New Oregon Arts & Letters (formerly 2GQ)

BACON & WHISKEY...

...are much, much better than no bacon and no whiskey. If you need further proof, witness the awesome (as in awe-inspiring) and rad (as in radically unvegan) video essay by Kristy Athens, a contributor to 2GQ/New Oregon Arts & Letters.

Folded Word calls its "Shape of a Box" project "YouTube's First Literary Magazine," and who am I to argue (unless I'm willing to do a bunch of research on this claim, which I, alas, am not)?

Yay, Kristy! (And yay Mike Midlo of also-very-awesome-'n'-rad musical extravaganza Pancake Breakfast, who produced this fine snippet of film.) I hope you've enjoyed this experience. (And all the parentheses.) —TLB

ANGELA DAVIS: TONIGHT AT REED COLLEGE

From the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List to Kaul Auditorium, Angela Davis keeps moving. An outspoken civil rights and feminism activist, she ran for vice president of the United States in 1980 and 1984 on the Communist ticket.

Davis has authored numerous books, spoken and taught at top-drawer universities, and inspired generations of women, African Americans, lesbians, Afro-Cubans, and people who advocate for civil liberties and human rights. She'll be speaking Saturday, February 21 at 7:00 PM.

BOOK ARTS, INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPLORATION, AND THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Write and build your own book with Clare, Tif, and your new collaborators in an intensive two-day weekend workshop at the end of February.

"Book Arts, Interdisciplinary Exploration, and the Creative Process" is open to adults of all skill levels. Experienced book artists may find it especially engaging. Sign up by February 19 at Oregon College of Art and Craft or email studioschool@ocac.edu to receive a tuition discount.

Collaborations burst our bubble of solitude and return us to our individual work with a deeper understanding of our distinct voice. Similarly, explorations into unfamiliar disciplines and media enrich our individual creative practices while offering new, challenging opportunities for contextualizing our work. 

WHAT'S THIS CALLED? WHITE NOISE?

This week (FOR REAL! sez Ricardo) a very special "What's This Called?" with your host Ricardo Wang—a fabulous reviewer for 2GQ's print journal—for Saturday, December 27th from Noon to 1 PM Pacific Time on KPSU... the show that was snowed out but refuses to die... A WHITE NOISE CHRISTMAS.

Smegma, Moodring, Yellow Swans, and John Zorn will be on deck along with lots of other treats, up to and probably including the unreleased sweet sounds of Flail, a 1990s noise and vocal experiment of Soriah (Enrique Ugalde) and Passiflora (Tiffany Lee Brown), who have been suspected of collusion with of 2GQ and Gyrlz.

Radio: 1450 AM in the Portland OR/Vancouver WA metro area

98.1 FM on the Portland State University campus
or! any ol' time!  STREAMING SLUSHY AUDIO HERE!

GENUINE, PROPER TAROT READINGS: the 2GQ Fundraiser

As you may have heard on NPR the other day, proper Tarot readings with genuine Tarot readers are making a comeback (something to do with that tanking economy). Get a reading & help raise funds for 2GQ projects.

Popular among the cynical, depressed, confused, and bewildered, along with spiritual seekers and people who still haven't dropped out of their yoga shalas. The perfect gift! Buy your tarot gift certificate today at Etsy.com with your Paypal account or fancy credit cards.

About the reader: Miss Magdalen of Mystical Mayhem has been reading the cards for 18 years, and has written about oracles, astrology, and the like for Stim, Digital Living, BP magazine, and Rob Breszny's Free Will Astrology website. She is the creator of the original Burning Tarot deck at Burning Man. (Free tarot decks available soon - keep reading for info.)

May be redeemed in person (in Portland, Bay Area, NYC, and of course on Easter Island, Chile) or over the phone.

BARACK OBAMA: USA NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR THE ARTS

The president elect, Barack Obama, and his vice president, Joe Biden, consider themselves "champions for arts and culture." Click "continue" below to read their Platform in Support of the Arts.

2GQ does not endorse or support any politicians, ballot measures, etc. This information is provided as a courtesy to the arts and literature community.

TAROT READINGS & GIFT PACKAGE BENEFITING 2GQ

DELIGHTFUL HOLIDAY GIFT PACKAGE

~ Tarot reading, in person or over the phone
~ Limited edition "Art is a Hammer" print
~ Customized, hand drawn certificate
~ 2GQ bookmark

HOW TO PURCHASE
The Tarot Reading Gift Package is available via the "seedcake" shop on "Etsy.com," along with the 2GQ/Clare/Tiffany book "A Compendium of Miniatures." You can buy using PayPal or credit card.

ABOUT MISS MAGDALEN
Miss Magdalen of Mystical Mayhem has 18 years' experience reading the cards, and is the creator of the Burning Tarot deck for use at the Burning Man festival. She has written articles on Tarot and other oracles for Stim magazine, Digital Living Today, and for the Free Will Astrology website of Rob Breszny.

BENEFITING
Benefits 2GQ's computer expenses and the 2GQ-sponsored "Easter Island Project" by moi, Tiffany Lee Brown.

GRACE CONSTANTINE WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Zaghareet, the American belly dance magazine, has named Portland's own Grace Constantine of Deviant Dance "Best Kept Secret of 2008" with a Golden Belly award.

Grace danced with the Public Works crew during our 2GQ-produced series of works in progress at the Someday Lounge last year (and is  friend of mine from the old school West Oakland and Berkeley days).

Congrats, Gracie! ---Tif

LEARN PERFORMANCE WITH LISA NEWMAN

Portland performance artists and would-be performers have a fantastic opportunity this fall. 2 Gyrlz Performative Arts co-founder Lisa Newman will teach a ten-session class on Wednesday evenings beginning September 10th. This class is open to all, and college students may receive one credit hour for the work.

Lisa is an amazing, sensitive, conceptual performer with a formidable body of knowledge on the history and theory of contemporary performance, and I've seen some of her students create sophisticated and beautiful work. Since she doesn't always teach, you might want to jump on this one before the class fills up. Details follow. --Tiffany

LETTERPRESS YARD SALE AUGUST 3

Our own Clare Carpenter and her Tiger Food Press join other artists and printers for the Letterpress Yard Sale. This will be a fantabulous opportunity to purchase artist books, collectible letterpressed broadsides, and cards. (Bindery equipment, tools, and type will be on sale for all you awesome Print Nerds out there.)

IPRC, Stumptown Printers, Crack Press, Oregon College of Art & Craft, and other upstanding Portlandians will be in attendance. Sunday, August 3 11 am- 4pm at Liberty Hall (311 North Ivy).