Volume 4 • No. 19 • New Moon • October 21, 2025
Godsmacked
Out to Sea
Nervous Forever
A triptych for the film Vulcanizadora, related to the western Lake Michigan dunes of Manistee where the film was partially shot.
Silk Screen with Acrylic on Canvas (an homage to West Michigan's Marushka)
Chuck Potrykus • 2024
A Brief Background: Last week, a trio of economists won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. I found their work unsatisfying. That’s the background from which this light, little piece grew. On one hand, this is a personal reminder that makes light of my hoarding and mistake-making tendencies. On the other hand, it’s a broader reminder that we aren't purely beholden to trusting in growth trends that resist satisfaction.
I stumble across the floor. I know what I'm looking for. It doesn't matter. Most of our equipment for processing hazelnuts is divided between the downstairs basement and the detached garage. Finding equipment in both locations entails swimming through stuff—to take a step in the right direction, something must be lifted and set on top of something else. Take footsteps gingerly, and heed angles with care, as the old shimmy presents risks to limbs. This stuff. All of this stuff. It's a bit of a stress, especially now, as a seasonal race presents itself—the race to get all things under cover and hopefully sorted a bit before snowfall. These snows will cement things in place for at least a handful of months. That cold, still, and soon-arriving moment will be a very different time than the thick of the harvest rush a couple of weeks ago was. Still, I'm rushing now, and was rushing then. If I gathered a bit less, things would likely be easier...
The Warp — Ideas and Inspiration
|| 1 || The artwork above is from Chuck Potrykus. I think you can learn more about him, as well as DIY aesthetics and cinematic absurdity, in the inaugural issue of Dr. Clean magazine. I say "I think" because I haven't shelled out the cash for the print edition yet. There are insights to be gleaned about his contribution to Vulcanizadora (along with the rest of the Sob Noisse filmography) from this bit from his brother + collaborator Joel Potrykus on Michigan, music, and truly independent filmmaking.
"Part of me now just wants to prove people wrong — that you can stay in Michigan, even without an incentive, and still be a relevant filmmaker. At this point it’s just the only place I know how to make movies.”
“If you’re a punk band, it’s just unheard of that anybody outside of your group would come in there and inject ideas — and that you would take that seriously and listen to it. So many filmmakers have to compromise and try to make everybody happy, and it gets diluted. I just never needed that much money, so I can keep it like a band.”
|| 2 || A quote, reportedly from Gandhi: "Speak only if it improves upon the silence."I'm not dead-set on figuring out if he truly uttered those words. The value of the sentiment is persistent regardless of who or where the articulation comes from. On that note, that's all for this edition's Warp.
The Weft — News and Events
We’re heartened by a wide-range of expressions of resilient communities and gatherings. Here’s a smattering of regional events and happenings that reflect that diversity, collected for your consideration. Choose your own adventure!
|| 1 || Author Event: Fleda Brown. Thursday, October 30th at 7pm, Bee Well Mead & Cider in Bellaire. Poet Fleda Brown will be sharing from her new book, The End of the Clockwork Universe, "a luminous new perspective on aging, science, and the tender strangeness of being alive." Interview and audience Q&A after the reading. This event is a collaboration of the Antrim Writers Series, Bellaire Library, and Bee Well Mead & Cider.
|| 2 || Ship Yard Series: Bridge Between & Stone Reverie. Tuesday, November 4th, 5:30-8:30pm, at The Alluvion. Ship Yard is a community artist program supporting emerging local musicians. Be among the first to experience our region’s rising talent and support their journey as they set sail as artists! Suggested donation at the door, no pre-sales. Find more information, including notes on this month's artists by clicking above.
|| 3 || Wagbo Farm & Education Center's Full Moon Feasts and Creative Projects. There's still time to stop in for a gathering at Wagbo. Options range from potlucks and discussions to handmade gift-making, small-farm story sharing and more. Find the full program schedule here.
|| 4 || Grand Traverse Beekeeping Club—Monthly Meeting. Thursday, October 23rd, 6:30-8:30pm. "Bring a Honey sample or something made from honey to share. We will also discuss ways to insulate your hives." Check in here for further details on the 206 S. Oak St. (Traverse City) gathering.
|| 5 || "Are you taking care of yourself and those you care about? At Michigan State University Extension, we know farming can be tough. Whether you or a farmer you work with needs support, Michigan State University Extension is committed to helping. All services are free. Teletherapy • Educational Presentations • Farm Financial Analysis • Business Management Strategies • Other Farm Stress Resources • Free Online Courses • Mental Health First Aid. For more information, visit: extension.msu.edu/legacygrants or contact Remington Rice at riceremi@msu.edu."
|| 6 || The Tip of the Mitt New Hunters Guild—If you are interested in self-reliance skills, sourcing your own meat, and/or gaining a better connection to nature, consider checking out this flyer for information on gatherings, events, and how to get involved with the guild.
|| 7 || NextCycle Michigan Accelerator Program Opportunity—Applications are now open. NextCycle is seeking projects that are developing new recycling technologies and processes, as well as those developing or expanding organic material solutions. Public, private, and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. The free six-month accelerator provides coaching and mentoring to advance projects toward implementation, filling gaps and strengthening Michigan’s circular economy. Projects must focus on material reuse, repair, recycling, recovery, or the use of recycled content in new products. Deadline for applications is October 29, 2025. Learn more about the program here.
|| 8 || Happenings at The Alluvion Between Now and the Next Whole Field include: Lindsay Lou Honey Moon Trio with special guest: The Wildflowers, The Jeff Haas Trio featuring Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, Justin Avdek & Eric Engblade Album Release, Dave Sharp Worlds Quartet ft. Svetlana Sahakyan & Carolyn Koebel, The Alluvion Big Band, Funky Uncle, Sean Dobbins - The World We Know!, Big Fun, and Ship Yard Series: Bridge Between & Stone Reverie.
Find more information at thealluvion.org.
sponsored by:
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