For the the California Academy of Science’s One Truth, Many Lies program, I presented a lecture entitled Repurposed Materials on the subject of the human microbiome, endosymbiotic theory and its poetic implications for our perceptions of self. I also led a workshop where visitors assembled contraption shadow puppets inspired by microorganisms from an array of household items and random objects. Things living inside of things living inside of things. That’s the idea. Ever tried to succinctly explain what cells are and how DNA works to a group of children, adults and senior citizens all at once — clear enough so you can move on to explaining how nudibranchs absorb some of the abilities of the animals they eat? At least some of them do. Anyhow. Science is super important.
Also, I did not make the presentation backdrop which calls me a scientist. They said that, not me.
2014
Cofounded by myself and Jenny Jo Wennlund in 2003, Stars & Garters was “grind your bones to bake your bread theater, full of batshit nautical glee.” (SF Weekly). I couldn’t have put it better myself. We were, and remain, a rag-tag collection of high-caliber misfits, authentically cursed with a penchant for unexpected entertainment, catchy tunes and buckets of blood. In our 7 years of existence, we filled up every barroom and bonafide theater that would have us and trolled our wares up and down the pacific northwest to riotous applause with nary a regret.
I gave us our name, designed and produced the fliers and posters, created our website and all branding elements, and was a lead writer, lyricist, director, puppeteer and actor.
Below is a trailer for our final production, The Robber Bridegroom, a Brothers Grimm tale rewritten by Jenny Jo with lyrics and puppets by me.
Outdoor photos by Eva Kolenko
Stage photos by Marcus Guillard
