Tag: Tacoma

Controlling the Narrative

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment
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Photo by Tacoma Knights of Pythias/KKK member Marvin Boland of Pythians in “redface,” available through the Tacoma Public Library Digital Archives online: “‘Tahmamaiwis,’ a Native American drama, was presented under the auspices of Tacoma Temple No. 58, PythianSisters, at Castle Hall on September 25, 1924. Castle Hall was located in the Knights of Pythias Commencement Lodge #7, 924-26 Broadway. The play was written by Mrs. Laura B. Downey Bartlett of Tacoma in what the Daily Ledger called the ‘inter-tribal’ language. Examples of tribal baskets are also on display. G23.1-069 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-28-24, 6B)”

In honor of Women’s Day, check out my latest essay on Medium, “Controlling the Narrative: Gatekeeping, Secret Societies, and the Good Ol’ Boys Network.” This work, adapted from my 2019 presentation for Portland’s Drunken Discourse, explores the inherent sexism and racism of the fraternal order Knights of Pythias. This organization’s history, current structure, and practices are too often glossed over, despite receiving taxpayer funds from the City of Tacoma to make archival materials available to the public. I share some of my own personal experiences with the Tacoma chapter which led me to research this topic, as well as a bibliography for further reading.

If, like me, you think this kind of work is important, then please follow me on Medium (@suzanneskaar) and share this article with friends. I am also available to give the full presentation. Please contact me at suzanneskaar@gmail.com for more information.

I appreciate your support.

 

New Work

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

I am honored to have a poem included in The London Reader’s Winter 2019 issue: “Motherhood: Stories of Love, Loss, & Life.”

Per the publication, “10 percent of revenue from this issue is donated to Women’s Aid, a grassroots federation in the UK working to provide life-saving services and to build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated. Find out more about the charity at womensaid.org.uk.”

To purchase this publication or learn more about The London Reader, check out

www.LondonReader.uk

Thank you for your support.

Suzanne

Tacoma on a Gray Day

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment

I took advantage of yesterday’s moody weather to shoot photos in downtown Tacoma.

Here’s a selection.

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East 21st Street Bridge, Tacoma. Photograph. Suzanne Skaar. 2019. All rights reserved.
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Tacoma rail yard. Photograph. Suzanne Skaar. 2019. All rights reserved.
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Last of the leaves on a tree. Photograph. Suzanne Skaar. 2019. All rights reserved.
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Tacoma Glass Museum and Downtown Marina. Photograph. Suzanne Skaar. 2019. All rights reserved.
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View from under the Glass Bridge, downtown Tacoma. Photograph. Suzanne Skaar. 2019. All rights reserved.

I’ll post more later. Stay warm.

Suzanne

Making Space Panelist Stephanie Anne Johnson

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment
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Album cover courtesy of Stephanie Anne Johnson. Artwork by Riley John Savage.

We’re less than 24 hours from the Making Space panel! Our final panelist, Stephanie Anne Johnson, has performed around the world and on The Voice, and is now touring with The Hidogs. Their CD release in Tacoma is Dec. 20th at The McMenamins Elks Temple.

Joining us for a conversation on Accessibility and Diversity in Geek Culture are panelists Anna Nepomuceno, Naarah McDonald, and Alease Frieson. We start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, in Room 405 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. Get your tickets at http://www.jetcitycomicshow.com

See you tomorrow!

Making Space Panelist Alease Frieson

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment
Alease Frieson
Photo courtesy of Alease Frieson (pictured).

 

Alease A. Frieson is a well-known figure on the Tacoma scene. She is an entrepreneur, producer, content creator, and more. A major supporter of artists and musicians in our community, she is the force behind 733 Arts and On Point Booking. She has been booking independently from Olympia to Seattle since 2005. She also instructs Pilates through her own independent studio.

 

Without a doubt, she knows how to get stuff done.

 

She is also a self-identified nerd, which is why I’ve invited Alease to speak on the panel I’m moderating at Jet City Comic Show: “Making Space: Accessibility and Diversity in Geek Culture.” Come listen as we converse with the equally awesome panelists Anna Nepomuceno, Naarah McDonald, and Stephanie Anne Johnson at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, in Room 405 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. Get your tickets at http://www.jetcitycomicshow.com.

Jet City Comic Show

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ 1 Comment
Photograph: (Child dressed as) Batwoman on swing. Suzanne Skaar. 2019. All rights reserved. (Photo shared with Batwoman’s permission.)

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

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ Leave a comment
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

~ Suzanne Skaar ~ 1 Comment
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.