It’s been just over one month since my last day of work, and life has been grand so far. I’ve spent time in the backcountry of Yosemite, spent weeks volunteering in a tool shop helping to put together the Lightning in a Bottle music festival, met some incredible people, and my intentions for the approaching months are coming into clear focus. I’ve found a new love of putting together music festivals, and have made connections that I hope will allow me to continue doing that in the future. Something about the impermanence of the installations really appeals to me. Hundreds of builders and designers spend weeks building a beautiful environment for festival-goers to enjoy, and then tear it all down in one week. It reminds me of the practice of buddhist monks who spend weeks creating incredibly ornate mandalas using individual grains of sand, only to wash away the work of art once it is completed. The gratification and value is in the process of building and designing, not in the attachment to the finished product. For some stunning photos of the festival that continually inspires me, check out my good friend’s photo album here. All images in that album are the work of Bearlosophy.

The Boneyard Crew. Affectionately called “Shop Shop,” the crew I worked with is the supplier of all tools and materials needed on site for successful completion of all projects. So neat to see all of the logistics that go into the construction of a successful festival.

On the docket for the next few weeks is playing a rock show in San Francisco with some friends, then closing out my life in the bay and heading north to Calgary. From there I will fly to NYC to help some friends of mine convert a school bus into a mobile classroom for a tour across the states. I will be working on the bus conversion, as well as setting up for a gathering they are putting on in upstate New York over the Fourth of July weekend. I’m looking forward to the exchange of lots of ideas as well as being in the company of like-minded individuals. For those of you in the New York area, check out a glimpse of last year’s event here.

Once the bus build is complete, I’ll return to Calgary for some family time and then head onwards to Antelope, Oregon, where I plan to be a part of the build team for the Oregon Eclipse Gathering. This event promises to be one for the ages, with over 13 international festivals coming together to throw one heck of a party to celebrate the total solar eclipse. The festival spans one week, and features music, art installations, workshops, camping, and is a general celebration of life. I cannot wait to be there to witness all of the beauty that comes together for the week, and I’m hoping to find my way onto a build crew that allows me to contribute my time and skills.

From Oregon, I plan to head South to Taos, New Mexico to take a month long workshop with Earthship Biotecture. This summer holds promise of lots of adventure, creating, and learning. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Until next time!