Grateful Graphics Open House

A few weeks ago we went to the Rex Foundation Gala, what I would call the non-profit arm of the Grateful Dead.

There we met JB who invited us to his open house at the Grateful Graphics Warehouse.

I took some time off work and off we went. When we got there a few Deadheads were gathering and JB told us to make ourselves at home, and feel free to help ourselves to the "seconds" in the stacks around the room. MonkeyBoy got to pick out the fabulous hoodie below. And I got a few Dancing Bear Peace Symbol Buttons to share with my friends, could anything make me happier than that?Johnathan spoke about the beginnings of Grateful Graphics.

As the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love has passed, I am reminded of the day 23 years ago when I first premiered the Dancing Bears and Grateful Graphics. In the overflowing parking lot outside the Hampton Coliseum, I sold my first hand-painted Row of Dancing Bears shirt changing the world of Grateful Dead merchandising and beginning a cultural revolution within our community that allowed Deadheads to show their love and devotion for the band in a gentler, more loving way. I believe the introduction of the Dancing Bear to mainstream GD iconography was much like the Summer of Love. In the words of Fraser Clark, editor of the Encyclopedia Psychedelica, the summer of 1967 was a "new fractal of social change which was to massively influence events for years to come." The Dancing Bears did just that as they evoked the lighter, happier side of the scene. With the Dancing Bears came the acceptance of "showing one's colors" outside of the concert experience by folks from all walks of life. And now, the journey continues with our latest catalogue of Grateful Graphics goodies. I invite you to grab some daisies, go barefoot, tune in and turn on. Here's to the joy the Grateful Dead has brought to all of us, each and every day...

Of course Johnathan is now a Burner so we felt right at home.

Then JB took the floor and talked about how the business of Grateful Graphics worked now, and my favorite part, that the inspiration for the Dancing Bear Peace Symbol, was the Peace Symbol's 50th anniversary, April 4, 2008. April 4 is JB birthday, his Dad's birthday and guess what, the MonkeyBoy's birthday. So Peace and love all in one package.

Then for the 2nd part of our big adventure, we went to the silkscreening factory where the Grateful Graphics products are printed. Ya gotta know that I LOVED seeing the big silkscreening machines and folder and digital silkscreening and when I thought about my little Gocco Silkscreening DIY machine I had to laugh. Then off to lunch at the Conneticut Yankee.

I had such a good time. I loved hearing about how the business got started, getting to know JB and seeing the warehouse, and the peace buttons, and the silkscreening factory, and lunch with a bunch of deadheads. What could be more fun than that?

What a fabulous adventure. Thanks JB and thanks Freddy for introducing us to the cool people at your table at the Rex Foundation Gala!

Prior Post:

http://affinity1.blogspot.com/2008/12/rex-foundation-25th-anniversary.html

graphics & photo of Johnathan, JB & Jodi from Grateful Graphics

Relentness Authenticity

I aspire to relentless authenticity. I read that phrase in a New Yorker article about Marc Jacobs today, I don't much aspire to be him or want what he wants but I do aspire to relentless authenticity. I want show up, not to be seen but to be who I am. I want to stay centered and love who I am. I want to be authentic in all that I do.

I am going to revisit this topic often because I do not believe I am expressing myself very well but I do think I want to clarify this for me.

logo: Mark Scheuer

On Laptop per Child by John Lennon

Isn't technology amazing!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html?ie=UTF8&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A34NLXJLC88VVS

Thanks Judy and Ron for the suggestion!

Alice & Elizabeth

photo of my friend Peggy who is mom to Elizabeth, and Alice, the actor and co-writer of Alice & Elizabeth

A few weeks ago I celebrated my 60th birthday with old friends at Stage Werx. More about that later.

About a month ago I heard from my friend Peggy wanting to know more about Stage Werx, could it be rented? What did it cost? Did I know anyone who could produce a one act play for one night in San Francisco?

Several years ago Peggy's 38 year old daughter died of ovarian cancer, very suddenly. Beth was vibrant and smart and interesting. So Peggy sent this email recently:

As many of you know, in July I had the privilege of going to New York City to see Alice Barden perform: Alice and Elizabeth: A One Woman Show. Elizabeth, my daughter, to the moment she became ill, and Alice were best friends and went to New York City together to follow their dreams. Together they wrote this play and Alice has brought it onto the stage in New York in two Theatres and for a one time showing December 22nd, Monday. It is a real gift to me of course to have the experience of Elizabeth and her life as she expressed it in this play they wrote. It offers a great deal to anyone who sees it was my experience. It's about the power of the friendship of women who share their vision and themselves, it's about joy.

Thanks Peggy for sharing this amazing window to who Beth was and her friendship with Alice and how it touched their lives, it was courageous to invite all of us to share a moment with your beloved Beth, in your presence. I thought the play was interesting, insightful, well acted and directed and a tribute to both Alice and Beth!

Here is a clip from the play:
Alice & Elizabeth's One Woman Show (Excerpt)

Earthrise - Then and Now

The White Holly at the Sausalito Yacht Club Parade of Boats

Massive collaboration of Burning Man fire artists. Crude Awakening, Flaming Lotus Girls, Dr Megavolt and more, Dan and Karen were there, Steve & Diva, Steve23 & Juicy:
http://www.geeked.info/fire-on-the-white-holly-in-the-sausalito-yacht-parade/

I AM PROUD TO CALL THESE PEOPLE MY FRIENDS!!!

FREAKS RULE!!!

Last Chance to see the Reno Mangrove

Last chance to see The Reno Mangrove! For the last three months, a once unused and uninteresting vacant lot in downtown Reno, NV, has been transformed into a grove of trees, all by different artists. The Reno community has embraced the space created by this ‘Mangrove’ and quickly adopted the location as a favored meeting spot for social events, music performances and family outings. We’re sad to announce the project’s deinstallion on December 13, 2008, but very proud of the community involvement and civic action it has inspired! Thanks to all who contributed and supported this project. BRAF extends our sincerest thanks to the The Freight House District, LLC, the City of Reno, United Rentals, Fernley Electric and Peppermill Hotel Casino Reno and the Sierra Arts Foundation for their support of this project. Special thanks to Crimson Rose, of the BRAF Board of Directors, and volunteers Maria Partridge, Linda Sheilds, and the amazing Reno Burner community!