LESBIAN NEWS VOL. 44 ∙ NO. 01 ∙ August 2018

A LUNAR ECLIPSE OF THE ART ANOUSHKA RATNARAJAH ON THE VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

CHOKE BRINGS IMMIGRATION ISSUE FRONT AND CENTER

WITH A KISS I DIE: SLGBTQ INTERRACIAL VAMPIRE ROMANCE

JESS GLYNNE SCOUT DURWOOD LN Contributors

Anne Laure Pineau At 32, Anne Laure is a Parisian journalist working for national magazines (ELLE, Paris-Match, Liberation) on many subjects, from the far-right and conservative movements in France, to the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana. She has the absolute conviction that her job is political and can enlighten the human complexity. As a feminist, as an anti-racist and as a lesbian, she is working daily to give a space to the untold stories. (Photo: Juliette Robert).

Beth Shipp is the first Executive Director of LPAC, the lesbian Super PAC that builds the political power of lesbian, queer, bisexual and transgender women by electing candidates who champion LGBTQ rights, women’s equality and social justice. She is a political strategist with more than 20 years of experience working for women’s reproductive rights, Democratic candidates and progressive causes. Prior to joining LPAC, Ms. Shipp was the political director for NARAL Pro- Choice and worked on a variety of federal and state campaigns throughout the nation.

Carl Matthes is the current president of UGLA, Uptown Gay and Lesbian Alliance, an organization providing a support system for gay men, lesbians and education for individuals and the community He is a columnist on the Lesbian News, owned and published by his sister, Ella and her wife, Gladi. He was editor of the GLAAD/newsletter, and a GLAAD/LA representative on the Board. ln July, 2008, Carl was legally married to Carl Johnson, his partner of 50 years, by Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar. It was a unique gay/lesbian double ceremony as Carl’s sister Ella and her partner Gladi were also married by Jose.

Carla Ferrer Russo, PhD is a Professor of Natural Medicine, a Registered Yoga Instructor, and a pioneering Behaviorist & Life Coach in the field of transformation and consciousness for healthy lifestyle living. For over twenty years, Dr. Carla’s work has focused on sharing both her personal and professional experience addressing the whole being, mind, body and spirit; empowering profound personal and professional break-throughs for individuals and organizations throughout the United States and United Kingdom (EU).

Christin and Ashley Kelly-Brown are owners and wife team of LunaBella Makeup and Hair in Santa Barbara, CA. Originally from Oakland, CA. they met there at 17 years of age and have been together for over 12 years. Legally married in California on October 3, 2008, their company has since taken off. They absolutely love not only what they do but also how uniquely they work together.

Dian Katz works a variety of arenas. With a background in Marriage Counseling and a history as a professional performer, she’s LN’s Entertainment Editor and Self Help columnist. Dian’s also authored a book entitled: Love Hurts· A Spiritual Journey to Wholeness. She sometimes works the motivational speaking circuit. Dian’s an award winning drummer with her own rock band. Out of all the many hats she wears, performing and writing are her biggest passions. Dina Evan, PhD is a noted speaker and veteran activist for LGBT Women’s and Human Rights. She is a professional counselor and spiritual coach working with individuals, couples and organizations from coast to coast. She has authored three books, Inspiration Cards, Calendars and Meditation CD’s. She provides tools for creating successful relationships which she believes are the path to consciousness. Dina feels the highest assignment today is simply waking up. (602) 997-1200 • www.drdinaevan.com

Gladi Adams, PhD is a native New Englander who was recruited in Boston by the Los Angeles Unified School District to teach English in L.A. She studied at Boston University, Cal State Northridge, California Western and UCLA. She retired as a secondary school principal after 35 years in the system. She is married to Ella Matthes, publisher, and they have been working on the LN together since 2005.

John Esther For nearly a dozen years, Movie Editor John Esther has been writing for Lesbian News. Over time, he has written more than 100 articles for LN on film, music, theater, ~ and culture. His monthlymovie column, Eye C, is currently the longest consecutiverunning - movie column in LN. John also contributes articles to numerous other publications, plus his own blog. John is currently a Board Member of the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association (GALECA).

Juno Parreñas, PhD has been a regular monthly columnist at the Lesbian News since 1997, when she was seventeen years old. Since then, she has lived in three continents, five countries, ten cities, and has three degrees: a Bachelor’s from UC Santa Cruz, a Master’s from the University of Amsterdam, and a PhD from Harvard University. When she’s not writing about sexuality, politics, pleasure, culture, desire, and social relations, she works on her research involving orangutans.

Lynda Montgomery was born in Long Beach, a small town in Canada. She loves a parade, so she moved to Long Beach California, a big town, so she didn’t have to be all alone in the Gay Pride parade! She is an activist for animal rights and gay rights, giving priority to gay animals! As a stand-up comic she has survived many dive bars, festivals, and comedy clubs. She is currently trying to get booked onto the “Olivia Cruises” because she heard it’s a great place to meet women!

Mona de Crinis grew up in a world without Xbox or Netflix, when tweeting was something birds did and “Pinterest” was a bad typo. She relied on her fertile imagination for fun quickly discovering that words threaded together could create a vibrant tapestry of expression. This awareness sparked a passion and subsequent career. For more than 20 years, she wrote and edited for regional and niche publications. She has authored over 100 published articles. Mona lives in Palm Springs with partner, Lori, and four furry kids.

Mona Elyafi has been writing celebrity magazine profiles, entertainment news and lifestyle columns for two decades. She currently writes for the Huffing ton Post, and serves as the West Coast correspondent for Diva Magazine (Dubai’s leading Women’s fashion magazine) writing 1!11 pieces on Kim Kardashian, Kimora Lee Simmons and Denise Richards. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, raised in Paris, France, residing in Los Angeles, Elyafi has spent 20 years working in entertainment publicity, heading her own PR Company, ILDK Media. She holds a Master of Arts in journalism from New York University. Morag Hillsinger Reba Birmingham is our LN poet, writing until recently under the Nom de Plume Morag Hillsinger. She is also a practicing lawyer and an author with Regal Crest Publishing. Her debut novel, Floodlight, is now available on Bella Books, Amazon and Kobo. It is the first in a series about the LGBT characters that inhabit the fictional town of Merryville California. It is quirky and fun. The sequel will be released in 2018.

Nat Burns is an award-winning novelist and journalist who lives and writes in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has authored novels in several genres for four different publishers and has just released her eleventh novel, a lesbian romance called Lights of the Heart. Her shorter works and essays have appeared in more than fifty publications and she’s been writing for LN since 2009. Burns is now writing full time after retiring from her career as editorial systems coordinator for a medical publishing company. www.natburns.com

Nikki McCauley was born in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Robert Morris University and spent ten years with Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA. Accomplishments: PilotGodless- 2010- 2012; CD- Spoken Word 2005; Warner Bros. Writer’s Workshop 2003/2004; Poetry Book- Inditing Poetry 1999. Scripts: Law & Order; The Practice; Cold Case; CSI Las Vegas.

Robin Tyler is a pioneer activist in the LGBT community. In the 1970’s, she became the first ‘out’ lesbian or gay comic on television, albums and in concert. In addition to 25 Women’s Music and Comedy Festivals, Robin produced the main stages for 3 OD of the LGBT Marches on Washington. Robin and her wife, Diane Olson, were the first lesbian plaintiffs to file the lawsuit that brought marriage equality to California and were the first to marry in Los Angeles County.

Sally Sheklow came out in 1973 and has been with her “wifey” for 25 years. They live in Eugene, Oregon with their two cats. Sally’s “Living Out” column first appeared in Lesbian News in 1999, and twice won both the Houston Press Club’s Lone Star Award for best magazine column and Best of Eugene’s “Best Writer” award. Sally teaches Queer Studies at Portland State University, performs with the all-lesbian improv troupe WYMPROV!, and makes art out of old buttons.

Shawn Ryan is a lot of things. He’s an Actor/Singer/Writer/Director and Camp Director but fancies himself a Dancer/Poet/Lyrical Savant/Brother/Son/and Terrific Husband. His greatest wish is that someday Barbara Walters will come out of retirement and make him cry on ABC. He lives in a state of adoring bliss with his husband, actor John Ainsworth, and their furry children, Mr. Kitty and Gazpacho the Chihuahua. It seems as though things couldn’t get much better, but day by day, they to do. Follow him on www.shawn-ryan.com

Sherron Mills, N.P. has been a lesbian health care practitioner and activist for many years. In 1980 she co-founded Lyon-Martin Women’s Health Services, the country’s first non-profit clinic to serve the lesbian community. She then went on in 1984 to launch Pacific Reproductive Services to provide sperm bank, fertility and insemination services primarily to Ill lesbians. Knowing that many of her clients would greatly value the opportunity for their children to meet their sperm donors, should they wish to do so, she was an early pioneer in recruiting men who would contractually agree to meet a child at least once after he or she reaches 18. As a result, PRS today has more ‘Willing to be known” sperm donors than any other U.S. sperm bank. Stephanie Papadakis is originally from southern California. Stephanie knew she wanted to live in San Francisco from the age of 10 (but had no clue she liked women). When she’s not working at a lesbian travel company in SF, she spends her time cooking delicious paleo meals, climbing rugged mountains, exercising daily, researching random trivia knowledge, making “dream lists” on Airbnb, and planning day-, weekend- and weeklong dates with her partner, Sara.

Sweet Baby J’ai is a writer, singer, composer, arranger, educator, and the Artistic Director ofthe Palm Springs Women’s Jazz Festival. A creative force on the music scene for over two ~ decades, she tours the world with her genre-defying work, which both embraces and expands - jazz tradition. She has worked in various capacities, including talent buyer for major music events throughout the country. She also serves as Creative Managing Director for the Educational Theatre Institute.

