I just received word that my as yet unpublished short work, “The Biopsy,” has been accepted for Creative Colloquy’s upcoming annual print anthology. Details to come!
– Suzanne
Creative Colloquy’s Next Print Edition
Category: Uncategorized
Making Space Panelist Naarah McDonald
If you’ve ever wandered downtown Tacoma, you have probably happened on the Productivity Parlour for Artful Living. Co-owner/ Co-director of the Productivity Parlour, Naarah McDonald, will be joining our Jet City Comic Show panel, “Making Space: Accessibility and Diversity in Geek Culture,” alongside panelists Alease Frieson, Anna Nepomuceno, and Stephanie Anne Johnson, and moderator Suzanne Skaar (oh hey, that’s me!). Here’s more about Naarah in her own words:
“Naarah McDonald has worked in a variety of fields from customer service to higher education, from theater to film, from non-profits to small business. She has worked with gaming and comic conventions and seen the trends for inclusivity and diversity implemented in a variety of ways. Her interests overlap a variety of genres, but nothing captures her passion like the textile arts, and how one dresses can change the way one feels.”
I can’t wait to talk with Naarah and the rest of the panel about their experiences and ideas on this important topic. Our panel starts at 11 am on Saturday, October 26, in Room 405 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. Get your tickets at http://www.jetcitycomicshow.com. See you there!
Suzanne
Making Space Panelist Anna Nepomuceno
In a little over a week, I’ll be moderating the panel “Making Space” at Jet City Comic Show, and I’m super excited! Here’s the bio for one of our panelists, Anna Nepomuceno:
“Anna Nepomuceno (@anepintacoma on Instagram) is a political activist by day and a plus sized cosplayer by night. A mother of 3 and an enthusiast of all things geeky, Anna is on a mission to encourage all girls and women of every size, shape, age, ability to embrace their inner hero. Anna is the co-creator of Body Positive Cosplay PNW, a small Facebook group that supports and encourages all body types to cosplay their favorite characters.”
Join Anna, Alease Frieson, Stephanie Anne Johnson, Naarah McDonald, and me on Saturday, October 26, at 11 a.m. For tickets, click here.
— Suzanne
Jet City Comic Show
It’s official: I’ll be moderating a panel for Tacoma’s Jet City Comic Show!
Panelists Alease Frieson, Anna Nepomuceno, Naarah McDonald, and Stephanie Anne Johnson are on board to discuss the topic “Making Space: Accessibility and Diversity in Geek Culture.” We’ll talk about the importance of making space for diverse content creators, new narratives, and a wider range of characters, as well as how to create accessible and welcoming environments.
Mark your calendars:
11 a.m., Saturday, October 26, 2019
Greater Tacoma Convention Center, Room 405
Tickets are available at http://www.jetcitycomicshow.com/ and at the door.
See you there!
Suzanne
Impeach Trump
Impea¢h Trump. Stencil, sharpies, poster board. Make this! Suzanne Skaar
Im”peach”es. Cardstock. Make this! Suzanne Skaar
The news is infuriating, heartbreaking, disgusting.
Watching what’s happening on a domestic and global scale with Trump in office is too much to bear.
Today, in more than 60 cities across the country, activists are holding Impeach Trump rallies. As host for Tacoma’s downtown rally (in front of Union Station, noon – 2 p.m.), I’ve been contacted by an activist who has stated they are driving 4 hours EACH WAY just to join our rally. That’s how much this means to them. We can no longer allow Trump to get away with criminal activities. Our elected officials MUST hold him and his cronies accountable.
Find your rally today. If your city doesn’t have one, make signs and get out on the streets! Make your own rally! Exercise your First Amendment rights before they’re taken away.
Drunken Discourse Recap
Pre-show.
The venue: Kelly’s Olympian.
This weekend I traveled to Portland to participate in a monthly panel discussion, Drunken Discourse. I was invited by the host, Kyle Curtis, who read some of my work and gave me the opportunity to present my newest research project entitled: “Controlling the Narrative: Gatekeepers, Secret Societies, and Good Ol’ Boys Networks.” My best friend since high school accompanied me on the train ride down, and one of my first and favorite friends, my cousin, met us at the venue just as the event was starting.
I was able to take a brief break and join them at their table in between participating in the on-stage “get to know your panelists” conversation and actually giving my presentation. This is how the off-stage conversation started:
Cousin: Is she drunk yet?
Me: No.
Friend: No.
Cousin: Should we fix this?
Me: No.
Friend: Yes.
