George's Creative Journey Was a Tremendous Success. Thanks!

[REPORTING IN AFTER THE TRIP]

Thank you for sending me to Milwaukee!

The original plan experienced many modifications. I took the train both directions; it was comfortable and expeditious. I didn't touch Lake Michigan water until Saturday morning; there was more sand than pre-Cambrian lava flow rock banks. No bonfires by the shore. I watched a 10U Little League game and made little picture frames with locally-harvested clay. I talked a lot about artists’ “practices” which was not really a part of my professional glossary before but definitely is now. I drank no smoothies (see my Substack note for details) and ate my share of pickles, dates, and cheese curds. I had two wonderful housemates, Thom from England and Josée from Montreal. (Here we are on striped shirt day.)

And hung out with many wonderfully talented artists from the Lake Michigan shore.

Though I felt my age—at least a decade older than the other thirteen members of the cohort—and comfortably managed about half of the scheduled activities, my head felt fine and I had no serious headaches, which was such a relief. I walked and photographed a lot, made an “instant” zine with some street pics I shot on day one, and collaborated with everyone in the workshop on a portrait project to be finalized in the coming weeks.

It was hard to leave the pool. I definitely felt healing happening.

I am humbled and eternally grateful for the support I received through GoFundMe.

A thousand (nearly 1,800, to be accurate!) thanks.

George

p.s. Let me know if you’d like to hear or see more about the trip.

[ORIGINAL SOLICITATION POST] I was invited to take part in Pool V, an artist residency, in June. It will be my first time participating in such an event, so it's a honor and a very special opportunity for me. It will also be my first trip outside of Minnesota since my brain injury in December 2023, so the trip is a hopeful signal that I'm ready to venture out for a couple of creative days next to a Great lake.

I'm not driving--that's not comfortable for my head--and I'm not sure about flying, so I'm taking the bus from the Twin Cities to Milwaukee. Lulu will stay behind.

I hope you can help me accomplish this. It would be a huge boost to my morale after a difficult year-plus of recovery and set-backs, including some real difficulty getting any sort of productive work accomplished due to double vision, persistent headaches, and general exhaustion.

Thanks for your consideration!

George