23 Roads to Mythville
An apocalyptic journey across America and meditation on the imposition of order in space, both cyber and dirt real. By experiential author Douglas McDaniel, who explores the mysteries of American networked life. Read more






Ipswich at War
A few days after Sept. 11, 2001, poet and essayist Douglas McDaniel moved to Ipswich, on the North Shore of Massachusetts. A collection of poems from that period of fear and anxiety, as well as the polemic essay, "Media Arts and War."
Read more







Glasnost Lost
As an act of defiance after the botched election of 2000, experiential author launched himself into a journey into the underworld of American life, or, what he calls: The Science of Descent. Read more







Godz, Cars & Cannon
Experiential author Douglas McDaniel launches drives into the networked thickets of American life, looking for signs of myth and romance in the age of automotive machines.
Read more







Many Moons the Mythville: The Collected Road Poems
Poetry written during a 10-year span of criss-crossing America in a roving-eye view of the turn-of-the-century landscape of Mythville, or, as the author puts it: "It's all a bunch of Mythville." With work from four separate books by Arizona-based author and poet Douglas McDaniel, the bard-inspired voices of Milton, Blake and Yeats, as well as the saturnine streak of early beat poesy, ring through this collection of poems and essays. From the southwestern deserts to the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, "Many Moons to Mythville" is a foot-to-the-floor blast through the mythical roads of American life.
Read more







Human Search Engine

The journey continues as the quest for myth in an age of information overload leads to online life as an editor for Access Internet Magazine. A story about all human search engines as they chase the ghost in the machine.
Read more






William Blake in Cyberspace

Experiential author Douglas McDaniel takes on the visionary art and poetry of William Blake, comparing an otherworldly worldview to that revolutionary, romantic era to our own wild, wired, mythic world.
Read more








The Kachina's Son

Poems about the Four Corners area written while author Douglas McDaniel was living in Telluride, Colorado.
Read more








The Road to Mythville
A collection of poems on the new millennium in America, drawing from decade of bouncing across the country as a journalist and Kerouac-style poet, from the Southwestern deserts to the shores of New England and back again.
Read more

Isn’t wood-carving supposedto be about whittling things down to somewhat smaller sizes?
Apparently not.
Because if this were so, then the annual event for the Coastal Carvers Club would be shrinking each year, instead of growing.
“Fourteen or 15 years ago, we started originally with 25 people,” said Andy Anderson, chairman of the Coastal Carvers’ 14th annual “Artistry in Wood” show. “We met at the Sitka Center, and we outgrew that. Then we met at the Elks Lodge, and we’d have 20 or so carvers and would get 200 to 300, and we were happy. Now we meet at the (Chinook Winds) Casino, and we get 3,000 to 5,000 people.”
The 14th Annual Coastal Carvers Show and Sale, a free art show with dozens of wood carvers with their work on display for both appreciation and for purchase, was held at Chinook Winds Casino Resort, Saturday, Jan. 14 and Sunday, Jan. 15.
Demonstrations for children and adult carvers will also be conducted, as the traditions of the original Carving Club continues to be spread. For aspiring artists, as well lovers of the art or those interested in taking up carving or replenishing their carving tool sets, supplies will be available for sale also.
This year’s featured artist will be Theodore Smith from Nampa, Idaho, who has been a full-time carver since 1979.
Smith’s specialty and passion is birds. He lives three miles from the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge in Idaho, and loves to go bird watching, his favorite spot being Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oregon. The artist, who has his own gallery in Idaho to show his work, dreams of one day carving a “life size golden eagle on a carved rock with a ground squirrel hidden among the rocks.” Lately, however, he has been rendering carvings of hawks, mallards and on and on he goes.
“I am currently working on a life size Canada goose. I also have a number of commissions coming up, including a spotted owl, a roadrunner and a gyrfalcon,” he said.
Picking up on Native American influences is 63-year-old Joe Boyett, who draws from the traditions of the Pacific Northwest; from the masks and totem poles of the Tlingets and Tsimshians of British Columbia. He likes the bold, powerful forms, and the mystical style of the work.
To get the right look, he needs good, soft wood.
“I use cedar, like the Indians did,” said the resident of Coronado Shores. “I’m fortunate to have a supply of Canadian Cedar, scrap pieces from when they re-did the Salishan Lodge. People were burning that for firewood. I have enough to supply me until my hands wear out.”
Anderson said many of the longest-standing members are working within the legacy of long-time local carver, Roy Setziol, who passed away recently.
“He would talk about the spirits of the wood, and how they would tell him which way to carve.”

