Conversation with Jane Baker: Working Assets San Francisco 12/08/08 My first acquaintance with Jane Baker came at a dinner party at a friend's house. I left with a strong impression that stayed with me, but a year was to pass before we met again. That happened thanks to Leigh Hyams who was in town for an exhibit of her own work at Meridian Gallery. A couple of days after Leigh's opening, the three of us got together for breakfast at Jane's house. It was one of those memorable occasions when conversation flows almost magically from one wonderful story into another. "You should visit her at her ... Feb 19, 2009, 17658 reads

Interview: Gail Needleman: Music Is Something You Do Gail Needleman taught music at Holy Names University in Oakland, California. Her work as a writer and teacher addressed the essential role of music in the moral and spiritual development of children. She received a Parsons Fellowship from the Library of Congress for research in American folk music, and is the co-creator of the American Folk Song Collection website, a pioneering online resource of American folk songs for teaching music to children. We met at her home in Oakland to talk about music...   Richard Whittaker:  How did music enter your life? What were ... Apr 16, 2012, 196769 reads

A Conversation with Doug Burgess: Weeds On the walls of the Photo Lab in west Berkeley where I take my black and white film for processing, there’s always a photo exhibit on display. This one came with a xeroxed eleven page catalog: "Weeds" by Doug Burgess, in which he describes weeds as our constant companions. He adds, "The relationship between weeds and people may be one of our most enduring relationships with the natural world.”       As a kid, like Burgess, I too was given the task of removing weeds from the front lawn, but Burgess’ career of ... Dec 4, 2004, 23456 reads

Greeting the Light: An Interview with James Turrell It was thanks to artist Walter Gabrielson that I was able to get in touch with James Turrell. Gabrielson was an old friend of Turrell’s from Pasadena and, like Turrell, also a pilot. The prospect of meeting this remarkable artist was exciting and arranging it took some persistence. Michael Bond, who managed Turrell’s projects around the world, was encouraging, but he suggested some homework. I should go to Los Angeles to experience one of the artist’s pieces in a private collection there, The Second Meeting. Although I was already familiar with ... Mar 22, 2001, 326455 reads

A Conversation with Zilong Wang: Medicine Journey The quiet directness of Zilong Wang, his articulate, measured way of speaking and something so open about him makes an immediate impression. Who is this young man? If one is around Zilong very much at all, there’s soon no doubt that there’s something remarkable about him. As I got to know a little more about Zilong, I resolved very quickly to ask this young man for an interview before he left the Bay Area. I found it impossible not to think that what lay ahead for Zilong has promise for what I can only call the greater good. He accepted my proposal for an ... Feb 14, 2016, 11803 reads

On Hopelessness and Hope - A Conversation with Michael Penn, PhD: Awakin Calls are a global interview series and podcast hosted by ServiceSpace. Each call features a moderated conversation with a guest who contributes uniquely to the world. Awakin calls are ad-free, available at no charge, and anyone can participate in them real-time. Introduction (excerpt) Around the age of 22, a near death experience transformed Doctor Michael Penn into a seeker. Following this profound encounter with his own mortality, he began an extensive study of sacred texts and the works of the founders of the world’s religions.      Today, ... Jul 7, 2018, 13335 reads

Bridges To Cross: A Conversation with Michael Grbich, Oakland, CA Sept. 10 09 I first met Mike over thirty years ago. He was unfailingly personable and upbeat in a way that always left me feeling better. And, lucky me, he was a neighbor! One day I was walking out of the house with a tennis racket (back in the day) and ran into Michael. "You play tennis?" he asked me with obvious relish.      Then and there I learned about his love for the game. He'd been a serious player, but a severe injury put an end to any hope of a professional career. He showed me his disfigured right hand saying, "But I discovered I ... Oct 5, 2009, 26028 reads

Interview: Rick Hawes: Civic Beauty without Permission Besides introducing me to Ted Fullwood, artist Tony May told me about Rick Hawes. In fact, we'd just left Fullwood's house when Tony said, "Let me show you..." —I couldn't make out the rest of it - something about a bridge.      "A bridge?"      "There's a guy who's been tiling them."        "You mean like freelance?"       Tony nodded again.      "He just started tiling them?"       ... Dec 25, 2009, 9591 reads

Lucidity: A Conversation with Irene Pijoan: [photo by Irene's husband, Craig Nagasawa] Did I know Irene Pijoan? Artist Squeak Carnwath was asking. I didn’t. “You should interview her,” she told me. “She doesn’t have long to live.”      Pijoan was a much loved member of the art faculty at The San Francisco Art Institute for some twenty years. She and her work had become well known in the Bay Area.      There are people one listens to. I listen to Squeak. So, overcoming my uneasiness, I called Irene. She sounded strong on the phone. We arranged it. ... , 21923 reads

My First Best Friend: My First Best Friend Dark dense morning. The sky spilling rain at dawn. Water splashing impishly against my windowpane. I sit and watch it fall. I feel the call - come out and play with me. Into her splashing arms I run. Long before we came along, there was water: great oceans that welcomed the rivers; rivers that welcomed the creeks; creeks that flowed from springs that opened some place in the earth, and released this living liquid to go out and play and nurture the planet.      In 1945, a child too young for school, I wandered from ... Jan 28, 2021, 4717 reads