Toni Hart has had many careers, including her favorite- freelance writing. Early on she was a child actress and after college, became a designer of women’s & children’s fashions. After a pause to have three children, she turned to Mortgage Banking, retiring years later as VP/Administrator of the mortgage Dept. She’s become a hard working volunteer for many venues. To support her wonderful gay daughter, her attention is now zestfully supporting the LGBT cause.

Victoria Bearden has practiced astrology for over 30 years, with clients across the country and abroad. To set up a personal consultation you can call her at 760-634-1028 or visit her website at www.astrologervic.com August 2018 CONTENTS

LESBIAN NEWS

COVER STORY A LUNAR ECLIPSE OF THE ART Anoushka Ratnarajah on the Vancouver Queer Film Festival By John Esther

FEATURE

CHOKE BRINGS IMMIGRATION ISSUE FRONT AND CENTER INSIDE LN Directed by Award-Winning Filmmaker Rolla Selbak By Michel Khordoc HOTSPOTS OH SWEET SUMMER

POETRY POCO WITH A KISS I DIE: SLGBTQ INTERRACIAL VAMPIRE ROMANCE FEMASTROLOGY Infusing new blood into a Shakespearean classic AUGUST 2018 By Mona Elyafi

LOL • THE 2018 GOLDEN CROWN LITERARY SOCIETY SUFFRAGETTE CONFERENCE Women who fought to vote in the early 1900’s • OUTFEST By Gladi M. Adams, PhD Travel TECHNOLOGY: CHANGING THE WAY WE TRAVEL How the internet, smartphones, and technology affect our travel experience By Wyxie Carolina

Follow Us Online! LESBIANNEWS.COM LIFESTYLES

Let us know Notes From Nat what you think. JESS GLYNNE AND SCOUT DURWOOD Add a little, take off a little. By Nat Burns

Book Review IN SEARCH OF PURE LUST: A MEMOIR Excerpt from the memoir by award-winning editor and translator Lise Weil By Lise Weil

Spirituality ENLIGHTENMENT By Dina Evan, PhD COLUMNS

Words that Make Sense YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT FINAL CURTAIN WILL CLOSE Life goes along smoothly… until it doesn’t. By Toni Hart

Queerly Questioning THE WORLD COULD BE SO DIFFERENT Welfare is not a dirty word in this city. By Juno Parrenas

Positive Reflections WHAT FOLLOWS THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE? There is much more than grief after someone close dies. By Dian Katz, MS

VQFF Artistic Directors Amber Dawn and Anoushka Ratnarajah

A LUNAR ECLIPSE OF THE ART Anoushka Ratnarajah on the Vancouver Queer Film Festival By John Esther

he Vancouver Queer Film undermine that paradigm. AR: Oh, wow. Well, we had over 900 submissions Festival (VQFF) will be held this and, unfortunately, it is impossible to watch year August 9-19. Now in its LN recently spoke to Ratnarajah about the all of them. We also have a programming 30th year, the LGBTQ+ VQFF upcoming VQFF and its spotlights on transgender committee who really help us out with that. They is guided by non-indigenous in and indigenous artists. watch a lot of the films as well and give us their indigenous territories located, recommendations. But I have probably watched Tfrom what I can tell, in the northern part of over 100 films in the past couple of months, Vancouver, in Canada’s westernmost province, Lesbian News: As Co-Director of the Vancouver both features and shorts. British Columbia -- also known as the unceded Queer Film Festival, can you describe your Coast Salish territories. duties? LN: I would imagine that not all are great films, Anoushka Ratnarajah: My job is to curate either. Help to lead the way is Anoushka Ratnarajah, the festival. That includes watching films and AR: Yeah, unfortunately, we can’t showcase co-artistic director of VQFF, along with Amber gathering speakers and local artists to have all of the work that gets sent to us, but we do Dawn. Of Sri Lanken and British ancestry some interdisciplinary conversations about receive a large number of really exceptional Ratnarajah is a filmmaker (the short, “Toasted the films. So it’s basically all of the artistic films. Of course, the hardest part for us is to Marshmellows”), and noted arts and culture programmings that you see at the festival that send out rejections emails to filmmakers whose organizer. Among her many disciplines and myself and Amber Dawn, my collaborator, are work we actually really love, but couldn’t find interests, Ratnarajah demonstrates a focus responsible for. a place for in our programming this year. We on the interplay (and betrayal) of racial and are, of course, bound by how many venues, sexual forms, tropes and ideologies under the LN: How many films do you think you watched how many dates and how many screening Cartesian-patriarchal dominance and how to in preparation for this year’s festival? opportunities we have in the city of Vancouver. Bixa Travesty

We screen about 70 films per year, both shorts reach out to as many folks as we can whose anniversary, so it’s a pretty exciting year. We and feature films and have at least 40 programs films are coming to see if scheduling will work have a lot of really fantastic film programming. where those films are screened and we also and if they’d like to come and visit with us and We generally program our films into four streams have interdisciplinary performance art and interact with our audiences. Every year we wish or spotlights. This year, our spotlights include speakers, Q&As with our visiting directors and we could invite more and more filmmakers, but Transwomen on Screen Spotlight, which we are local directors. Unfortunately, we can’t show Vancouver is quickly becoming a more accepted very excited about. These are all films where them all, but we do get a really high volume of place to live, that, of course, affects how much trans actors are playing trans characters. As excellent work submitted to us. we are able to shell out for accommodation for you know, there’s been widespread criticism our artists. We are trying to be resourceful and of Hollywood bias for casting particularly LN: You keep mentioning the conversations with find more ways to work around that so we can cisgendered males as transwomen. At the the directors. Is it required for the filmmakers continue to invite high caliber, accomplished festival, we don’t want to accept films where this whose work is in the festival to attend? and emerging artists to our city to interact with bias continues to exist, no matter how beautiful AR: No, it’s absolutely not required. In our audiences and provide them with a really the film is, or how high the budget, or exciting Vancouver at our festival, we have a really great experience. But Vancouver’s real estate is the cast is. We think it is really important that strong commitment to showcasing local work pretty ridiculous, and that includes hotel stays trans actors are allowed to, and given a space to and showcasing Canadian work. When we work and Airbnbs and that sort of thing. We do our shine because there is a lot of really great trans with local directors, we are pretty lucky that best with the resources that we have and, of talent out there. We are really excited about out they are already in our city and they are usually course, wish we could always have more artists Transwomen on Screen Spotlight. It includes pretty excited to engage with the festival. We come to stay with us. That’s kind of the point documentary and narrative films, and they’re do our best to try and make sure that they get – to really give their work the audience that it trans folk in trans rolls, trans people behind a spotlight shone upon them so that folks are deserves and give them an opportunity to see the camera who are telling their own stories. aware of the really amazing artistic work that’s what kind of reaction their work brings out in So that’s something that our audience can get happening in their own city. Also, so they have folks. excited about. an opportunity to meet with each other because not everyone knows each other, even though it LN: What can festival attendees, ticket buyers, We also have an indigenous spotlight, is quite a small community of queer filmmakers expect from the festival? Decolonizing Disciplines. For the last few in Vancouver. For our visiting directors, we AR: This year we are celebrating our 30th years, we have been really pushing ourselves to Dykes Camera Action

