Goddesses, Geniuses, and Growing Together

Belated August updates and what's to come this fall:

Many thanks to the 65 (!) artists who submitted work to Enter the Goddesses 3! I'll reach out to you all by the end of the month. It feels like we're all needing some Goddess energy right about now. The show will run October 2-26 with an opening and poetry reading Oct. 5, a party for LA based TELEPHONE artists Oct. 12, a somatic workshop Oct. 19, and closing/artist talk October 26th.

Opulent Mobility 2025 call for art is extended to September 15— we could all use a little extra grace right about now. That show will run through December 2025.

There was a fascinating discussion with Diane Kolin of Arts Ably on Genius Teatime last Saturday! Stay tuned for the archived talk on YouTube and for our next guests: Rebduce of ARTWATER life on September 20, Vanessa Hernández Cruz of Galaxies Dance October 18, and Sable Mensah November 15th. In the meantime, please enjoy the archived talk and edited transcript of Genius Teatime with Joan Russell and Running Towards Life.

Socks Whitmore, Ifunanya Nweke of Jazz Hands for Autism, Marisa Hamamoto, and I are planning a disability arts festival in Los Angeles! Tentatively scheduled for October 2026- and we will find a way to make it happen despite the vicious cuts to all things artistic, accessible, and inclusive. Next meeting is August 13th from 5-6 PM on Zoom. Disabled creatives, get in touch to help make the magic happen.

Also, the SoCal Disabled Artist Coalition is meeting September 17th from 7:30-8:30 PM on Zoom to discuss ways we can help each other thrive in these turbulent times. Contact me to join us.

Many thanks to the City of Santa Monica and LA Performance Practice for bringing me out to meend at Gather and Grow! We had a lovely time. If you’re in the area, the next session will be October 4th.

And hey, friends, a note of encouragement in these tumultuous times.

I listened in on the public comment section of California City's planning commission meeting the other night, where there are plans for Core Civic to build up an existing facility as a huge detention center/concentration camp. (Let's call it what it is.) I have to say how proud I am of my fellow Californians from all walks of life who unanimously stood up/spoke in via Zoom to oppose this with all of their hearts and with far better arguments than I brought to the table.

Want to know what you can do? That is just one thing. What local city council meeting could you attend? School board meeting? Mutual aid group? Letter writing group? Protest? "Know your rights" stand in front of your local Home Depot? What historical precedents and movements can you read and learn about in detail, and use their specific tactics?

There are so many ways to chip away at this horrific mess- and to build something that is at once better and far less destructive than what we had before. And there are people who are already doing this hard work. We can join them.

XO Laura