Grapes of Zap

My grandmother Mentoria believed in understanding and listening to her dreams in order to better play the lottery. Keeping with tradition (minus the lottery part) I've interpreted the vivid dream I had last night.

I was riding on a passsenger train through the Ohio countryside. Looking out of the window there were miles and miles of utility poles. Strung between each pole are perfectly pruned concord grape vines laden with 2-inch, perfectly round juicy grapes.

According to some dubious online sources on dream interpretation, grapes mean abundance, traveling on a train symbolizes my life's journey, and power lines mean a struggle for empowerment.

An alternative interpretation is that I never pruned my grape arbor this winter and I feel guilt.

Sustainable Irony

I got a promotion and after some time trying to make it work, I've ended my time (for now) as a car-free Clevelander. With my new schedule, I tried a combination of cycling, bussing and Zipcar. My new sustainability related position has me attending meetings all over the place with very little travel time in between. I'd been leaving early and arriving late to everything which just "aint gonna fly" as my dad would say. The irony is not lost on me.

I've learned a lot from being car-free for 14 months in Cleveland. I've learned:

• you can live in Cleveland and have a good life sans automobile
• instant gratification is a lot harder without an auto, I spent less
• a "transit oriented lifestyle" is the inevitable result
• I like running into friends on RTA and in the bike lane
• empathy for families with little kids making complex transit journeys
• patience for standing outside in all kinds of weather
• the joy of cycling in winter
• how to smile at rude motorists
• how to be a rude cyclist
• that we need to have better transit network connections

and much more that I hope to apply in my new position. Someday I plan to be car-free again, but in the meantime I plan to have 2-3 car-free work days a week. 

Opportunity and Constraint

Opportunity and Constraint
Originally uploaded by Jenita McGowan.

Opportunity and Constraint

Weebles Wobble, but they Don't Fall Down

A nearly tipped stemless wine glass just reminded me that I used to love Weeble Wobbles when I was a kid. We had a parrot named Ricky Ticky Tacky (yes, he could say it). We would put one in our parrot's cage and he would peck at the Weeble Wobble, but being a Weeble Wobble, it never fell down. 

Cleveland from Columbus perspective

I am in Columbus for my great aunt's memorial service. Headed home soon, but stopping for lunch. This guy next to me at the Northstar is talking to his buddy about the reasons rich young people have to leave Cleveland to "get started". I'd love to know how he came to this conclusion and how often he espouses this.

I've come to look for America

Iv'e got that Paul Simon song running through my mind. The Greyhound Bus is calm and full of sleeping people.

Circa 1989

The 80s
Originally uploaded by Jenita McGowan.

I wish getting dressed was still this easy.

Old Friend and New Ideas

I had dinner with my old friend Chung-Fu Chang on Tuesday. I performed in a piece of his in 2003 when he was teaching at Kent State University and I was in between dance companies. 



My solo in "Golden Heat", Choreography by Chung-Fu Chang


He was in Cleveland setting a piece on Verb Ballets. We talked a lot about what it means to perform when your body changes as you get older, how virtuosity becomes impossible, and how constraints can lead to greater creativity.


Chung-Fu told me a story about having surgery and making a piece with a bathtub that he used for support because he was still weak. The piece won an award and was eventually performed at the Kennedy Center. (The video is below)





We got a little silly and reminisced about how fun jumping used to be--how fun it still is-- it is just the landing that stings. Of course, it spawned an idea to do a piece all about jumping, but using some kind of bungee contraption to soften the landing. 


We hadn't seen each other in eight years, but we still share a common philosophy about dance, authentic performance and honoring individual dancers in choreography. I also realized that he has had a deep influence on my own choreography, particularly in the use of fabrics and props. I hope we see each other again soon.