As I stated in my presentation, I have done editing and design work for a Tacoma based Drunk History presentation in the past (uncredited) – obviously this is the type of work I didn’t do while inebriated or in public.
Leading up to the event, I announced on several occasions that I was bringing my friend as my designated drinker.
I was honestly not going to have even one drink.
I failed in this endeavor.
I reportedly still rocked my presentation — even with not getting the clicker thingy, aka “slide navigator,” to work initially, and then later accidentally killing the entire slide show. Thank goodness for producers like Megan Taylor of Manic Esoteric Productions for straightening that out without me having to interrupt my presentation to ask. Those present had the great fortune to listen to Juan Coronell’s, Narendran Muralidharan’s, and Bill Hernandez’s talks ranging from sweet (“Embrace Change”) to hysterical. Narendran’s “Conservative Immigrant” had us dying; his timing was dead on.
Saturday night (and Sunday morning) did reconfirm the following for me: there are consequences to giving into peer pressure. Something about trying to be a responsible adult, the chronic sleep deprivation that accompanies parenthood (I had two hours of sleep Friday night), and missing a gallbladder has weakened my tolerance for vodka. But this weekend also reminded me of the power of hanging out with strong, intelligent, positive, and supportive women. I am extremely lucky in this regard.
I am looking to publish the longer written version as soon as possible, and I can also be available to repeat this presentation sober (the audience doesn’t have to be). Feel free to contact me at nominestudios@gmail.com.
Cheers!
Suzanne
Edited February 2020: The producers regretfully informed me that a lot of footage from the Fall was damaged and unrecoverable. Unfortunately, this did not just impact footage of my presentation. My liver declined the invitation to do this particular Portland event again, but I am still more than happy to present this topic at other forums.
Portland!!!
Hey all! The lineup for Portland’s October 5, 2019 Drunken Discourse has been announced! Help get the word out and RSVP to the event page.
Pop up installation by Calvin Skaar
{When your cat has a better chance at landing a MOMA exhibit than you do.}
Artist bio:
Calvin Skaar was born in the roof of the MSM Deli in Tacoma, Washington. A few weeks later, he and his brother, Hobbes, were adopted by two artists. Having grown up in the artists’ studio, he had easy access to supplies and resources. His early works were in shredded computer cables and various loose bits of hardware (screws, nails). His largest work to date has been the performance art piece in which he dragged a bag of steaming hot malai kofta around a 900-sq foot loft, dying himself and surrounding furnishings orange in the process (2009).
Since the addition of a human child to the household more than seven years ago, he has branched into other reclaimed materials: from children’s toys to high heels and USB sticks, he likes to place his art in unexpected locations (kitchen, living room, hallway, etc.). While these pop-up installations are not marketed or promoted in advance, witnesses have reported hearing a series of yowls as the artist is depositing his work to alert those who may be in the area at the time.
Inquiries may be sent to nominestudios@gmail.com, subject: “Calvin!”
Flash Mob
In January of this year, I got back into Argentine Tango classes at Tacoma’s Studio 6 Ballroom. As a result, I have had the chance to meet and learn from some really awesome dancers. Last Saturday, I tagged along and documented the West Coast Swing dance students and coaches preparing for then doing flash mobs all over Tacoma.
Thank you, Natasha Thayer (and crew), for making this event happen and for the invitation! It was a fun day, and I now permanently have the following song seared into my brain.
If you’re up for something new, check out their classes! For more of my photos, click here.
Happy Friday!
Suzanne
Write Anyway
I took a break from working on projects this morning. I was really motivated, but I forced myself to take a break for health reasons. Then the doubt seeped in. I caught myself questioning myself, and I knew the self-criticism was without merit. But I lost a little steam.
I dawdled on Facebook, when a post sparked a need to look through some old belongings I hadn’t touched in years. In the process, I found my copy of On the Road by Kerouac, which I had thought was lost. Inside the book, there was this postcard from my writing mentor, Ray Kelleher. He wrote it in 1996 explaining he would be gone and when he would be back, and ended the card, “Write Anyway! Be-bop lives.”
Postcard from my writing mentor, Ray Kelleher, to our high school writing workshop. 1996. It was hidden in my copy of Kerouac’s “On the Road.”
Postcard from my writing mentor, Ray Kelleher, to our high school writing workshop. 1996
He died several years back. I didn’t learn until well after the fact. Sometimes signs from him pop up. Like this.
I’m back at the computer. I’m sharing because there’s probably others who need a kick from the other side to get back to working on what you love, too.
Be-bop lives,
Suzanne
No, Mine! Studios 