so today I started working with old drums skins. I went to a hand drum repair shop in Santa Ana and loaded up on a bunch of free used skins. they were just going to be thrown out. where have these skins been, what have they seen, who beat on them, and were the animals (mostly goat, this shop seemed to specialize in djembes) whose skin this once was killed ethically or shamefully? who knows, but at least I am putting them back to a creative use. some of them are really nice too, with hair still on them. it is so interesting to work with because it is not the thick leather we are all used to seeing, but it is see through from being stretched, sort of like parchment. It is very human to me in some ways. Handling and working with all the energies within the skin is putting me in a deeply primal mood. I love to work with materials that have seen so much.

Right now my main purpose with the skins is it to make a book of our gutter art and poetry in the form of an abecedarium. It is going to be a lengthy process, especially because it is so personal for both of us. It is a tribute to our work together.