always make sure we include indigenous voices know audiences are going to love. mainstream. and spirit voices in our festival. We operate on the non-Indigenous people operating on the We also have a spotlight on the Artist. There We also have a Youth Spotlight where we have ancestral territories of the [xwməθkwəy̓ ə m were a lot of films submitted to us where queer art a slate of films that really focus in on queer (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and and queer artists were really being highlighted. youth and go beyond the coming out narrative Səl̓ ílwəta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations] There were quite a lot of films where they talk into more of a coming into their own narrative, and we are an organization made up of mostly about filmmaking, or visual artists, or dancers, where youth become more empowered and get settlers, so we know that we have a responsibility writers, poets, etc. We have quite a few feature to shine as their full selves. to keep good relationships with the hosts, who films, both documentary and narrative that are hosting us on their land, so our Two Spirit explore what queer art means to artists and their There are lots of amazing films for people to Spotlight this year has some really wonderful audiences, and whether or not it’s appealing to look forward to, and then we also include drag and audacious short and feature films, which I the mainstream, or pushing back against the and dance and music and our parties and there are a couple of interdisciplinary performances which is a really awesome documentary that are also a gathering; they are an opportunity for that are in conversation with some of the films, delves into how lesbians have been portrayed our communities to connect with one another; as well. on screen. We don’t often get to see ourselves they are an opportunity for old friends to see on screen, but when we do, we die, or some each other again, and for people to make new LN: Do you have a particular film or two at the sort of tragedy befalls women who love each connections, new friendships; and an opportunity festival that you really want to see get viewed other on screen. The film chronicles the work of for folks to exchange thoughts with each other. and talked about? lesbian directors who really tried to push back If you watch a film at home alone that can be AR: A really exciting films that we are looking against that narrative and it includes interviews great, but if you watch a film in a room full of forward to people seeing this year, is a film with a lot of really amazing filmmakers while people, you get to have a collective experience. called “Tranny Fag” (“Bixa Travesty”). It’s about exploring some of the revolutionary films like, “Go You get to feel the waves of emotions that come a black trans singer and performance artist, Fish,” “Watermelon Woman,” and “Appropriate over all of you, and your experience of watching Linn da Quebrada who is born and raised in Behavior.” We are really excited for people to a film becomes magnified when you watch that the favelas of Sao Paolo. This documentary see that film because women, lesbians, and film with other people. I think that is a really focuses on her life and her work. She has an art queer women are pretty unrepresented in the beautiful thing. Any kind of art engagement that form that really interrogates and explores the film industry. This film is pretty special to us. involves an audience, rather than watching it possibilities of the trans feminine body in art alone, is that you get to experience something politic. She is a force of nature and also a very LN: In an era of marriage equality and LGBTS with a group of people who are also really sweet human being. I know Brazil has a pretty programming on local television channels, why invested in the work that is happening on screen high rate of violence against trans people -- in are LGBTQ film festivals so necessary? and you get to feel those feelings together. particular transwomen. Her performances and AR: Thank you for asking that question! Of Then afterward you get to talk to each other, radio show and just the way she is in the world course, it is a challenge for us as programmers and connect, have your mind opened. can put her in a lot of physical danger, but she of the film festival because people can find is quite fearless. She is sassy and smart, and content online and even in movie theaters It’s an experience that you wouldn’t get if you [the film] explores a lot of what her daily life isduring the non-festival season because the were alone, or in an audience where you were, like and the consequences that patriarchy has queer and trans content is becoming so much say, going to see “Disobedience” at your regular on her body through her art form. We also have more lucrative in the mainstream. I think where cinema, you wouldn’t necessarily have a talkback a documentary film, Dykes, Camera, Action, film festivals are still so important because they after that. You wouldn’t necessarily have a ripple of people who were like, “Oh wow. What was who have traditionally held power and who particularly unique this year? that film saying?” Of course, film festivals are have had space and time and the ability to AR: The films. I really think that there is such an important because it is a chance for you to talk tell their stories. Historically, queer and trans increase in trans filmmakers and trans content, to the filmmakers and hear from them what their people haven’t had access to that space. Film to go back to the Trans Women on Screen process was like, and what kind of stories they is an expensive medium. It is not a cheap art Spotlight again. There really is a significant are invested in. You can get to know filmmakers form. White men have access to more wealth increase in films that were submitted to us that you maybe have never heard of before and than queer and trans people. People with more this year where trans women get to have an follow and support their work. Queer and trans dominant or privileged identities have access empowering narrative and get to be fully realized artists and filmmakers are still very marginalized to the idea that their stories are important and as characters on screen. That’s something that in the film industry and still need a groundswell should be told. Those of us who never really I feel is quite new, especially in terms of how of support from the people who see their films. see our stories reflected to us on screen can’t many films got submitted to us this year and Just because there are a few queer movies that help but internalize that maybe our stories aren’t how many we were able to accept and screen. are really big this year and maybe going on to worth telling. Or that there’s no way for us to That feels really special about this year. We are award season, doesn’t mean that the industry is tell our stories in a way that is as large scale seeing so much more trans content and so many a safer or easier place where queer, trans and or magnificent as seeing them on screen. The more films make by and for trans people. It’s a artists can find success. It’s still really a white, more success that queer and trans filmmakers really exciting thing. I hope that it just grows in straight guys’ world. Film festivals like ours and have in the mainstream is amazing because the years to come. Outfest and BFI Flare are so important because that means that more young or emerging queer they provide a platform for those artists to get and trans filmmakers will feel like, “Oh, there is their work seen and for them to continue to a place for me out there.” But we don’t have the thrive and build their success. same networks. We don’t have the same access to money. We don’t have the same access to LN: Can you elaborate what you meant about even the education that we need to really hone the Hollywood industry is still unsafe for LGBTQ our artistic skills as filmmakers. filmmakers? AR: It’s like any other arts industry. The stories LN: What makes this year’s festival different that get told are usually the stories of people from the previous 29? Is there anything that is TOP

CHOKE BRINGS IMMIGRATION ISSUE FRONT AND CENTER Directed by Award-Winning Filmmaker Rolla Selbak By Michel Khordoc

ward-winning out filmmaker Rolla Selbak just world premiered her new short film, CHOKE, 2018 Los Angeles Outfest Film Festival - the world’s leading LGBT film Afestival presented by HBO. CHOKE tells the story of a successful MMA champion who hides her refugee identity from her small American town and the world. Sara and her family are Muslim refugees who’ve escaped the vicious war in Syria and flee to the United States, where she fights for a new life in the brutal sport of mix martial arts.

It stars Jessica Damouni (Salam), Allison King (Baby Driver) and Victor Davila aka “master VIC” (MMA fighter & commentator for the UFC)

Selbak, a Sundance 2017 filmmaker, tells the experience of what it feels like to immigrate from your home to a new place you’re trying to fit into, especially in today’s climate.

“It’s both a challenge and an honor to depict an authentic refugee experience truthfully and with creative empathy. Being an immigrant myself and being part of a Palestinian family, I feel that my personal experience lends itself to this intent in a powerful way,” says the filmmaker.

The central themes of identity, racism, homosexuality, and fear are heightened by Sara’s struggle between modesty and boldness, aggression and repression, and an oscillation between the pride of who she is, and shame of where she came from.

The words “Muslim” and “immigrant” are so charged with electrifying heaviness in today’s environment. Just when we think the anti- immigrant sentiment has reached a fever pitch in this country, the spikes of vicious rhetoric push the stakes higher.

Selbak’s ultimate goal was to tell a different kind of immigrant story, one that offers a counter-illustration to the depictions of brown women on the screen as the devout wife, or the unsuspecting terrorist, or depicting refugees as being weak and powerless instead of strong and resilient.

The MMA backdrop also provides for a really powerful element of symbolism: fighting for your life, fighting for who you are, fighting for an identity. It also symbolizes overcoming adversity as Salam ironically excels in a heavily male- dominated professional field that is reputed to be very macho and homophobic.

All in all, CHOKE is about identity, and the choices we make to hide parts of ourselves in order to survive.

Rolla Selbak is a triple-minority in the filmmaking world, representing the Queer, the Muslim- American, and the Female.

Her most recent credits include co-producing American Paradise, a reflection of a desperate man in Trump’s America, and helming the internationally acclaimed feature film Three Veils, a first of its kind to confront homosexuality within the Muslim-American subculture.

A writer/director of film and TV drama, she is known for bringing strong female characters to the forefront of her work. She imprints her fresh point of view as a queer Arab immigrant having escaped to the U.S after the first Gulf War and often focuses on socially controversial topics.

Plans for developing CHOKE into a TV series are in full swing.

TOP

WITH A KISS I DIE: SLGBTQ INTERRACIAL VAMPIRE ROMANCE Infusing new blood into a Shakespearean classic By Mona Elyafi

istribution powerhouse of the pairing. Juliet must once again choose Gravitas Ventures, a Red between love and family obligations, terrified Arrow Studios company, that repeating her past mistakes will lead to has acquired the worldwide even more tragedy. distribution rights to With a Kiss I Die, the highly- The film stars Ella Kweku (as Juliet Capulet) Danticipated LGBTQ Shakespearean Vampire and newcomer Paige Emerson (as Farryn), as Romance directed by Ronnie Khalil. well as top Greek actors from stage and screen George Kopsidas (as Amaltheo) and Laonnis The film will be available on demand on August Papazisis (as cousin). 28, 2018, and is already available for pre-order on iTunes: https://apple.co/2tzMkRb The screenplay, written by Khalil, also features contributing writers Barbara Leibell and James “With a Kiss I Die beautifully blends the Orie. It was Produced by Paola Cétares and fantasy and romance genre, taking the classic Jorge Valdés-Iga, and Executive Produced by Shakespearean tale of Romeo & Juliet and Ed Talavera. The deal for With a Kiss I Die asking, ‘what if Juliet never died?’” said was negotiated by Zach Hamby on behalf of Gravitas Ventures’ VP of Sales & Marketing, Gravitas Ventures with Clownfish Productions, Laura Florence. “The film is filled with bold and LLC, a production company based out of Miami, timely decisions in casting and subject matter Florida. yet delivers a powerful love story everyone can enjoy.” As of August 28th, Khalil’s film will be out in over 100 million homes with numerous cable, satellite Filmed on the beautiful Greek Island of Santorini, and telco operators including iTunes, Amazon, With a Kiss I Die is a dark romance about Juliet Direct TV, Dish Network and Mediacom, to name Capulet, who is forced to live for all eternity a few. without her soul mate, Romeo. Broken and numb, she meets a young woman who finally For more information: www.withakissidie.com captures her heart again but Juliet’s new family, headed by a blood-thirsty patriarch, disapproves TOP SUFFRAGETTE Women who fought to vote in the early 1900’s By Gladi M. Adams, PhD

This word which should resonate in the hearts allow men to dominate them at home, in the and respect? Will they remember the sisters of all women seems to have lost its significance workplace and especially in politics? Why have who have gone before them and forge an even and importance to modern day women. It was we forgotten that men expect women to earn greater victory creating the destiny we have 1920 when women were finally given the right their place rather than being accepted as equal always had the right to expect and deserve? to vote and it came as a result of marches, partners? demonstrations, jail time, physical abuse, death Start your own education with Inez Milholland and all sorts of nightmarish behavior on the part Isn’t it truly time for women to step up and “NOT who lived and died to tell us that “It is not of men who were determined to keep women as TAKE IT ANYMORE”? Seemingly there is a winning the vote but casting the vote.” Her 15 second class citizens. women’s movement looming on the horizon. minutes documentary filmed and produced by Will women band together, act as sisters and WILD WEST WOMEN by Martha Wheelock is Why have we forgotten the terror and torture take their rightful place in society? Will they available for free from http://inezmilholland.org/ we experienced from men? Why do women take on the sexual abusers and demand justice ORDER/ . TOP

