SHORT RUN 2013

The main floor of the Book Fair at Short Run 2013. 

Short Run is one of those gifts of the gods that appear every so often. It's a wonderful thing bestowed upon us humans, and we didn't even know we needed it until it descends from divine regions into our midst.

Short Run is a small press festival focused on zines, comics, small presses, independent publishers, and homemade animation. Last year, Short Run was located at Vera Project at Seattle Center. This year, it moved to Washington Hall near the Seattle University campus. The main room of the Book Fair seemed to be a much better space overall. It was still too crowded, though, which is a good problem to have for all of these artists, illustrators, and writers. But I didn't like having to fight to move from table to table.

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I made a couple new discoveries.

One of my favorite artists there was Kinoko. I purchased her The Epic of Gilgamesh, both volumes #1 and #2. These comics loosely follow tales of Gilgamesh with a fresh updating of the stories. The artwork is filled with bold lines and Mesopotamian flavors. The look of the characters reminds me of illustrations I encountered somewhere in my childhood, but can't quite figure out in what book or from what illustrator. But that's okay because these works speak for themselves. See more of Kinoko's work HERE.

One of my favorite small publishers there was Little Otsu. Their stable of authors, artists, and illustrators have an aesthetic that feels shared. The works are magical and soft, filled with flora and fauna that inhabit a world perhaps known as Otsu. I like the childlike atmosphere that this world has, even though the works themselves don't feel childlike. See some of what Little Otsu has to offer HERE.

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I'm looking forward to next year. I think I need to get writing and perhaps be an exhibitor.

RIVER WALK TRAIL

Dusk walk on the River Walk Trail with The Dog. Saturday 30 November 2013.

RIVER WALK TRAIL

Morning walk with The Dog. River Walk Trail. Friday 29 November 2013.

SEAGULLS AND SKY

Seagulls on roof. North Hill of Puyallup. Tuesday 19 November 2013.

I like the way that the horizon of roof feels like shore or sea against the slate sky.

NIGHT TRAIN

BNSF freight train at Valley Avenue crossing, Puyallup, Washington. Evening of Monday 18 November 2013.

MAPLE LEAVES

Maple leaves on the sidewalk. Puyallup Public Library. Saturday 16 November 2013.

WINTER CHALK: CHORUS

"Chorus" by Troy's Work Table. Winter Chalk #2. Friday 15 November 2013.

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Miley Cyrus meets The Iliad.

Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon, and The Roots inspiration HERE.

Achilles and The Iliad inspiration HERE.

THE REALITIES OF AGE

"All round and round does the world lie as in a sharpshooter's ambush, to pick off the beautiful illusions of youth, by the pitiless cracking rifles of the realities of age."

—page 311, Pierre, or the Ambiguities (the Kraken Edition) by Herman Melville.

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(Happy 162nd birthday to the publication of the American edition of Melville's Moby-Dick, or, the Whale.)

WINTER CHALK: EXILE

"Exile" by Troy's Work Table. Winter Chalk #1. Friday 08 November 2013.

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The Frost Park Chalk Off Challenge has gone on hiatus due to winter and weather (rain). It won't be back until April.

What is a guy to do when the urge to chalk is still there?

Obviously, take the chalk to the carport for one's own Winter Chalk series.

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This piece owes a debt of gratitude to "Cabeza" by Jean-Michel Basquiat and "Rising Sun" by Paul Klee, whose paintings inspired the imagery. My favorite part, though, is the underworld "chorus" of shades who peek up at the man in exile. Those three are all mine, although they share features with the man above them.

PUMPKIN PARADE: BELGO PUMPKIN

Belgo Pumpkin, a Sour Pumpkin Ale by Justice Brewing Company.

22 ounce bottle served in Sam Adams glass.

6.0% alcohol by volume

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The pour is hazy, hazy orange. A few streams of bubbles can be seen. A thick head of off-white forms, easily three fingers thick. It dissipates into a finger-thick foam head.

The nose is of berries and faint spices, with faint undertones of sour leather.

The tongue is sour—lemony, sour berry tart. As the sour calms down, there may be a bit of pumpkin there but it is hard to tell.

The mouthfeel is medium. Whatever sweetness is there (and I think it’s there) is quickly dried out by the sour.

After the looooooooong finish, there is some pumpkin flesh, a hint of spice, some Belgian funkiness.

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After the initial “sour shock” wears off, there may be some pumpkin there, but this isn’t going to give me the pumpkin pie I seek. It’s not bad; in fact I quite rather like it; but it’s not at all what I imagined.

I need to let it warm up a bit and see what happens…

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As it warms, it becomes more sour Belgian with hints of pumpkin flesh and ginger than the “sour shock” it was prior. Sour is still there and prominent (and somewhat dominant), but as it warms it increases in complexity.

I like this ale quite a bit. It’s still not what I expected and bit strange, but a good and welcome strange. It's an adventurous and playful beer; not for the faint of heart.

Recommended if you like sour ales.

PUMPKIN PARADE: THE GREAT PUMPKIN

The Great Pumpkin, an Imperial Pumpkin Ale by Elysian Brewing Company.

22 ounce bottle served in Sam Adams glass.

8.1% alcohol by volume.

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Lightly hazy orange to orange-yellow body on the pour. Thin bright white head. A lot of light streams of bubbles.

Nose is pumpkin pie, with a bit more spice than Night Owl. Perhaps I detect a bit of pear?

Taste follows the nose—pumpkin pie, with a bit more spice than Night Owl. Cloves and cinnamon are prominent. Also a bit of ginger. It’s heavier on the spice and drier than Night Owl.

This is less pumpkin pie and more spice.

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Excellent.  I used to think of The Great Pumpkin as Night Owl on steroids, but no longer. I like this very much, but I actually prefer Night Owl. Night Owl is pumpkin pie in a bottle; The Great Pumpkin has higher alcohol content, but lacks some of the balance that Night Owl has.

I recommend it if you like pumpkin pie spices. 

DARK and WILD

"His thoughts were very dark and wild; for a space there was rebellion and horrid anarchy and infidelity in his soul." 

—page 293, Pierre, or the Ambiguities (the Kraken Edition) by Herman Melville.

WINDSTORM

Each year, the black walnut tree decides to lose the majority of its leaves in one day. Usually it follows upon the first hard frost in late October or early November. This year, it was during autumn's first windstorm.


The green of the grass disappears beneath a layer of yellow and brown leaves...


...as the tree "gives up the ghost."


The Dog wanted to be in the midst of the cleanup. That is, until the wind would start to howl again. Then, The Dog would hide behind the wheelbarrow, using it as a windbreak and shivering until I came and picked her up. I would tell her that she was fine and put her back on the ground once the current gust subsided. Soon, the wind would start to increase, more leaves would loosen from the tree and swirl down, The Dog would hide and shake, and the rake would stop its work as I once again went to comfort The Dog.