Today on Out and About - The Stage Left production of Julius Caesar

 

Today on Out and About I will be talking with folks from the Stage Left production of Julius Caesar. This is going to be a very cool production. Set in a women’s prison, all the characters are either female (cis and trans) or nonbinary. I am not sure who will be in the studio with me yet, but whomever it is, I am really looking forward to learning more about this production which Chelsea Duvall is directing.  

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org.  Also available as a podcast. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

A crazy crosswalk!

Spokane has a great art scene. I participate in few organized art events, but this was a project that intrigued me. Spokane Arts was looking for artists' entries for a new crosswalk. It was going to be something that would be printed up and then applied to the asphalt so it could be as intricate or as wacky as necessary. It would be located at the west end of Comstock Park. I went out and looked at the area and came up with an idea. 

The dimensions of the crosswalk were really narrow. But I painted three panels that when put end to end were perfect for the size.  The photo above is a mockup of what it would look like on the corner. 

Here are the three paintings. I have hidden a lot of crazy animals in there and three very overt, very wacky birds. 

Then I took the three images into GIMP to color correct them and to blend the edges of the three images into one. I was really happy with how it turned out. 

I was not bummed that I didn't win. There are so many great muralists in town. It wasn't on my radar to win, but was a great prompt. I will probably use the image to apply for some other crosswalk project, or do something else with it. Maybe. Oh let's be honest, probably not. 

As usual, with my painting, and art in general, I get so much satisfaction from the making - the figuring out, the painting and problem-solving. These three paintings already did their work for me, and I am thankful for that. This crosswalk project was nice, in that there was something to do with the work after I was done with it. I entered it into a contest! And that felt really good too! 

While I am painting something, the ideas for my next projects start coming to mind with each brush stroke. When I'm finished with that painting, I am off to the next project. I am not a very motivated seller of things. Once a year I make a push to sell a few paintings to pay for supplies. 

Thanks to the wonderful Spokane Arts organization for the opportunity. Here is the whole thing stitched together. This is what I submitted: 

Haiku Friday September 5 2025

 

Haiku Friday September 5, 2025

The ankle biters

Found me ‘neath the sycamores; 

Better go indoors. 

Max Q

Watering nurtures both

Tenacious blooms and tap roots

Choose saturation

Laurel

Blood moon eclipses her

Humbling orbits of fire

Sanguine intuition

Laurel

A September beach

No kids for another year

Quiet reigns again

Bill

Lives in transition

Still using old language 

To describe the new 

Rikosan

Snacks fall from the sky

Ponderosa pine nut treats

Crunchy and small

Maeve

Yesterday's Show - Rosie Halsted - Together in Sound

Yesterday, I talked with Rosie Halsted. Rosie is an accomplished and talented composer, vocalist and vibraphonist. In her work, she’s witnessed the deep connections made by people who make music together. She wants to share that great feeling you get when you make connections through music. So, she has started a business called Together in Sound. Rosie will come to your event, whether it is a private party or business function and she will get your group to make music together. Maybe it is something thematic, like a family luau or maybe you are just trying to help your friends at the job learn how to work and have fun with each other. It doesn’t matter the experience level, either.  Rosie will make it happen. In this era of destruction and anger, what a great thing to have someone helping people create and have fun. I also played some of Rosie’s music which is so beautiful! 

If you missed the show, you can listen to it here - https://archive.kyrs.org/mp3/kyrs_250902_160000b.mp3

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Today's Out and About - Rosie Halsted - Together in Sound

Today on Out and About I will be talking with Rosie Halsted. Rosie is an accomplished and talented composer, vocalist and vibraphonist. Not only that, she's a well-rounded and exceptional human being! in her work, she’s witnessed the deep connections made by people who make music together. 

As a successful working musician, Rosie is also an entrepreneur. Recently she’s launched a new business and it’s pretty cool. Together in Sound is her venture that creates deep connections between people through music. From private gatherings to team-building exercises, Rosie has crafted a way for people to get to know each other, as they play together, and no musical experience is necessary. I am really excited to talk to her about her business, her music and how we can all benefit from the creativity her work stokes. 

Tune into Out and About every Tuesday at 4 pm on KYRS at 88.1 and 92.3 fm. Also streaming at KYRS.org. Thanks for listening! Maeve 

Haiku Friday August 29, 2025

 

Haiku Friday August 29, 2025 

A climate of fear:

We all knew it was coming. 

Revenge Tour Two Five. 

Max Q

True test of friendship 

Giving and receiving of

Squash in peak season

Laurel

Pride Parade Sunday

Hard won gains still under fire

So I'm out marching

Bill

Losing interest 

Drama spins itself in knots

Carefree country day

Rikosan

Drumming truth and mirth

Strikes fear in those who create

The cult’s ding dong din

Maeve

(Carrots) Clowns and Commerce - A Nick the Beet and Green Warriors Collab

 

In a row they gather gather gather oh so tight

They think they know, that they’re best and feel the slightest slight

The garden queens, the chosen ones, they don’t know when to stop

The only clown who makes them smile is comic Carrot Top

Pick and pluck turn the nut and twist it oh so tight

The carrots won’t leave the ground without an awful fight

They look so clean and oh so bright and never ever soiled

Commerce takes too long, I want to see them all get boiled

They tell us all to wait. they’ll turn real sweet once it gets cold

When all of us have been all picked and some are growing mold

Carrot cake and carrot juice and carrot raisin salad 

They’ll hate me and my rhyme because its not a ballad

My Name’s Nick the Beet, I am real neat. That is what I said

Some clowns call me Beet Down. But I’m Detroit Dark Red

I don’t try hard, I’m a genius bard - hang with me for a while

My face is scarred, and like swiss chard - I compost upon a pile