Travel

TECHNOLOGY: CHANGING THE WAY WE TRAVEL How the internet, smartphones, and technology affect our travel experience By Wyxie Carolina

ave you hailed a taxi using on the internet and the tons of travel applications Here is a list of ways technology has changed Uber or booked a flight using (apps) available for smartphones have helped the way we travel: Skyscanner? Have you make traveling faster, easier, and much more looked for a place to stay in enjoyable. For planning, traveling, and even for PLANNING Airbnb or asked for insights post-travel concerns, there’s a website or app Technology has minimized the time and effort it on places and experiences you can use. takes to plan a travel. Travelers can now easily Hthrough crowdsourcing? How about instantly choose their desired destination and travel learn to say some phrases in a different Over the years, breakthroughs in travel packages, find out the best places to go to and language or instantaneously share precious technology have made it more and more things to do, get tips on what to bring, best travel moments to your family, friends, and convenient for travelers to get better-quality practices, and safety precautions, and book followers? services at lower cost and possible for people flights, accommodations, and travel services— to travel more frequently. all in the comfort of their home or even at the The massive amount of information accessible office, or right wherever they may be. More so, websites and social media networks have made to traveling is Electronic Payments. The use before, travelers bring around travel guides and it possible for travelers to choose better options, of Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Wallet phrasebooks to be able to ask for directions get discounts and rewards, and instantly talk to makes purchasing, especially when abroad, or just about anything. Thanks to translation a live person to avail of personalized services easier and more secure. Nowadays, there’s no apps like iTranslate and Google Translate, and resolve any travel concerns. need to carry a lot of cash or a credit card while expressing oneself in a different language isn’t traveling. so hard anymore and making friends with locals PACKING is a lot easier. As technology improves, the lesser and smaller CONNECTING the gadgets we need to pack—no need for a As the use of technology became universal, TAKING PHOTOS separate planner, camera, music player, book connecting to people became cheaper and Of course, all travelers would like to capture reader, alarm clock, etc.—saving us a lot of easier. With a smartphone and Data Connection every important (and even the not so important) luggage space and cost. or WIFI, travelers can stay connected with their moments of their travel. Thanks to smartphones, families, friends, and pretty much anyone around it’s no longer difficult to take photos and videos BOOKING AND BOARDING the world using messaging apps, social media, while traveling. Moreover, thanks to technology, Because of technology, we have less paper e-mail, and voice or video calls over the internet. it’s also easier to organize and edit photos and to print and carry around while we travel— In fact, airlines, hotels and accommodations, videos, as well as share them on social media fewer worries for us and less worrying about and travel service providers have to keep up and or save them in the Cloud to maximize storage. the trees. With Online Booking, Online Flight embrace technology to reach and connect with Check-in, and Mobile Boarding Passes, there’s their customers and the billions other travelers ... no longer any need to spend a lot of time on across the globe. Today, we even now have ridiculous long lines. The whole process of internet connectivity on flights. Technology has become a moving force in the securing a flight ticket to actually boarding the travel industry. It has been continuously dictating flight has significantly become quicker and more COMMUNICATING travel trends, setting travel standards, and convenient. One of the most difficult parts of traveling is changing travel behaviors. The improvement communicating with the locals. It is smart to of travel technology over the years has given SHOPPING learn some basic and important phrases in everyone the chance to make personalized and One of the biggest contributions of technology the language of your travel destination and so unique travel experiences. TOP

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Notes From Nat

JESS GLYNNE AND SCOUT DURWOOD Add a little, take off a little. By Nat Burns

ESS GLYNNE is back on the www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCrMn3LLMVU comedy club in Los Angeles and features charts after her very successful surprisingly good music. Leading the pack is 2015 debut album, I Cry When In June, Glynne revealed the upcoming album the title song “Take One Thing Off”, an homage I Laugh (reviewed in the May title, Always In Between, plus artwork and a to Coco Chanel, who is quoted as saying, ‘Once 2016 issue of Lesbian News). track list. An eleven-date arena tour, the Always you’ve dressed, and before you leave the house, This new album, Always in In Between Tour, was soon announced on her look in the mirror and take at least one thing JBetween, is slated for September release. social media platforms and website. It was also off.’ In interviews, however, Durwood admits to Though it is unusual for me to cover an artist revealed that Ed Sheeran penned two songs that for her, it means taking off one expectation before the album is released, I just wanted to for her, which will be featured on this eagerly others have about how you should act or who share some rapidly rising preliminary singles, awaited new album. you should be. “I’ll Be There” and “These Days”. More coming when the album is released. © 2018 Atlantic Records “Take One Thing Off” www.facebook.com/JessGlynne www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjHS4RDv0aU “I’ll Be There” www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQp1_GfDhwQ Her music publisher, Blue Elan Records, states on their website that Durwood uses music and This past January, Glynne began her 2018 Multi-talented, musical comedian, SCOUT comedy to playfully confront why, for so many comeback featuring on Rudimental’s new single DURWOOD, has a lot of fun and she imparts of us, the only thing more intimidating than a “These Days”, alongside American rapper, that fun to her listeners. There’s often an edge, naked woman is a naked woman talking. Macklemore, and British singer, Dan Caplen, a however, as she tackles issues of homophobia, single which charted very well on the UK Singles gender fluidity and gleefully letting one’s freak Born in 1983 and grew up in Kansas, Durwood Chart. flag fly in a sometimes-harsh world. knew almost immediately that she was different from those around her and so embraced those “These Days” Rudimental - feat. Jess Glynne, Her 2017 release, Take One Thing Off, is a differing qualities to become a comedian. Upon Macklemore & Dan Caplen robust mix of lesbian humor from an underground leaving home, she worked for five years in the New York City burlesque scene and was eventually named as one of the Huffington Post’s 20 Burlesque Stars to Know.

“All the Pretty Bottles” www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oHTCskTcqM

In 2012, she left NYC and made her way west to LA. There she was cast as the lead in the musical, Original, about the life of Janiva Magness, a blues singer. A series followed, called Justified, as well as several movies, Love in the Last Five Days, Clutch and Alex and the List. Television has been a big part of her career, including MTV’s Mary + Jane and Oxygen’s Funny Girls.

“Go Go” www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGR5guT3F8o

During her time on Original, she caught the attention of music producer, Dave Darling, who encouraged her to make an album. The twenty- one tracks that make up Take One Thing Off is that album and it has been more than a year in the making.

She said that the album is about her life, including a track for when she arrived in NYC from Kansas, a track for when she started working as a go-go dancer in burlesque, a bit about a huge breakup in the middle, and then her departure for LA. The idea is for the album to be its own little show, she has stated.

This version of the classic, My Funny Valentine, is actually very well-done, showing her dynamic voice.

My Funny Valentine www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8z6hjE4A0g

And last, but not least, for some truly weird, here’s “The Wedding Song” www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ile0EECX8U

© 2017 Blue Elan Records www.scoutdurwood.com

Always remember, if the links won’t open, copy and paste them into your browser.

‘Til next month— Nat

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Lesbiana course at Brown Credit Marian Roth (in fact this is Olga Broumas at WWC)

Book Review

IN SEARCH OF PURE LUST: A MEMOIR Excerpt from the memoir by award-winning editor and translator Lise Weil By Lise Weil

he year is 1978. The narrator as vital sources of knowledge. We were waking One afternoon Colleen invites me to her attic has left Providence, R.I. and up to nature. We were tuning into our bodies, apartment after class. She wants to play a record grad school to spend a year at our senses. We were learning to put thinking in for me, Kay Gardner’s Mooncircles. Colleen the Women’s Writer’s Center the service of ourselves, of our own questions. doesn’t speak much but she writes poems that I in upstate New York. Visiting It was all the pieces coming together for the first love, to women and to the stars. Faculty that year include Rita time. It was coming to see how fragmented my TMae Brown, Olga Broumas, Marge Piercey and life had been before. It was overthrowing all the Her apartment is dark when we arrive. Adrienne Rich. But women’s (read lesbian) male authorities who had ever ruled in my head. She lights candles on a low table and points music becomes almost as important in her to a cushion on the floor, where I sit while she formation as women’s writing. Susan Griffin’s Woman and Nature and Adrienne slips the album out of its cover, sets it on the Rich’s Dream of a Common Language, each in turntable. Then she lights incense and settles … its own way a challenge to the male paradigm of beside me on another cushion as the music “Pay attention to what they tell you to forget,” knowledge, had been published that year, as had begins. She rolls a joint and we pass it back and wrote the poet Muriel Rukeyser, who had been Judy Grahn’s The Work of a Common Woman forth. It occurs to me I’ve never been invited to visiting faculty at the Center the previous year and Audre Lorde’s “The Uses of the Erotic: someone’s place to sit in darkness and listen to and whom Bella often invoked in class. When I The Erotic as Power.” All of them were passed music before, except maybe one time in college think back now to how everything changed for feverishly from hand to hand throughout the with a stoned boyfriend who sat me down to me that year, those words seem to sum it all up. fall. They kept us company in our subversions. listen to Jesse Colin Young’s “Sunlight” and The problem with grad school, I was coming to Still, today when I read passages from Woman kept getting up to play it over and over again. understand, was not the mind. It was what the and Nature, I see the rolling hills of upstate New Which, as it turned out, was all to get me in the mind had been asked to do—and what it had been York and those rushing streams, I hear those mood for sex. asked to ignore. Here at the Women’s Writers honking geese. Center, we were reclaiming intuition and magic … “Changing, changing, changing, changing,” Lesbian sidewalk Credit Marian Roth (in fact this is Olga Broumas at WWC)

