning specialist, a death doula, and a ✨ notary ✨! And she will be hosting a discussion and working session about death and all of her friends, which will involve many helpful things and significantly a very practical bit where we’ll be able to write down some wishes and get them properly notarized. Learn more at the link, and get a ticket.
Free
Weekly Wednesday Worknight, Wednesday, October 29
The Company is about combining creative work with good friendships. Make an appointment with your side project this (or any) Wednesday at a Worknight, where we oscillate between enforced, focused, quiet time and optional chatty social time.
$5, free for Company and Moonlight members
Offsite: Social Dancing at La Rumba, Thursday, October 30
Come dance with us at a place that is not The Company! We’ll be going to the salsa class, and then we’ll be doing the social dancing. It’ll probably be a lil bit embarrassing. It’ll definitely be a lot bit fun.
$10
Offsite: Orbis Halloween Party, Friday, October 31
Once a year, the Orbis mansion is haunted by past residents and their friends, as well as by current residents and their friends. Come haunt it with us.
$12.51–$44.52
PowerPoint Party No. 32, Saturday, November 1
Twelve people giving 7-minute presentations about whatever they’re currently into. At past parties, people have presented about pasta, Bad Bunny, GLP-1s, and animal conservation. It’s a wide mix.
It’s a nerdy and sincere crowd that cares a lot, and we’ve met some of our favorite people at these.
Want to present? We’ve got a few slots left! Want to just show up and meet interesting people and learn about what’s fascinating them lately? That’s great too. Bring a friend, or come alone and make a friend.
$10, free for members and presenters
Future Weeks:
Mild Salsa No. 9, Sunday, November 2
Organized by Michelle and Mark, taught by Jess Torres, attended by people you have no reason to feel embarrassed learning to dance around.
$10
Charmed: Acrylic Chain Workshop Extravaganza, Thursday, November 6
Case, of the world famous Calm Tech Institute, and of the Company famous time she presented at a Make & Tell, is hosting an acrylic chain workshop extravaganza. As she describes it:
“Get off your phone and play around with brightly colored chains and charms! Acrylic chains are fun to play with because they’re super relaxing, colorful, and easy to put together! Make anything from eyeglasses chains, friendship bracelets, bag chains, and whatever else you can come up with! All materials and guidance provided. Just bring yourself and have a relaxing time making cool things for yourself and others!”
$30, $25 for members
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Also coming up: Glint: Opposite (Nov 11), Ishmael Book Club: 6–9 (Nov 13), Offsite: Poetry Grand Slam (Nov 15)
Nostalgia
Do you remember that massive week? The staggered goodbyes? The GrandSLAM? The art show?
How it began with us spinning in close quarters in another medium salsa class?
How that Monday is was so wonderfully windy, and I took the kite out, and you cheered me on for a moment? How that was the day Jessica S. did the math and learned, she said, about the true annual cost of friendship? How we told her that no, that’s the cost of a desk, and friendship isn’t actually promised?
How two of us puzzled over a story, and the rest of us tried to define flirting? Is it jostling? How Jessica S. said “I’m receiving this as romantic”?
The introduction of Sir Mike?
How at recess we took the football out for the first time, and some of us started learning how to throw and catch? That we played 500?
Do you remember the return of Beth and Drew J.? How Jim and Drew J. gave Jessica S. extensive medical advice, and the conclusion was that she should become a farmer?
How there was a scheduling mixup about the Moonlight Report because of time zones, and we promised to keep it a secret? How it allowed us to see things from Alex’s laptop’s point of view?
That a small group of us showed up to help you pack? That we had two things to say to you, in so many variations?
How at lunch we talked about potential fatherhood, and running in the mountains?
Surely you remember the transformation of Alex into bro Alex? How a football in hand and a swivel of the hat turned him unrecognizable?
Do you remember how before Worknight we took a walk around the block, and found piles of crunchy leaves to step in?
That it was Beth and Lauren’s first Worknight? With pizza, with bird masks, with the windows open, and snippets of outside conversations floating into the soundtrack?
How our throwing improved that week? That we played with a stranger, who had seen us around? How afterward we had a lengthy discussion about which problematic things we believed that we’d rather not have reported in Paperwork? How we checked?
Do remember the day before? The brief presence of so many of us at lunch? How jazz quietly played while the art show prep continued? That we all dispersed so shortly after?
And do you remember the night of The Moth GrandSLAM? How you all got yelled at for trying to rush the theater? How we made it in with enough seats for all of us? How the violinist set a tone? And we laughed and held our breaths and were entertained? That Dan’s slip got read? That we took another big group photo? Lost friends to indecision? And eventually ate honey cheese pizza and a King Combo and debriefed each story, one by one?
How you said that you knew you didn’t win, but it felt like you did, because we all showed up for you?
Do you remember the day-of testing? Beth’s squeals? All the dogs in costumes just outside? That Kent introduced Jake, as we began to set things up?
How the night began, and so many people punched in, some for the first time, and some, perhaps, for the last? How it quickly became clear to some that we were keeping track?
And wasn’t it lovely that some of the very earliest crew was here for it? That we got to see each other’s faces change, upon seeing where the time had gone? That we laughed about differences in Norton and Justin’s data? How so many of us waited for Lizzie to show up? How you played ping pong with yawns? That you wore receipts like scarves?
Bureaucratic Minutiae
At Worknight: Alex closed 2 backlog tickets and worked on the browse toolsets modal; Ivan decided on a topic for In The Making; Lauren finished a book; Beth listed a condo; Will worked on adding fonts and lines; Lizzie finished uploading Paperwork photos and culled getting-ready photos; Livvy identified next steps and wrote out JSON structure; Norton worked on readying a JSON export; and Sky and Bennet worked on masks.
At In The Making: Drew A. shared some new explorations in shadows and negative space, Topher showed us his in-progress personal website, Ivan described a memoir project, Alex demoed Horizon, Jacob took us through the making of a video essay, and Norton talked about the thing to get the thing to make the thing.
The next time you see Livvy, ask her about getting a receipt.
The Company now has access to an American football, thanks to bro Alex.
Finally, a reminder that The Company is a member-supported gathering place, and if you know any of us, you’re welcome to pop in any time for free (outside of events). If you know that one of us is here and you’d like to come by, reach out and we can let you in.
Photos
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This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan with additional reporting from Jessica S., and was shot by Ivan, Norton, and a stranger. Photo selection and editing by Ivan. Editorial support was provided by Livvy and Norton. This issue, and The Company itself, was made possible by the support of our members, Halie, Drew, Justin, Mason, Lexi, José, Mary Ann, Trevr, Allyson, Lizzie, Elijah, Michelle, Jim, Jaime, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Marcia, Rebeca, Sarah, Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Mike, Ben, Sam, Liz, Christof, Ryan, and Lauren.
Do you know anyone in the Denver area who might be looking for creative community? Feel free to forward this email along to them. Everyone loves Paperwork.
😘