spankalicious

So much to tell that I've been busy doing. Another door opened today when I had the chance to lunch with the instigator behind "Handz On Artz" which started last year here in Polk County working with the seventh graders. I'm excited about the possibilities we discussed for me adding my hands to the mix. I also had a whirlwind trip to Austin, Texas for the Asylum Street Spankers' spankalicious 10 year re-assembly show. I got to see and hear all my favorite Spankers from over the years, plus a few that I'd missed who dazzled my ears. Kevin Smith can rip up the bass and Olivier Giraud plays guitar with exquisite grace. Guy Forsyth is an all around star in this format lighting up the stage with wit, whimsy, and his wildly amazing musicianship. Wammo and Guy tore it up with their harp showdown. Of course my roommate wasn't too shabby either. (I think he was honored and awed to be called amazing by some of these guys.) It's also amazing that Christina is able to belt out all those songs with such passion and poise after organizing and setting up such an event. She is an incredible woman, don't ever get in her way. Even though the shows ran long, I was sad for it to be over. It all went by so fast. Good thing they're making a DVD so I'll be able to see it again.

Well I have sleep to get and more to do tomorrow. Rehearsals for Poetry Alive! are coming, the Grove Arts Integration gears are turning, and there is magic to be made in my home town.~w

This has been an eye-opening week of "ah ha!" moments. I spent Monday through Friday at the Arts Integration Training Institute for Greenville County. I found it an exciting and exhilarating week of new information and rethinking what I already knew and how that can benefit students and teachers and even other artists. It's like I finally found the door I've been looking for that will lead me toward my lofty goals and not only is the door open, but there is light on the other side and plenty of people and resources to help me along the way. Now I just need to get my act together and take what I've learned and apply it to my personal projects while I wait to get started with the Tanglewood/Grove folks later on this fall. There will definitely be some changes and additions to this website as I get started.~w