sings a rich alto female voice. There are cellos her magic wand, and I notice that somehow us know by heart. I’m aware of my new friends accompanying it and a flute, and I see swirling she keeps landing at Penny’s side. Bella is a around me, Jane and Colleen and Bibi. Penny shapes behind my closed eyes. When I open gypsy in great colorful robes with a scarf around is beside me but not dancing with me because them, smoke from the incense is traveling up to her head. She stands guard by the door and nobody’s pairing off, everybody’s dancing, alone the ceiling in spirals and Colleen is tendering to everyone who enters she says, “You have and together, dancing and singing along with the joint to me. Colleen, who is ten years older, traveled far. Rest, drink, later we will talk.” Tillery, “I’d like to get to know you in a special has only a high school education and pumps kind of womanly way.” I think I couldn’t love any gas at the station next door to pay her rent. I’m Joan Crawford from Mommie Dearest of these women more if we were lovers. I can’t in a low-cut black cocktail dress, heels, and remember when I have ever been this happy…. For the first time in my life, I think, nodding a black pillbox hat with a veil. I speak with … to Colleen as I take another toke, I exist among mainline lockjaw and only break character once, female forms in all their wild variety. It’s not only when Jane appears as herself thirty years from Lise Weil is an award-winning editor and to write that we have all come together, I realize now, with white hair and lined face. “You look translator. Her essays and literary nonfiction now, but to break through the old divisions. To amazing!” I exclaim, then instantly resume my have been published widely in Canada and throw over the old rules, the rigid lines drawn by cool demeanor. We strut out on the floor and the U.S. She was the founding editor of the disciples of the father God, and enter this dance the foxtrot together. I feel Bella’s eyes on Trivia: A Journal of Ideas (1982) as well as world of gentle circles and spirals, of infinite, us the whole time. its online offspring Trivia: Voices of Feminism undying change—which, I’ve been learning, www.triviavoices.com (2004). In 2014, she was once regarded as the realm of the Great In a corner on a couch by herself sits founded Dark Matter: Women Witnessing www. Mother. Following the curves of the spiraling Brooke, a prince in brown velvet cape and hat. darkmatterwomenwitnessing.com . She teaches smoke, I think: This is my idea of revolution— A sulky prince, judging by her droopy posture in the Goddard Graduate Institute. Born in not bloody wars but transformation. And I owe it and pouting face. I don’t dare to presume why. Chicago, she moved to Montreal in 1990. all to Bella. … A week later we all pile into cars and vans and head for Syracuse for a concert featuring There’s a Halloween party at the speakeasy. Mary Watkins, Gwen Avery, and Linda Tillery. Louise, the only married woman in the program, A high school gym, packed with women. No comes dressed as a diesel dyke with her hair sign of Bella or Janet, but most of this year’s greased back. Penny is her idol Ida Tarbell, a students are there, and so are all the women muckraking journalist from the 1930s. Miriam, around town we’ve gotten to know. Linda Tillery Bella’s partner, is a wizard with a silver cone on gets everyone onto their feet with her drumming her head; she bounces around the room waving and her songs of woman love, which most of TOP

WOMEN’S WEEK: WOMEN ON A ROLL TRIP TO PROVINCETOWN! “Too much of a good thing can be wonderful!” -- Mae West

oin us for the 21st Women On from Boston and Provincetown in this very special town on the tip of Cape Cod A Roll Trip to Provincetown on • Sunset Dunes Tour & Beach Bonfire October 8-14, 2018. • Welcome Reception upon arrival Prices start at: • Welcome brunch or luncheon at a favorite $1,795* without airfare Early bookings are highly local spot $2,295* with round-trip air from LAX recommended to secure your • Our private Group Gourmet Dinner at Jspot and ensure your preferred room type is one of the most beautiful and highest rated *Prices based on double occupancy and vary available. Prices vary based on room type. restaurants in town based on room type. Suites and rooms may offer water view or • Farewell Dinner at the Lobster Pot Single occupancy available, please inquire. town view, fireplace and jacuzzi tub. Please (optional) visit www.anchorinnbeachhouse.com for room • Daily Continental Breakfast Reserve your spot: descriptions. Rooms assigned on first come, • Daily Wine & Cheese Hour $500 deposit per person ($300 non-refundable) first served basis. Once we receive your deposit, • Guided Beach Forest Bike Ride (bike Balance will be due on or before August 2, 2018. you will be contacted for room selection. rental not included, weather dependent) • Concierge ticket service and VIP reserved To pay online: Please include your phone # with your deposit seating for the most popular shows in town womenonaroll.com/womens-week-in- or email [email protected] (ticket price not included) provincetown-3 • Free Women On A Roll Party To pay by phone: Call 310-398-1628 • An enormous variety of events: dancing, To pay by check: Mail to P.O. Box 4353, Culver WHAT’S INCLUDED: comedy shows, concerts, art exhibits, movies, City, CA 90231 • Six nights at the Anchor Inn Beach House, bicycling, hiking, football, singles events, Provincetown’s premiere lodging on the water couples events, whale watching, and much To reserve your room now: • Round trip air travel (optional) more. womenonaroll.com/womens-week-in- • Round trip chartered shuttle service to/ • Thousands of women, hundreds of events provincetown-3 TOP

Spirituality

ENLIGHTENMENT Enlightenment is the realization that you alone are the only one who By Dina Evan, PhD deprives yourself of anything. Which means when you decide to give yourself permission to be a part of the Divine, which by the way is the

truth, you may have everything you believe you deserve.

Actually, that is what is happening right now, you are living exactly what

you believe you deserve. It is, after all, impossible to be abandoned

unless you abandon yourself first by believing you are not worthy.

Might be time to change your mind.

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Words that Make Sense

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THAT FINAL CURTAIN WILL CLOSE Life goes along smoothly… until it doesn’t. By Toni Hart

ost of us go along If you enjoy being with other people, you may is and unfortunately, is part of life. We are not through life doing what also belong to clubs or groups that give you always privy to what will happen and just have has to be done such purpose and satisfaction. You may also have to come to terms with it the best we know how. It as the occupation we more than one job or other activities that help isn’t easy. We live in regret of all the things we have chosen, plus create a fuller life for you. might have done or said… all the kindnesses… cooking, cleaning, and maybe all the harsh words that we sometimes Mshopping for our family who depend on us to And here we are going from day to day, never felt, but shouldn’t have voiced. Now it’s too late do these chores in order to live comfortably seeming to get everything done, but enjoying and there’s no way to make up for it and make and stay healthy. We may or may not be the the life we have chosen. However, one day, it better than it was. “breadwinner” in our family, but just add our something may happen that stops your clock monetary contribution to the family budget. and life from running the smooth course it However, the lesson here is more simple than always has done. we thought. Live every day the best you can. We probably have many other things we do as Always be kind and loving. Remember, you well, some for enjoyment, some for enrichment, Your partner, the love of your life, becomes ill cannot always take your feelings or anger back some for other various reasons that we need and passes on. This is like a bolt from out of the and you don’t want to go thru life regretting you to get them done. We may or may not enjoy blue… totally unexpected. It’s something you left someone with harsh words to remember all of these things but continue to work at them never expected and has taken you completely you by. The curtain closes swiftly and can’t be because they accomplish the goals we want by surprise… and shock! Why did this happen… opened again. That’s the way life is and we to achieve and feel they are important for the why didn’t I see it coming… was there something need to play by the rules. Those are the rules of lifestyle we have chosen. I missed… something I could have done? the game of life! Probably no more than you did do. It is what it TOP VISIT VISIT SITE WEBSITE

Vendange is the perfect getaway desti- You’ll see what makes Vendange a once The separate Cottage Suite off ers a gen- nation located in the village of Carmel - in a lifetime stay. Their gardens, the grand erous 650 square feet of living space. by - the - Sea. It is the fi rst wine themedpergola, drinking a glass of wine around With a California King bed, 50” high defi - Inn in all of Carmel and Monterey. the fi re pit, or stopping by the lobby fornition fl at screen television, gas fi replace nightly hors d’oeuvres, will make your trip and kitchenette, it’s the perfect place for Each room is named after a local winery. more memorable. a honeymoon or romantic getaway. These partnered wineries design their own rooms in their own creative man- There are 18 rooms in the Inn which is The Inn off ers breakfast daily. Wine ner, providing guests with a memorable owned and operated by the Lee family. Themed Rooms: are Dawn’s Dream, and fun experience. Carmel Beach, has Sleeping areas are appointed with mem- Galante, J. Lohr, Joullian, Manzoni, McIn- exquisite shops, world class restaurants ory foamtop beds, deluxe linens, WiFi, tyre, Otter Cove, Pierce Winery, Tudor, and beautiful beaches. and high-defi nition fl at screen TV. Twisted Roots, Ventana, Cima Colina. Queerly Questioning

THE WORLD COULD BE SO DIFFERENT Welfare is not a dirty word in this city. By Juno Parrenas etting out of the US every as a hotline. In the time since, they support to operate. Lillemor’s is a women’s bookstore and now and then is a good ninety asylum-seeking lesbians (and about ten gallery founded in 1975. They continue to run as thing for the soul. Trips of their children) with their legal procedures, a brick and mortar shop. Its offerings include the away from home help a German language course, and life logistics titles I associate with lesbian bookstores, such remind you that the world that are necessary when you are trying to build as popular feminist writers and Mein Lesbisches is a big place and that life something after losing everything. They also Auge (My lesbian eye), which is an annual book Gas we know it can be otherwise. support rainbow families and lesbians over of lesbian German erotica. It also includes new the age of forty with social groups. They foster academic books in translation from feminist Take the city of Munich, for instance. Luck conviviality with brunches, dance nights, and a theorists writing in English. But more surprising has allowed me to spend the past two months recurring café staffed through volunteers. Their to me: a robust cooking and travel section. in this city that is known for its Oktoberfest. I annual street festival, Angertorstrassenfest, associated it with lederhosen, beer gardens, kicks off weeklong LGBTQI pride in the city of The travel section of the bookstore works as and a one-hit wonder popular in the year that Munich. a window into the values of its community. In I was born that goes like, “New York, London, addition to convenient guidebooks like hiking Paris, Munich, everybody talks about pop A lot of their success hinges on the fact that with public transportation in the city of Munich, music!” I also associated it with Bavaria, which they get support from the city of Munich, which it includes such titles as travelling in the Alps has been the stronghold of conservative politics is a wealthy city in a wealthy state. Welfare is alone, women’s travel adventures, and the in Germany. not a dirty word in this city, or in the nation in coining of a new word in German: as an opposite which it is located. Living as well for everybody of “heimweh,” or homesickness, “fernweh” is the I was wrong. Like a blue American city in a red is a common core value. This is refreshing when desire to be far away. state, Munich echoes a similar relationship to coming from a place where people think that its state government. It has been consistently living well is only for those who can afford to Much of my impressions may not be intrinsic to center-left since the end of World War II. pay it for themselves. Munich alone, although it is obvious I fell in love with this city! It’s nice to know that the likelihood But even more impressive and astonishing Yet even private institutions surprisingly survive of getting fatally shot is low and that I can feel is how its lesbian community thrives. Their and thrive in Munich. Munich hosts the oldest safe while jogging at dusk in a park. It might just lesbian counseling center, LeTRa, started out women’s bookstore in Germany and it continues be that this is “fernweh.” TOP

