MY NAME IS LARISSA.

I can't believe it's November already and the winter holidays are breathing down my neck. Where does the time go? I guess I know where mine has gone...into moving. We've rented out our Santa Rosa house (THANKS TO GOD...and my friend Heather). Now me, Omar and the kitties are settling into our new Oakland digs. Well, me and Omar are anyway. The kitties aren't so sure they like their new surroundings, but they will adjust eventually. If they don't I'll be roasting cats for Christmahannakwanzasolsticus dinner. Just kidding. Though, how tired I am these days is no joke. Looking at myself in the mirror I often see a zombie staring back at me. Moving our home and my Art studio while still trying to work is a lot to do. Soon I'll be caught up on my sleep and I'll be more out and about in both the real and Cyber-world once again. In the mean time, here's the latest from Spatoochna-land:

Anything Can Happen Ten Minute Play Festival at Pan Theater on Broadway in Oakland, CA, Nov. 12, 18 & 19! I will be appearing with Alan Coyne and Nicole Barbero in Zombie Love, an original 10 minute play directed by Ralph Thomas and written by Earl T. Roske. The show opens THIS SATURDAY and includes a total of 9 original ten-minute plays. Tickets are $15 ahead of time, $20 at the door and are available at this link. There are lots of good places to eat and/or have drinks near the theater. Come on out, support local theater Art and have some good hip artsie-fartsie fun in Oakland.

I know I've mentioned before that I joined the 25th Street Collective (25C), a textile artist collective. It's a nice change to once again share studio space with other working artists and feel like part of a team. It's inspiring and I already have a new series in the works. Every first Friday of the month marks Oakland's Art Murmur. This is a time when the galleries and studio spaces open their doors for a giant Art party. There's food, wine, music and of course, lots of Art. So far I have participated in 2 of these events with 25C. (In addition to offering my visual work I am also offering card readings, BTW.) With the winter holidays approaching Art Murmur is a great place to find original, locally made gifts for loved ones. The next event will happen on December 2. Punch the cross streets of 25th and Telegraph into your GPS and come on out. Festivities begin around 5pm and run until about 10pm.

If you missed the artists reception for Sewn-Painting Portraits: Series Elle Lui but wanted to see the work, fear not! The work will be up through the end of November at Elle Lui Salon in Railroad Square in downtown Santa Rosa, CA. I also have a gallery of images of the work on my website at this link. Thank you to Elle Lui for the opportunity to share my work!

I've also been busy writing some new music and poetry. It's a rewarding and healing process. I'm checking out the open mic scene around Oakland and Berkeley and will let you know soon when and where I'm regularly sharing my musical sensibilities. This past week I checked out the Starry Plough in Berkeley. It was a very positive exerience. Recording is on my horizon as well. More news on that to come.

Well, that's about it. But before I close I am compelled to comment on the Occupy movement and the recent events here in Oakland. If you have known me for a while you know that I am no stranger to politics or demonstrations. So, me feeling compelled to comment will come as no shock.

Since moving to Oakland, the demonstrations of the Occupy movement have seen police violence as well as demonstrator committed vandalism. I attended the General Strike event for a few hours on November 2nd (when the Longshoremen historically shut down the Port of Oakland). Maybe I am becoming cynical as I get older. Maybe I'm way too overwhelmed with my own changing life, but I just don't see the value in me continuing to stomp around the streets. I agree that things are dismal and that the predatory lending practices of the big banks hold much of the blame for just how bad things have gotten and continue to get. But I also feel that there are better uses of my time and energy than walking down a street holding a poster. Americans have given away many of our American rights and now the landscape of the playing field is changed, drastically. Probably for the long-term. I hold no illusion that anything I say can or will change the greedy practices of the world's most wealthy. I also know that I don't have to bank with the big banks.

I don't need to stomp my feet. I don't need to break windows. I don't need to fire rubber bullets or throw tear gas canisters. All I needed to do was move my money...to a local credit union. I don't need to stop the momentum of my creative process or that of others to make a statement. In my mind the best form of protest I can engage in is continuing to make Art and trying to inspire others to do the same. Breaking windows is an act of violence. Stomping around and name calling are also acts of violence. I do not believe violence will ever answer any of the world's problems. We've moved our money. I will continue to vote my conscience at the polls. I will continue to make Art and I will continue to PRAY. I believe that these are the things that will change our world for the better. Help me do this. Support your local Arts and artists...Oh, and if anyone hears of a "demonstration" happening where people of all, any or no Faith are going to go sit, meditate and/or pray in silence together (with no posters) in front of federal buildings let me know. I'm totally down for that. I have my cushion, beads and prayer shawl ready to go at a moment's notice. AMEN.