10 days

Hello friends,

Are you dying of suspense for installments 3-6 of Jason & The Argonauts?
I bet you are.
I don't think I am going to post them, but you can find them via the link to the right here-->.

Granted I am sitting at home now after a long day in the rising temps of 708 Traction Avenue, with a lovely glass of wine and some music and, sadly, a to-do list next to my elbow.
We'll ALL be in it in 10 days. I leave town-- with the 3 tremendously good companions-- very soon. Mieke, Andres, Jeff and I drive to San Francisco on Thursday. I like to think about all the various journeys in progress or soon-to-be in progress. It's a happier place than my to-do list.

I'm really looking forward to us all gathering together in Eureka soon, to meet face-to-face, and to get started with our Institute and our play. Our design team is awesome, by the way. Did you know? Playwright Peter and Director Laurie had a good long meeting today to talk through the script and to talk about possibilities. They are a couple of brilliant and fun collaborators.

I hope you are all ready. I hope you are ready for the big picture. We'll have a LOT to do. Almost all the time. But we'll have great people to do it with. Are the unknowns scary or exciting to you? Nothing to do but jump in.
Well, that is not totally true: you can read around some of this stuff we've shared on the blog. Have you looked at the NorthCoast Journal? It's a pretty great free weekly paper. Gives you real news and backstory as well as fluff and wackiness.

Some things I am looking forward to next month:
Relaxing moments at the Blue Ox- visiting with each other and with the Hollenbecks. Having a quiet side conversation with the dog.
The moments before sleep when i really think about being in a new place, in unusual circumstances of my own choosing, listening to the sounds around before I fall deeply asleep.
The anticipation of first audience: who is going to come see the show? Will they get it and love it?
The meals and the cooks! and the communal housekeeping.
The inevitable thoughtful leadership of my colleagues.
A way-too-long day softened by brownies or ice cream during end-of-day meeting.
Sharing, giving up to 17 people, the knowledge and care of this community and the tasks of seeing the production through to the end with care.

i have found it

The 2009 Cornerstone Institute Summer Residency will take place in Eureka, California. Eureka is located in Humboldt County along California’s northern coastline. With more than 25,000 residents, the City of Eureka is situated along California's "Lost Coast" region, 280 miles north of San Francisco and 105 miles south of the Oregon border. Geographically isolated between Humboldt Bay on the west and an abundant forest of the world's tallest trees, the Redwoods, on the east, the only road that goes through Eureka is Highway 101, the area is known for forest, sea and river recreation, Victorian architecture, its arts community and Humboldt State University nearby. Founded in 1850, the town has a history of mining, logging and fishing industries. As those industries decline the town struggles to establish a new economic identity.

For our community collaboration in Eureka this summer, Cornerstone is partnering with Sanctuary Stage. Playwright and founding Cornerstone ensemble member Peter Howard is exploring themes of Seeking/Searching in Eureka: for gold, home, freedom, identity, community, balance, beauty, nature.


Some of the folks we've met and talked with so far in Eureka:
older residents through the Humboldt Senior Resource Center,
The Ink People Center for the Arts,
State Parks Department's North Coast Redwoods District,
Eureka High School, and
The Raven Project.
We've also met with individuals from local news and print journals, the city council, the local free clinic, the indigenous Wiyot community, and others.