TOP Positive Reflections

WHAT FOLLOWS THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE? There is much more than grief after someone close dies. By Dian Katz, MS

fter a loved one passes, in this area. But there is sooooo much more to do. take hours. you seldom hear mention of And if you were also the legal person needed to the avalanche of nonstop, make health decisions while the individual was THE ONGOING SLEW OF CALLS: First, time-consuming, mentally alive, you’re already going to be exhausted. No everyone needs to know your loved one passed and physically exhausting one is emotionally prepared for the ride after away. You’ll need to find out who all of the paperwork, appointments, the roller coaster of life and the death decisions person’s friends are by going through his or her Aand attention that needs to be handled—even that follow. if you are in this position, this can emails and phone contacts. Hopefully, you have before your dear one is put to rest. Many of the also include the added stress of taking care of a passwords to all the internet accounts or that’s things the survivors must do can’t be done by child or grief-stricken parent after a death. a nightmare in itself. You spend time emailing friends who have kindly offered to help. YOU are friends and family of the loss. left with the responsibility—and it’s a whirlwind First, there is the person passing. You will be of endless chores and tasks to be completed. asked where the body needs to go from the Then, calls to the insurance companies that morgue. You can’t say, “Not right now, I’m too may need you to also come in and sign more Grief? Who has time to grieve right now, stressed out from watching this person die.” It paperwork. Sit at the phone forever canceling because there are just too many critical things must be done, and NOW! Medical insurance. Sit at the phone forever that need your attention? You end up feeling to cancel Car insurance. But wait! Needing to your emotions pulling at you as you hit the sack Next, the visit to the funeral home. You will cancel is not enough, as they require you to and try to drift off to sleep. That’s the time your be lucky if your loved ones took care of some mail original death certificates. Also, a lot of head really starts to play games with you. of this beforehand. However, you’ll still need places won’t even talk to you until you send to sign the death certificate. Then, another them legal papers proving you have the Power When someone has the Power of Attorney, she appointment to sign cremation papers and of Attorney. So figure with the 10 organizations is needed to sign most of the legal papers. No discuss funeral services. You’ll have to pick one must contact, each one requires hours biggie right? Other relatives and family assume out the brochures that will be handed out at the upon hours of work you must do. Car insurance that’s part of your job and they legally can’t help service. Unfortunately, all of these appointments canceled, now you’ll have to sell some cars or you’ll be stuck having to add them all to your of unanswered calls from those who have left service? Oh geez! I have to call all the people own insurance. What? You need to take care of messages—have to return those. But wait? Does involved in that and plan it too? Call the clergy, the registration too? Credit cards canceled. But the person have any pension? Sit on the phone design how we want the service. Can I delegate do you know how many the person had or where for hours to find out if your Power of Attorney some of this to family members? Um, no! Why all of the cards are? Bank accounts closed. status, Death Certificates, and certified copies not, you ask? Family members not agreeing on More death certificates needed, more Power in hand will work to get this info. “Sorry miss, things. More stress. Now deal with finding a of Attorney papers. Oh, did we mention paying you’ll need to get that notarized.” Let’s not forget middle ground. This will have to wait while I find their bills? You need to go through the person’s to go to the DMV and cancel the license. Pssst, a short bridge. paperwork but where is it all? Have you seen you’ll need to do a lot of paperwork and prove the disorganized office? Where is everything? who you are AGAIN! Cancel Passports. Call TAKING CARE OF THE OTHER PARENT OR Just cleaning this up will take weeks. Financial Advisor about the person’s finances A CHILD. Mom is grief-stricken and doesn’t but don’t forget to make an appointment with want to eat. She needs extra assistance and But wait, there are so many people calling you for her. Oh, the funeral home is calling about the lots of extra care right now. You will help cook, money now. Medical bills and insurance aren’t service. What? You have to plan a service? Call clean dishes, do laundry, put clean sheets on finished just because the person is deceased. your other family members for help. Nope, they the bed, carry things to her, and drive her to You have to spend time arguing over who pays aren’t available or too busy? numerous doctor appointments, grocery stores for this or that. Wasn’t Medicare supposed to and whatever else she needs until the worst part pay for this charge or the secondary insurance PLAN AND TAKE CARE OF FUNERAL of her grief passes. Why? Because you love her Anthem Blue Cross? Oh geez, let’s not forget SERVICE. You’ll need a date so you have to call and she needs you. She has been there for you about Social Security. They need to be notified. the family again. You’ll need to confirm the date your whole life. Now you’ll want to give back “Sorry miss. We will need a certified copy of your with the funeral home. More hours on the phone to her even if you’re exhausted. You’ll want to parents’ Marriage Certificate. And you will need discussing details. Oh, you’ll need to make an console her too. She really needs to share her an appointment with the County Recorder.” You announcement. How about a flier announcing grief. Help find her a bereavement group. You have an original Marriage Certificate, isn’t that the service? Wait, send this all over again to have time to search, right? Did you forget to enough? “Sorry Miss. That won’t do. You need all of the people you already emailed about the wear underwear today? to fill out the forms with so and so and wait until passing? Ugh... Back to the emails. No sleep you receive a Certified Copy.” Oh, and the tons tonight. Wait, what do I need to do “during” a Maybe the person who passed has uniforms

TOP or items that must be returned to the person’s eat lunch today? Your pond needs cleaning or work, etc. The deceased’s boss is contacting the fish will die! Call your family members for you wanting to invite employees to the service help. Nope, no one is available… again, because and hand a plaque to your loved one. Get back why? They are out enjoying the day! to him. Wait, was your loved one a Veteran and always wanted a veteran service? Don’t forget to YOUR JOB. Wait, work, too? Bereavement only call the VA! Maybe the other parent is too grief- allows for three days. Three days? How can you stricken to go through her spouse’s clothes and work and take care of all of this? things. You’ll need to do it for her. You’ll need days to go through the closet and drawers and YOUR PASSIONS. Ha! No time for you! No time pockets of everything! You’ll have a few of your for friends or to even call them right now. Did own doctor appointments! Hope your health you just get a nasty voicemail from a friend who holds up. Did you sleep? Oh for cripes sakes... thinks you’re ignoring her? Ugh. Did you have a the dog is depressed and won’t eat! What! Three bowel movement today? hours at the vet you didn’t have! And ten days of special care and meds for the dog! But you Death is part of Life and we need to deal with love your pup and you’re the parent. Did you put it in one way or another. Nothing ever prepares your shirt on backwards? you for any of this. The best you can do is to delegate as much as you can to those “willing” TAKING CARE OF HOUSE. Take care of the to help. And find some time somewhere, to house in between all of the other things like the take care of you. Your health is important and yard and having the plants watered. Typical so pace yourself. When I leave this planet one house duties like trash, and your own laundry, day, please have me cremated and just put bills have to be done. Can’t ignore your personal my remains in a McDonald’s bag and toss. responsibilities. And let’s not forget about doggy Seriously, it will be so much easier. again. She still needs her daily walk along with her feeding, meds, and petting. Wait, did you TOP

