It’s a Wrap

We celebrated the life of The Center for International Education (THE CIE) with an exhibition titled “Everything We Made Is a Love Story” in the Elmer L. Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota.

Curated by Marguerite Ragnow, it was an exhibition of books, printed ephemera, found objects, camera works, and videos representing the 50 year history of the organization.

Stream a video of the celebration.

Read a fabulous story by Mary Divine of the Saint Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch illustrated sweetly by John Autey's photographs telling about our celebration of THE CIE.

Read another story by Alex Elbez of the MN Daily.

I was founder and artist in residence throughout the history of this micro-nonprofit.

We always regarded the work created by The Center with public support as public works. The library now has copyright to most everything we made. What we created will now be available to others not only to study and experience, but also to make new expressions.

In Community

MR. HAPY SAYS

Make love with life.
Giggle to beat hell.
Glow with the flow.
Follow your bliss.
Sing joy to the whirl.
Pursue purpose.
Make good trouble.
Feel good doing good.
Mull the miracles.
Risk all.
Smile out loud.
Love yourself toe to head.
Listen to strangers.
Climb the tree of life.
Focus on us.
Wing it.
Be happy for you.
Forgive.
Know pain, know gain.
Revere the dirt.
Embrace the haphazard.
Give yourself away.
Praise unceasingly.

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The 67th Midwestern Exhibition has opened at the Rourke Art Gallery + Museum in Moorhead. This year's theme is the pursuit of happiness, honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

I made a paper movie titled Mr. Hapy. The text and picture make up one spread in the book. Go look see.

Rated R for Rebellious

Four Sisters for Peace is a half hour documentary about peace and justice as seen through the eyes and actions of four sisters who are also Catholic nuns--Rita, Brigid, Kate and Jane McDonald. Created by a class of sixth to eighth grade students at Southside Family School in Minneapolis working with their teacher Susie Oppenheim and the artist Media Mike Hazard, this film is rated "R", for rebellious.

To watch more of my videos, click.

Seven Mysteries

I'm grateful that Paul Mattes invited me to read poetry at the Midstream Reading Series. I read seven poems which contain mysteries, strangenesses, and things I cannot explain. Seven small wonders of the world. Seven mysteries for Midstream. Here's one.

AFTER RAIN
The worms worked
all night, writing long lines
of crazy, untranslatable
poetry in the street.
Inebriates of spring,
they dry out in the sun.

During the reading, I marveled at my smart phone which I'd used to invite people to come, who did. Technology can make things happen. With the same device I then encouraged applause, which was given for a picture. Click. Friends might enjoy the video.