April 29, 2009

Dear Friend

The news out of Oakland is usually negative, with headlines focused on violence. It’s easy to get the impression that living in this town is scary and dangerous.

But we all know that our media outlets thrive on dramatic stories and reality is always broader and more complex than what we see on T.V.

I love living here. There is nothing better than a Sunday afternoon stroll around Lake Merritt. And I’m excited to be part of the thriving Oakland arts community.

Come celebrate the launch of Frisbie St. with me. There is a fantastic line up of fifteen artists for the What is Self? Art & Writing Exhibition and fun art activities planned for kids.

Hope to see you soon.

Love,
- Lanell

Frisbie St. Art

a new alternative art space in Oakland, CA

Confronted by continual bad news, the world seems a threatening place. 

How do we dispel the fear? Meet our neighbors, trust each other, see the essential goodness in people. That’s what Frisbie St. is for. Visit the new website at www.frisbiest.com

What is Self? Art & Writing Exhibition

Fifteen artists, live music, open mics, art activities for kids and a chance to write your What is Self? thoughts on a bathroom wall...can you really think of a better way to spend your weekend? Check out the show schedule to plan when you want to come.

Artist Statement (from you)

Your One Word Responses:

Freedom (photograph courtesy of Zion Adventure Company)

Integrity

Indiscriminately

Fidelity

Grateful

Courage

Breathe

Alive

Yesterday

Oakland

Relax

Commit

Create

Life

Muse

Acceptance

Change
Visualize change in a new way. It is like the current in a stream. If there were no current, the water would lie stagnant. Life without change would stagnate, too. Imagine you are a shiny agate resting on the bottom of the streambed. Allow yourself to be carried along with the current. Some agates (people) resist the current and hold on for dear life to the bottom of the streambed. Others hide beneath bigger rocks. Still others tumble into the current, but instead of enjoying the ride, they struggle miserably to resist it. Why? Change gives one a chance to experience the wonderful gift of life. Give yourself to the present moment and let the current glide you along life's path.

(from Joanne W.)

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I cannot have one word, there are too many, and my passion is to string them together. What my word is at this moment is not my word tomorrow, nor is it the same one as yesterday, or even in early morning. But at the moment I like the word bicicleta which sounds like a windchime and rushes forward like a bicycle.

(from c.j. grossman)

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Resonance
is my word today.
It speaks of a gradually coming into focus,
an emotional tone sung, a thought refined & communicated,
strangers befriending through sharing a drum circle,
a shared beat, commonality, compassion, flow
Resonance also echoes within the shape of our time and place,
like singing in a culvert tuned to a specific note,
or an echoing cathedral which amplifies specific chords
resonance finds and holds it's own truth,
like electricity inducing a perpendicular magnetic field,
attracting complimentary tones, patterns, people, events, synchronicity
quantum entanglement a shared non-linear connection
Resonance sews the holographic universes together,
Resonance recreates an eternal flow of love.
Resonance

(from Eli Jenkins)