Isaac and the Awkward Situations

I thought I’d make available my presentation I gave for “Big Read” which was sponsored by Mecca, The Shelton McMurphy House, Books with Pictures and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Shelton McMurphy House gave away 500 copies of “Can’t we Talk About Something More Pleasant” by Rez Chast, a brutally honest and humorous book about aging and dying. Perhaps to get us all thinking and talking about death and difficult emotions through laughter and comics. I’m so glad I was involved.

The pictures here are of comic Artist Lynda Barry who is a big inspiration to me. I had the thought, why not also film myself giving my slideshow/lectures that I make for my high school students. They are interesting and just as good as other YouTubers I watch. So here for your enjoyment and edification is “Super Team.” More are on their way, ok? It seems my head is VERY small and cut off for most of this presentation, oh well.

Here is one on Jazz music and how it can inspire us.

two fabulous new music videos to enjoy, both from my one man show “confirmation bias makes me happy!’

Do you recognize Christopher Lee? I finished this book so I could read it at Oregon Country Fair in 2022. I was really scrambling to get this done, literally working on it in between classes, rushing over to draw and color as soon as my students would leave for lunch. It was fun to share the stage with poets at Chez Rays stage at OCF and so touching to hear their words. Grace, Sage, Marcus, and Jorah are inspiring. Here I am doing comedy at Spectrum in between drag queens for Drag Brunch! It’s always fun performing there. One sweet mother and daughter team wanted to give me a tip!

This piece was LONG in the works, and if you’ve followed me you’ll recognize it was a song on my album Pareidolia! https://isaacparis.bandcamp.com/track/childrens-literature-queer-coded-villains

Eventually I may get around to making music videos (books) for other songs from that album too! what should I do next?

My coworker Briezer Huling made an online zine all about death and mourning and my poem was selected to be a part of it. https://isaacparis.bandcamp.com/track/a-rumination-on-death

the link is here

the poem is “a rumination on death” and the audio version of it can be heard here. I played guitar and did production, but my good friend Craig Brookes played bass and added drums and helped with production. It also has good friends contributing to the background noises and shouting parts.

Lots of other poems and comics and art by students and adults. I feel so grateful blessed thank you Bree!