Heather Kirk's Valley Arts Calendar

More can be seen at www.PhotoGraphicArtistry.CityMax.com

Not much on the calendar this month so far, but what is comes up quickly. Hope to see you!

Thursday, December 2nd - 6:30 - 8:30 Art, 7:30 - 8:30 my music too!

Scottsdale Art Walk on 5th Avenue in front of one of the shops from Scottsdale Rd to Marshall Way. Art Assistant Jim Ridgell newly appointed as VP of Sales will be representing me from 6:30 to 7:30, at which myself and musician Junjie Verzosa will join in on the fun to play and sing. This is "Concierge Night" - so we should show off in great numbers, and make them desperately want to send all their hotel guests to take a stroll.

First Friday, December 3rd

Stop Number One: 6 - 9 PM Image Gallery 627 E. Indian School - My art continues to display at this new gallery with an urban feel. Don’t miss this as part of your First Friday experience.

Stop Number Two: 6 - 9 PM Art Matters, NE corner of 1st Ave and Adams (a few shops in)

Stop Number Three: 6 - late: Annual $100 Christmas Sale at Studio Lodo/Phoenix Center for Contemporary Arts 15 E. Jackson #111, South West corner of Jackson and 1st St downtown Phoenix. Enter from the parking lot which is actually accessed from 1st St and south of Jackson (602)200-8790 Who knows if I will make it - if the teacher lets me out of class "early" I might get there by 9:30, but two pieces of mine will be there, even if I don’t make it.



Sunday, December 5th, 9 - 4 at the Tucson Convention Center - Santa’s Workshop. $4 entrance fee to a huge fine arts and crafts fair. Great for Christmas shopping, as well as photos with Santa and a craft area for the children. The actual show runs both Saturday and Sunday December 4th and 5th. I will be sharing a booth with Joyce White, creator of glass and stone jewelry including metalwork, and of decorative bottles. Look for booth number E-5 under her name.

A thank you to everyone who made it out to the Reception at Childress Auto Mall. What a fund time we had!



My Art Can Be Seen At:

Okay, the following web sites are "Rumor Has It", basically because I’ve been barred from the Internet for some inane red tape reason, and have not yet verified the verifiability of the following claims

Check out my newsletter now also on: http://BardOfArtville.blogspot.com/ or http://mythville.blogspot.com/

My work is included in the Arizona Contemporary Artist Resource Guide 2005 published by Studio LoDo and The Phoenix Center for Contemporary Art. While the guide will be sent out to curators and collectors throughout the US, you should be able to also see it (and my link) on www.lodopcca.org. As I am not able to get on-line, I cannot verify nor guarantee that as fact. Anyone who would like to visit the site and let me know, please feel free!

As always, my art can be found at:

The Eller Graduate School of Management, MBA Office of the University of Arizona, McClelland Hall 210.

Image Gallery, 627 E. Indian School

Art Matters, NE corner of 1st Ave and Adams (a few shops in)

Razz’s Restaurant: 10315 N. Scottsdale Rd, 480-905-1308, Tuesday - Saturday

www.HeatherKirk.PhotoReflect.com, new on-line is a "Portfolio" section

www.ArtisansMarket.com

www.PhotoGraphicArtistry.CityMax.com

Poem of the Month - An Excerpt From:

CHRISTMAS IS NOT...

Christmas is not giving

a new high-tech, top of the line

stereo/tape to tape/CD player,

even if it means you can listen to

gospel with the purest digital clarity,

not even if it costs you a whole

bag of gold, when you've got many

other bags in the bank.

Christmas is giving

a single gum ball in my favorite flavor

that costs a one copper penny, if that

one copper penny is all you've got,

and you know how I love bubble gum.

You can send me a note at HJKirk@juno.com or visit my web site at www.PhotoGraphicArtistry.CityMax.com. Sorry, not much new there this month due to Internet catastrophe! Additional contacts: P.O. Box 6046 Scottsdale, AZ 85261, Business Phone 480-874-2992 12 PM - 8 PM Mtn.