HotSpots

OH SWEET SUMMER There’s still time for you. By Dian Katz, MS

h, sweet August… it. Isn’t it nice to hear about organizations like instrument in the world. I did tell you that right? narrowing down the this rather than all of the hatred and darkness Hmm, maybe I didn’t. Well, they are. I might be summer. For some, that’s many are preaching? Refreshing I tell you! a tad bias being a female drummer but shhh... a yippee!!! For others, And check this out. They are going to have a Just pay attention to me! Some of the activities that’s a “Hell to the NO!” “drumming dance!” Now, how cool is that! You’ll include voice empowerment and community A lot of students and be learning to drum with Adwoa Kudoto. She’s singing workshops; Performances by some teachers don’t look forward to the upcoming a master drummer from Ghana. That’s rad! You great female artists, healing workshops, power O portraits, arts and crafts, prairie meditation and school year at first. It just sucks to go back go, Adwoa! I’ll drum to your beat!!! There will after having summer months off. Annnnnyway, also be workshops and so much more. so much more. They like to do rituals that honor whether thrilled that it’s August or not, it’s here the land. That rocks my world. I wish everyone and I have some spectacular Hotspots just for So get your mystical on and go to www. honored this world. Don’t get me started!!! you… mysticalwomynsmagicfest.org For more information, start meditating and visit MYSTICAL WOMYN’S MAGIC FEST SAVANNA MOON CELEBRATION www.savannamoon.org/events How about a little mysticism? Come, join others I still have more interesting kinds of festivals at the MYSTICAL WOMYN’S MAGIC FEST on similar to the one just mentioned. How about the WOMEN IN THE WOODS August 7 to 12 at the Amazon Acres Campground SAVANNA MOON CELEBRATION on August Maybe you are in the Oregon area and you in Walkerville, MI. 16 to19 at the Savanna Moon Farm in Pepin, too want to attend one of these mystical, Wisconsin? moon meditating events. Oregonians try this: What exactly is a Mystical Womyn’s Magic WOMEN IN THE WOODS on August 23 to 26 at Festival? I’m glad you asked! I wanted to Moon Farm? Okay, I want to hear all about this. Breitenbush Hot Springs in Oregon. know too! “Our focus is to bring a community Hold, please. I am off to go check it out. Okay, together to create healing, powerful magic, I’m back. Did you miss me? Oh, stop it! You “This lesbian cultural event is an unparalleled soul-searching, and energetic shifts. Join us know you did! “Feed your wild soul with open sky equalizer bringing together women of diverse on August 7th through the 12th at Amazon and deep earth. Breathe the medicine of a voice race, culture, economics, education, and Acres as we gather to heal and transform racial set free. Unleash your power in the thunder of age. The environment is earth-centered, body and gender oppression. Join us in our work of drums. Rest your heart in a circle of sisters,” positive, nurturing and healing for mind and helping to put an end to white supremacy,” says said the Savanna Moon gals. Wow! Another spirit. Three plentiful vegetarian meals are promoters for the event. I like that! They are event where drums are utilized for rituals and provided daily with herb teas and beverages. here to light up the world rather than destroy dance. See! I told you drums were the coolest Breitenbush is drug and alcohol-free. The orientation Thursday evening is the beginning more drums maybe? “The Gathering is a three- womensgathering.org of the magic at Women in the Woods, where day celebration where more than a hundred what you want is what you get. If you’re looking women gather to learn, explore and play together I’m feeling so earthly reporting on all of these for a particular sport, craft, discussion group or at beautiful Twin Oaks Community. Workshop types of women’s gatherings. I need to go down activity — you make it happen. Experience your themes will range from sex and sexuality to to the sporting goods store and grab me a tent days and nights in exciting, women-created, gender justice to positive relationship building and whatever else one uses when she camps. flowing, changing and surprising ways. You to DIY music, art, movement and more. In I’ve haven’t gone camping for some time. But won’t want to leave,” said Women in the Woods. addition to scheduled performance spaces and what the heck. Everyone is singing and dancing Hey, I don’t want to leave!! I want to fly over workshops, there will also be lots of free time to and drumming, I might as well join the fun!! there and hang out in the woods with the ladies. network, drum, dance, meditate, strategize, roll I need to find my bug spray, mosquito face net, around in the mud-pit and generally live it up 3RD ANNUAL WOMIN’S FEST hiking shoes, carving knife. Never can be too with new and old friends at the Gathering. But Lastly, get your tush over to Indiana for their careful. This sounds amazing, but I need to tell don’t just come to the Gathering….be part of 3RD ANNUAL WOMIN’S FEST on August 24 to the bears to back off and the mosquitos to look making it happen! One of the best things about 26 in Martinsville, IN. out. I better watch out for poison oak too. the Women’s Gathering is how each person has a role in making the event as wonderful as it is. Yep, more of the above exciting activities. Geez, Oh… no one is even listening to me carrying on. Have a special talent? Come and share it in a after reporting on all of these great gatherings, Whatever! For more info, grab your Deet and go workshop! Want to sing at the Sharing Stage? I am realizing cool women are all over the to www.womeninthewoods.com Belt it out! Have a ritual you’d like to lead? We’re globe!!! “This 3-day retreat for women and there! The Twin Oaks Women’s Gathering is a girls is a powerful, life-changing experience! cooperative event through and through, and Women’s only spaces offer support and freedom TWINS OAKS WOMEN’S GATHERING the incredible sense of community created in to express and explore all that it means to be While on the topic of women festivals, get over just three days—and over years and years of women,” says Women’s Fest! to the TWINS OAKS WOMEN’S GATHERING Gatherings—is truly extraordinary!” said Twins on August 17 to 19 in Louisa, VA. Oaks Women’s Gathering Producers. For more info, strut over to the computer and visit www.wominsfest.com Here’s to more camping, more women gathering, For more scoop, set up that tent and go to TOP Poetry

POCO But your eyes, oh the eyes By Morag Hillsinger little orbs of emotion I scratched your chest you gave devotion your warm body your pure heart you changed us all your goofy lope you let us in your little cart asked nothing just to be part of our pack you wanted to be close to me you mashed yourself in you scratched a lot when you got fleas i swear I saw you grin.

and now you’re gone t’was better then I’d give anything to have you back.

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Femastrology

AUGUST 2018 By Astrologer and Psychic, Victoria Bearden

et ready for some change ruthless manner. The bottom line is, everyone solving, and practicality. Time to get your groove for the better. Many of us likes to win, but when Leo goes rogue, the ends on dealing with health, your daily routine, and are feeling a little spun out sometimes justify the means. We can all keep work as the Summer Cycle begins to wind down. after a summer of cranky ourselves accountable in this regard. We should retrograde planets and hold our leaders to the same standards. There’s a Full Moon on Sunday, August 26, provocative eclipses. The 2018, at 03° Pisces. The Full Moon represents astrological climate has been demanding, to There’s a Solar Eclipse at 18° degrees Leo on the culmination of a cycle. Pisces elevates the G principles of love, compassion, and healing. The say the least. But change is in sight. Later this Saturday, August 11, 2018, at 2:58 am PDT. month two key planets, Mercury and Mars, go All the aforementioned Lessons of Leo will be on Sun in Virgo represents the earthly, physical direct, which will be a game changer. Then, the full display, which could bring up some drama manifestation of healing and service to others. flow of information and action will start to pick and ego conflicts. President Donald Trump has This moon will be a magnificent opportunity to up speed. We will all have a chance to put the Leo Rising, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller embrace these ideals and bring them into your pieces of the puzzle together and start getting is a Leo, so you know things are going to be life, and into the world, by “paying it forward” the bigger picture of our lives into focus. “interesting.” This eclipse lines up with Mercury in some way. This is the perfect day to spend retrograde in Leo, which makes communication a time doing a spiritual practice, such as prayer But we still have some controversy to push real challenge. But the eclipse might shake a few or meditation. Artistic pursuits could get a burst through, as aggressive retrograde Mars things loose and open the doorway to eventual of inspiration. There is a Grand Trine in Earth squares off with revolutionary Uranus the first compromise and resolution. Get ready for some on the Full Moon, between The Sun in Virgo, few days of August. This is a pressure cooker eye-opening events, both in your personal life Saturn in Capricorn, and Uranus in Taurus. and can prompt frustration and conflict. It’s the and out in the world. Big shifts in awareness This is a much-needed positive and stabilizing overwhelming feeling that “something’s got to often coincide with these compelling celestial influence after all the retrogrades and other give,” but nobody seems to be giving ground. events. Pay close attention to any wake-up planetary intensity of the previous weeks. The That combined with one more Solar Eclipse is calls, as events that occur around eclipses tend Earth Sign Energy can help us all figure out how sure to keep things a bit wonky, so hang tough! to have great significance. As always, if your to bring our hopes and dreams into reality, and Keep your cool and use the first part of the birthday falls near an eclipse, you are heading that’s what it’s all about. month to get all your ducks in a row. Gather into a year to remember. your resources, do your research, and pull Mars in Aquarius finally goes Direct on things together. Then you’ll be ready to roll with Mercury goes Direct on Saturday, August 18, Monday, August 27, 2018, the day after the Full projects and new plans when the energy shifts. 2018, at 9:25 pm PDT. Yay! Communication will Moon. This is great news, as many things that improve. New starts and projects will require have been stalled have the chance of moving Leo the lion is in full swing at this time of less effort. Problems tend to be easier to solve! forward in the weeks to come. This planetary year. There will be lessons to learn regarding Many things that have seemed confusing over change will make it much easier for all types authority and leadership. This noble Fire Sign the past few weeks may finally clear up. It will of negotiations. New starts in business and can bring out the best in us if we express the take a little while to really see the full effect, but personal relations will go much more smoothly positive, healthy side of self-esteem. We can get it’s definitely a turning point. Be patient, as you now. If you tried to launch a project recently in touch with our Inner Child through creativity might still feel like you are playing “catch up” for that fizzled, try again in a week or so. You might and playfulness. Healthy competition, games, a week or two. be very surprised at how much is possible that and sports are also a great way to channel this wasn’t the first time around. vibration. The downside shows up when people, The Sun enters Earth Sign Virgo on particularly those in positions of power, decide Wednesday, August 22, 2018. The energy Opportunity Days: to throw their weight around in a dominant and shifts to Earth, representing work, problem- August 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 27 and 28

