Light and Fun and Easy
Arizona Cowboy Content and Art Opening Mar 20th in Poughkeepsie
Lauren and I vacationed in Arizona recently and it really filled our cups. It has felt like any traveling we’ve done together since Covid has been in service to someone or something else (weddings, funerals, holidays) and this has more often than not left us feeling like…like we weren’t actually on Vacation. So I’m happy to say our excursions to Phoenix, Sedona, and Tucson were nothing short of revitalizing. I came back to NY feeling healed, spiritually and creatively.
I grew up visiting Arizona multiple times a year. My dad’s family lives in the Phoenix area. My mom’s mom winters there. Trips to Old Tucson, the Grand Canyon, Sonoran desert, Four corners, and many, many mountains were my spring or winter break growing up. Long drives and short meals with family members who all speak in a slow drawl. Cactuses. Rattlesnakes. Javelinas. Tarantulas. (everything in Arizona will barb, maim, or sting you) The best Mexican food you’re likely to eat in the US.
Arizona is to the midwest what Florida is to the east coast. People are friendly. They chit chat. You can get pretty decent tavern style pizza. They have Culvers. It’s the state that feels most familiar to me other than Illinois.
It’s a dry heat.
I hadn’t made a trip to the southwest since 2012. College happened. Then my dad got sick. Covid. Lauren and I moved. And moved again, and again, and again. But we finally made it back, baby.
Visiting this year renewed my deep interest in cactus country and, more specifically, the old west. There’s just something so alluring about the history. Gunfights, outlaws, mining towns, the wise desert. Geronimo. The railroad.
Naturally, it’s taken the form of a new writing project in a way that feels light and fun and easy. Here’s the beginning of something fun I’ve been working on.
I feel it’s important to point out how making art can feel light. And fun. And easy. Because this is not always the case. Sometimes making art is a struggle. Sometimes making art is like trying to get my dog into the bathtub. And sometimes making art is hard because we are living under a fascist government hellbent on killing our spirit. Sorry, didn’t want to get too political. But I will, just for a sentence.
Though life in 2025 feels mostly insane we have to focus on the things that bring us joy and help us feel connected with others. Art can be that for a lot of us. And when the art is especially flowing, it’s important to slow down and appreciate it.
It might be the thing you needed right at that moment and you hadn’t even realized it.
A Dose of Mystical and Divine
Because it wouldn’t be a Kevin newsletter without some weird stuff
I learned that the Tohono O'odham believe the Saguaro cactus have the faces of their ancestors. The morning light illuminates them if you are open to it.
Since visiting AZ I’ve had multiple—let’s say, “experiences”— with family members who have died. People talking to me in my dreams, giving me signs and clues in the when I’m awake. You know.
Have you had any run-ins with ghosts lately?
Lauren and I have discussed at length how this life and the next life feel especially connected right now. The veil between the two feels thin, at least recently. Maybe this is just us feeling this? I’m looking for anecdotal confirmation please. I did find this post on Medium: Those who are open to the light in the world are feeling called.
And now a New Art Show
Come out Thursday March 20th
I have a painting in this show. Poet Larry Carr wrote a poem inspired by my painting. I haven’t read it and neither have you so let’s all get together and read it together. And while were at it, we can check out all the other great work at this show.
It’ll be fun, I promise.
Nice. I've been interested in relocating to Tucson from the Adirondacks.