If you receive this from a friend and would like to subscribe, please send your e- mail address to HJKirk@juno.com and let me know you would like to subscribe to Heather's Arts Newsletter.

Heather Kirk`s Valley Arts Update

Now through November 11th
Solo Show at Childress Auto Mall 2223 W. Camelback Rd, inside the showroom. I have 15 pieces showing there in a bright open space that lends a lot of light to the pieces. Go and have a look!

Thursday, November 4th, 2004 6:30 - 8:30 PM Scottsdale Art Walk
I’ll have a display on the sidewalk out in front of Angel’s Wings on the 7100 block of 5th Ave (south side of the street, near the walk way back to Peter’s Cafe) in Old Town Scottsdale. Due to school I won’t make it until 7:30, but my art and wonderful “Art Assistant” Jim Ridgell will be there!

Thursday, November 4th, 2004 7 - 11 PM (but I should be there around 9:30 PM
Open Mic Poetry with Doug McDaniel and the Bards of Mythville, at Four White Walls Gallery 1023 West Grand in downtown Phoenix. They'll do it again on Thursday, Nov 18th - so if you can't join me in Tucson, join them at the art gallery.

Thursday, November 11th, 2004 6:30 - 8:30 PM Scottsdale Art Walk
Not sure where I’ll be this week, but again along 5th Avenue or one of the walkways back from in on the north or south side. My art will show here on and off through the art season.


November 18th, Tucson, 5 - 7 PM Artist Opening for the long term exhibition of black and white photography of “Place”, curated by Rajan Lal. The event will take place at The Eller Graduate School of Management, Eller College of Business and Public Administration, University of Arizona, McClelland Hall 210.

Directions to McClelland Hall From Phoenix
Take I﷓10 East to Tucson. As you approach Tucson, you will see signs for the U of A. Exit at Speedway Boulevard. Turn left at Speedway (you will be heading east) and go approximately 2 miles. At Park Avenue turn left, and then immediately right into the Visitor Parking entrance of the Park Avenue Garage. The entrance is directly behind 7 Eleven. McClelland Hall is directly east of the parking garage.


Not my gig, but noteworthy:

Saturday, Nov. 13th The ASPS (Arizona State Poetry Society) Annual Fall Conference will take place on Saturday, Nov. 13th at the Scottsdale Mustang Library. Featured speaker will be Dr. Cynthia Hogue, Marshall Professor and Chair, Modern and Contemporary Poetry, Dept. of English, ASU. Audience participation will include open mike readings in morning and afternoon sessions. Further information, contact Ernest Griffith: 480 951 0848 or e.griffith@cox.net $35 includes the daylong conference plus lunch at which a chamber quartet will present a Haydn program.

Monday Nights at Mama Java’s is under “reconstruction/reorganization”. Stay tuned for future dates. Send ideas for the Open Mic there if interested!

2) Photo of the Month
“Rusty Automobile in Drive”, signature piece for the show at Childress.

3) Poem of the Month

This poem was written after 911, and it seems that it is fitting now as we need to both acknowledge our country’s pain as well at the need for us to once again unite. With our patience and willingness to stand in long lines to vote, I hope that we can be a great example to other countries like Afghanistan and Iraq of how we are blessed and thankful for our freedom to vote openly and safely, and come together even in disagreement under one flag as one nation.

God Bless America

God Bless America
United We Stand
gather the tears
that fall from this land

God Bless America
United We Stand
forgive the revenge
our pained hearts demand

God Bless America
United We Stand
with melancholy notes
a dirge plays the band

God Bless America
United We Stand
for freedom our children pass
through the hour glass sand

God Bless America
United We Stand
open our eyes to see
Your sovereign hand

God Bless America
United We Stand
we’ve overcome before
and again we’ll be grand

You can see the six verses as graphic art at www.PhotoGraphicArtistry.CityMax.com, looking in the Flags Gallery.

You can send me a note at HJKirk@juno.com or visit my web site at www.PhotoGraphicArtistry.CityMax.com. Sorry, not much new there this month due to Internet catastrophe! Additional contacts: P.O. Box 6046 Scottsdale, AZ 85261, Business Phone 480-874-2992 12 PM - 8 PM Mtn.

If you receive this from a friend and would like to subscribe, please send your e- mail address to HJKirk@juno.com and let me know you would like to subscribe to Heather's Arts Newsletter.