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22) Focus on the Fun Factor this month. You may have been feeling like Connect to your tribe. Important messages come from people in your you lost your mojo for a while and it’s time to get it back. Express social group. Friends and colleagues may have extremely helpful your inner Wild Woman and do something daring. Open up your heart insights or suggestions for you. You may be invited to join a new group. and let go of stress and tension by doing things that bring you joy. Your If you need help from others, now is the time to ask. Mantra: Network ruling planet, Mars, goes directly later this month, which is great news. Single Aries might find an exciting new partner. Mantra: Enthusiasm Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You are gaining perspective on your life path. You are getting insight Taurus (April 20-May 20) about the bigger picture of your own destiny. What will you do with You need a solid foundation, so get grounded. Do things that this information? Perhaps you’d like to change things up. If you want enhance your living space and make you feel truly “at home.” Pay to take a chance on a new direction, now is the time. Jupiter in Scorpio attention to important issues concerning the family. Close relationships continues to put wind in your sails. But remember, nothing ventured, can be greatly improved at this time. Get your personal life in order. nothing gained. Mantra: Opportunity This will free your mind so you can act more effectively out in the world. Mantra: Groundwork Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Travel, change and open up your mind. This is a period for expansion Gemini (May 21-June 20) and growth. Things you learn now could be very important for your Too many ideas and not enough time? Focus is your new best long-term goals. Sign up for workshops and classes you’ve been wanting friend. Important information is available to you now. But you must to take. Or teach others what you know. This is a fortunate time for narrow down your goals to truly take advantage of new and evolving exploration and new endeavors. Mantra: Expansion situations. Things are not going to stay the same. Your status quo is changing. So, you need to have a solid strategy. Don’t waste any more Capricorn (December 22-January 19) time in conjecture. Get your “To Do List” finalized, and make it short and Dig deep into your own soul and root out stagnant energy. It’s time to the point! Mantra: Competent to shed your old skin. Finish old projects so you can move on to the new. Unburden yourself. Get rid of things that are no longer serving you. Cancer (June 21-July 21) Face your inner fears. Figure out which beliefs are holding you back. Things need to start making sense in your life. Dollars and cents. Then change them. It’s time for a new and better version of you to be Put effort into streamlining your financial affairs. Take stock of any born.Mantra: Resurrection necessary changes to your accounts and your resources. This can be a great month for improving your economic reality. Sometimes, it’s simply Aquarius (January 20-February 18) a matter of getting the “time/energy/money” equation into balance. Partnership and one on one relationships take center stage. Find Mantra: Prosperity your true allies. Put out the effort to connect with others. If you are single and wish you weren’t, it’s a good time to put yourself out there. Leo (July 23-August 22) You will find people more willing to cooperate now. Relationships that Recent eclipses have brought the winds of change into your life. This aren’t right for you might need to end. Do it with love and it will free both is an important and potent time. Make decisions. Put your money of you. Mantra: Alliance where your mouth is. Make commitments. New pathways are all around you. Things have happened that have opened your eyes to new Pisces (February 19-March 20) possibilities. Embrace them. Your August. Mantra: Quantum Leap Time to get your body, mind, and spirit into alignment. Pay attention to your health and well-being. Work might be demanding, Virgo (August 23-September 22) but you need your inner balance. Do things that increase your sense of Bring your spiritual side into sync with your practical side. What are strength and vitality. You would benefit from bodywork and other healing you doing with your life? It’s time to find out by reconnecting with techniques. Mantra: Revitalize your truth. Explore your inner nature. Listen to your intuition and tune in to your Higher Self. Many important realizations are right under the surface of your consciousness. Spend some time listening to that still, quiet voice within. Mantra: Awareness

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Lesbians On Location

THE 2018 GOLDEN CROWN LITERARY SOCIETY CONFERENCE By Nat Burns Photographs courtesy of Brenda Barton and Laura Pena

ore than three hundred The GCLS was founded in 2004 to bring and to recognize and promote lesbian literary fifty lesbian writers and authors, readers and publishers together for the work. readers gathered at the betterment of lesbian literature. The GCLS has Golden Crown Literary now become a registered 501(c)3 corporation Next year’s conference will be held in Pittsburgh, Society’s 14th annual whose mission is education and the promotion Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit conference, held at and recognition of lesbian literature. The www.goldencrown.org MBally’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino during the goals are to provide learning opportunities, first week of July. Authors Lucy Jane Bledsoe and encouragement and assistance to new and Rachel Gold were the featured guest speakers, established authors in developing their craft, but legendary lesbian authors Dorothy Allison, support and strengthen quality lesbian writing Elana Dykewomon and Lee Lynch also spoke by providing educational programs, creating and attended the sessions. opportunities for readers and writers to interact

Renee Bess and Lee Lynch accept award Authors ISabella and Susan X. Meagher

Author Nat Burns gets the joke

Authors Dorothy Allison, Ann McMan, Lynn Ames,Elana Dykewomon

Cheyne Curry and Roselle Graskey

Award winning author Renee Bess D. Allison and E. Dykewomon

Elana Dykewomon

Guest Speakers Rachel Gold, Dor. Allison, E. Dykewomon, and Lucy Jane Bledsoe

Authors Bliss, Karen Badger, and Cheyne Curry Authors Lori L. Lake and Patty Schramm Authors Lori L. Lake and Patty Schramm German author Jae signs books

Three authors on a panel

Selfie: Authors Reba Birmingham, Nat Burns, and Dorothy Allison

Nancy Hardin book signing Readers Phyllis and Nancy

Gay Agenda shirt OUTFEST

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n her work of the past three years Rose models, and their influence is readily apparent. examples of De Kooning, Picasso, et al, as just Masterpol has been oscillating between Masterpol recapitulates that influence with that – examples of spirit, more important to a drawn line, animated by color as well remarkable intelligence and sensitivity: these her for their attitude than for their manner. She as its own flagellating trail, and a more are genuine, unabashed Abstract Expressionist has learned from them, for instance, to pace painterly stroke that provides given works right down to their Surrealist reliance on herself across a visual field – but the pace she expanses with texture as well as hue. The the impulsive mark and their Cubist articulation maintains is entirely her own. She has learned drawn line assumes a rhythmic animation akin of space. to segue strategically from color to color rather I than simply dump paint in various areas – but to graffiti writing and on occasion even cartoon caricature, seeming almost choreographed. The irony is that Masterpol’s more “historic” the colors result from her own perception, and Here Masterpol, deliberately or not, proposes painting is, if anything, less studied than her her segues embody her own sensibility. With a translation of hip-hop and other urban dance more “contemporary” work. When she responds every lesson learned, Masterpol finds herself into non-objective painting, perhaps even a kind to the bold moves and bright contrasts of more profoundly as a painter. of notation; certainly, she is re-purposing the today’s pop idioms she picks up on their energy of the “street” to painterly effect. stylizations no less than on their power; she Rose Masterpol would seem to be two painters in reflects the fact that, even while they depend one. In fact, she is one painter paying attention That level of energy carries over into Masterpol’s on boundless invention, the popular arts allow to two modes of expression. Both those modes larger, even more ambitious canvases; but in their artists limited freedom. Like any good pop are urgent and convincing, and she responds to these, she puts aside the self-conscious project artist, Masterpol capitalizes on such restraint by both with insight, conviction, and unmistakable of contemporary reflection and allows herself playing off it, letting restricted modality amplify personality. Those two modes would seem to the luxury of pure painting. If the “drawn” her inventiveness. For truly liberated painting, have little to say to each other; but, like someone paintings manifest a vigorous but studied however, she turns to a tradition of liberty that brought up bi-lingually, Masterpol speaks both response to pop culture, the “painted” paintings she can only inherit from fellow painters. In this with poetic fluency and effortless translation, embody Masterpol’s equally fervent but entirely regard, Masterpol proceeds in the wake of her finding – and building – vivid connections spontaneous response to artists who have come influences with voluble confidence, studying and between them. before her. She cites Joan Mitchell, Pollock, “feeling” rather than simply imitating their imagery De Kooning, Kline, Gorky, and Motherwell as or their method. Indeed, she comprehends the Twisted Roots Vineyard

Happy New Year! Well we are officially into the and cannot be done by machine. Ross, who end up killing the old vines. While only 4 acres New Year and that means a fresh new start, with spent his entire life on the vineyard and learned remain of the original vineyard from 1918, we new goals and expectations of what is ahead from his father on how to properly prune our always struggle with wanting to maximize the of us this year. Well the vineyards of Twisted vines, so that just the right amount of grapes number of bottles each year, we always want Roots are no different, we too are eagerly would be produced and the best quality would to protect our family history and want to make awaiting a new start to our growing season. be achieved. sure that the vines are going to be around for Currently the vineyard is pretty bare, so much so the future as well. that one might not see the future as too bright, If we leave too many buds, which means lots given the almost dead look to the vines. This of grapes will be produced, then our wine will So next time you are out and about, and happen time of year, the vines are completely dormant be light and flabby, too few buds and we lose by a vineyard, remember that while it might look and bare, with all the leaves falling off and the tonnage and don’t have enough great wine to like nothing but twigs, there is a lot more going canes all over the place. That being said, this go around. on out there. Someone, somewhere is focused is a very important time of the year, a time that and concerned about how to handle this mess can determine the production and quality of the When it comes to our “1918” Old Vine Zinfandel of twigs. grapes that will ultimately become our 2015 vineyard, the entire situation of pruning changes. vintages. Even though our family has been at As you can see from the picture here, these this for three generations now and almost 100 vines are wild and twisted by their very nature, Cheers, years, it is still the time of year that causes us so pruning becomes very difficult. The key to concern. Pruning is an art of delicate balance; our rich, bold, yet soft flavors in our “1918” Old Josh Ruiz too much will cause small, uneconomical crops; Vine Zinfandel wines, is pruning these vines Co-Owner/Winemaker too little will cause over-cropping and low- so that they don’t over produce and over work quality fruit. Pruning also facilitates cultivation, these old vines. With most of thewood on these disease control and harvesting, when the vines vines being dead and hollow, if we leave the For more info: are trained to a grow in a particular shape. It is same number of buds as the rest of our vines, http://twistedrootsvineyard.orderport.net/wines/ a skill that requires experience and judgment we would end up over working the vines and Current-Releases Susan St. Thomas Gallery

“Stardust Reveries”

An exhibit of celestial abstract art by Susan St. With over 40 years as a professional astrologer, precision painting and loose free flowing washes, Thomas at the Sebastopol Gallery, 150 N Main Susan combines her fascination with the language she integrates avariety of innovative techniques St. Sebastopol, CA 95465. of the stars and her lifelong expression as an to express her imagination. www.sebastopol-gallery.com artist. This collection is inspired by the images 707 829-7200 captured by the Hubble telescope of deep space Reception for the artist plus 14 other gallery – a boundless realm of ever changing form. member artists: October 11, 4-6pm.

Susan uses layered glazes of acrylic to create Free artists talk, “Art and Astrology” at the depth and a dance of light and color, sometimes gallery: October 22, 7pm. mixing media and collage. Capable of both

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