Great Grey Owl

Today queer bebbies at Des Moines Art Center’s LGBTQ Teen Summit lifted my heart! Rob and Rachael and all the students. It was a light lift for me -- R + R did the planning and I literally decided last-minute to come in, receive compliments, and draw at the table. SUCH GOOD ARTISTS THERE. 

Every time I’m in a queer space, queer people -- but especially YOUNG queer people -- show me how true it is that the best thing I can do for the world is show up in it, as myself, as the honest version of me, the one who talks in all caps and is witchy and who says out loud, “Trans women are women.” The me that is interested in people and also interested in fun and in TV and is a whole, round person wth many facets, not just being gay, and space for a lot of feelings, not just pain. The me that introduces myself saying, “My pronouns are she/her, I guess, I don’t know, I’m still working on that, but I’ll update you if there’s a change.” 

And I love to be loudly Me in these spaces but I love to see other people, quieter people, unfurling slowly like a flower. Sometimes I think my loudness makes it easier for them. Sometimes I also worry that I’m a lot and maybe scary. But I think more the first thing. I think if I show you I love me and I love you then maybe it’s okay to love yourself. 

Today at the end of class one student stood up to thank us three adults for being there. “You are all so colorful. It is so good to listen to you talk and be happy, and to speak on subjects that are close to my heart [trans issues? Golden Girls? Touched by An Angel’s single black character?] in a positive, loving way.” And my little heart melted and I want to be all your best friends, because you are beautiful and have so much to give to the world, and because I know how much I needed someone like me or Rob or Rachael when I was your age and I am thankful to be able to be that for you now. That is, really, truly, probably the purpose of my life. 

Meet the Zinesters

Drove south to Ottumwa and taught a workshop on making zines. I rewrote the lesson plan and, despite having forgotten the new lesson plan at home, was otherwise well-prepared and the sessions went great.

Rob critiques the kids’ work. Sitting in on that was great, especially hearing the students give honest descriptions of the thought that went into their works. (“The elephant is a symbol for me. I feel alone. Elephants travel in herds. I am always reaching out to people but I am so very alone.”) (GIRL I want to HUG YOU <3)

I said "my girlfriend" in each class in a totally natural and relevant way. That felt like a milestone for me.

The critique was held in a cathedral-cum-college library and I shit you not was in my dream about moving to Madison this weekend. I can’t explain it but it was.

Drove home and went to yoga a little road-brained and fairly unable to deal. I hurt myself somehow???? But I did the best closed-eye tree pose of my life so far.

Worked on taxes with Ken, which ended in tears, but only after a leisurely dinner break with Adrienne at Mi Patria.

Tomorrow morning a little work, then going on a trip with Alex.

Today I am teaching a zine making workshop to high schoolers.

I always pick out a selection from my zine library to show students what a zine is.

These are the books I’m taking tomorrow. 

I SEE ALL by Deth P Sun DPS is my favorite artist, in that way that what I feel like I’m reaching for with my art is to make art like his. Narrative, imaginative, stylized, fecund. This zine is a collection of drawings, including things he’s eating, adventures that cat character has been on, and plants.

FOXFIRE is a glossy mag with zine spirit. Indie publishing, finer finishing. There are lots of hands involved in making this publication. Its content is sort of homey. Storytelling. I have another issue of FOXFIRE that’s all ghost stories. 

MEMORY by Isaac W.  This is a zine made in one of my workshops. It’s macabre and funny. Excellent execution, given the time allotted.

PENTIMENTO: A TALE OF HORROR   This is a text-heavier zine with maybe 15 pages. A bit longer than most, still pretty lofi. A great little fable/scary story. I plan to read this one out loud to my students. I have no idea where I got this zine. I googled for it, but got nothing. 

MAKE YOUR OWN BIBLE Vol II -- By me!  I collect quotes and am building my own life laws of them. Sometimes I make these quotes into illustrated zines (we’re now working on Volume 4).

INDECISION 2016 by Dani Awesome and Cat Rocketship One night we watched a Republican debate. I drew caricatures and wrote down things Dani said. It went out in my monthly zine mailing.

LET’S TALK 2012 by Esther Hong Part of show and zine exchange I participated in put on by Light Grey Art Lab. Esther asked people to share memories made in 2012, and she illustrated and screenprinted them. 

MEGA FUN MEGA YUM by Good Kid Rob Rob is a friend of mine. He regularly makes zines and I love them. Love them. They are largely about being a queer kid, but also not at all about being a queer kid, and also entirely about being Rob. This one is about Captain Crunch. I’m planning to read it out loud to students and I think they’ll love it.