Category: Arts and Events

2020, Covid 19 and Halloween

Carl Setzer
Halloween Jack O'Lanterns

I just bought a bag of candy on the off chance that some kids come to my door tomorrow. In the years we’ve living in our rather-far-off-the-street house, there have only been a small handful of kids coming down to Trick-or-Treat. But with the weirdness of this year, I thought I’d be prepared.

Sadly, as far of good ol’ trick or treat fun, so many of the events have been canceled due to the pandemic. However, a few remain.

Canceled:

Neighborhoods filled with kids are, I’m sure, still going to be happening, so drive carefully.

Take A Tour Of The Historic Everett Theatre

Carl Setzer
Historic Everett Theater

Hey Everett fans,

Check out this video tour of the Historic Everett Theatre. Really nice work!

I’ve been in there a few times, and love the architecture as well as the high-quality care provided by the current owners.

Even during this time of COVID 19, they are still doing their best to entertain us while being safe. Check out their calendar of events.

If you value what the Theatre provides to the City of Everett, head over to their Go Fund Me Preservation Fund campaign. You can help keep this local icon serving the community for generations to come.

Check out my other posts featuring the City of Everett. There’s a lot to do and explore in the center of Snohomish County.

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

 

The Edmonds Chamber is having a terrible year, and is looking for our help

Carl Setzer

The Edmonds Chamber of Commerce is having a terrible year, which pretty much all of their fundraisers cancelled due to Covid 19. And now, predictably, their highly valued Taste of Edmonds needs to be cancelled (King 5 has a good article about this). This puts a huge challenge on the Chamber, which is now struggling to survive this virus.

They haven’t given up, though. Capturing the long-stranding “Edmonds Kind Of Day” catchphrase, they’ve launched “Be An Edmonds Kind Of Hero“, to raise their operating funds. They have a goal of $100,000, and are already almost half-way there (as of August 8)! I believe in supporting them as they put on so many events that I value. The Edmonds Kind Of Fourth, the Christmas Tree Lighting, The Arts Festival…we usually go to every one of their events!

Now it’s time to step up and help. “I just donated to make sure our favorite Edmonds events return in 2021. You should, too! Click here to show your support.”

If you can help, please give what you can.

Montage To Check Out

Carl Setzer

I just found this montage on Reddit. As I’ve been creating some in my current graphic design coursework, I keep my eyes open for interesting and unique designs. I do love the structure and them of this one. A very classic, elegant vibe.

What do you think?

 

Yesterday, I presented my first collage. This is my second one. Choose your side! from r/Design

The Princess Bride: Carl Reiner’s Graceful Goodbye

Carl Setzer

I came across this Tweet which stopped me in my tracks.

I adore the movie “The Princess Bride”, and I was aware of the re-do project that’s been in process. The fact that Mr. Reiner passed away three days after filming this scene gives it an additional gravitas to me.

Anyway, here’s a direct link to the Vanity Fair article (in case the tweet isn’t your thing).

Human Hamster Balls and Covid 19

Carl Setzer
xkcd Logo

The good folks at xkcd hit a home run with this gem and it’s follow up.

I adore them and have been following them for years. You should, too. Here’s the link to their RSS feed, their Twitter page, and here’s where you can subscribe to their email newsletter.

 

Music’s Place In My Soul

Carl Setzer

Listening to Rufus Du Sol, reminded how much I enjoy electronic music and one of my regrets: when I had the chance to study music formally, I opted not to. Insecurities spoke too loudly, drowning out passion. I loved studying music theory, exploring the way audio elevations interact with each other. Memories of improvisation workshops, and the compliments I received for my commitment to rhythm.

Now, though, my poetry echos my musical tastes. Symmetry, rich harmonies, layers, textures, all blending into something far greater than the sum of the parts.

The difference between music and poetry: in poetry words flow in single streams. Together, yet alone; they can’t interact. Several words flowing together at the same time create a pile of textual vomit. Music allows multiple people singing multiple lines simultaneously with their interaction making them greater. Much the way different colors blend into new colors, different feelings, telling a story with each dab.

I often play with the idea of restarting this path. Of exploring all that can be done with today’s computers, today’s sampling gear, today’s synthesizers. I could create words, sung, standing upon each other, blurring, blending into something greater, into something beyond whatever could be imagined. Words building upon words, interweaving with tones, textures and rhythms, pushing through feelings, ideas, the power of souls intermixing and exploding with something more powerful than any human element could be, do, express on it’s own.

With all this, when I was younger I listened to music deeply, richly. I listened to the chords, the words, exploring what the composer communicates with that interplay. Did the pleasant, kind words take on irony with the minor or diminished chord interwoven? Words stacked with changing chords, showing tension, motion, landing on a major chord, resolution, release.

Then there’s the blending of older music, ancient music, such as Enigma, taking ancient chant, interweaving new tones and auditory textures, creating something linking the ancient with the rising sun, with a newness of being, something that both exists from antiquity and yet is brand new.

Lesson: passions drive live, make it beautiful. Explore them fully, deeply, richly. Humanity needs no more bitter business people, soul’s stripped of joy. No, we need more passion, joy, aliveness.

Bring that into being, my friends.

Here is the song by Rufus Del Sol that got me going. Enjoy!