CURRENT MISSION

promoting big hearts through the magic of the arts

ABOUT ME

I am an artist currently calling Oakland, CA "Home." I've previously lived in Kansas City, and Chicago. My art includes writing, painting, illustration, photography, performance, and experience design; much of which I've done as a company member with a Chicago production company called Collaboraction (collaboraction.org).

PHILOSOPHY

Passion, pride, and persistence in everything I do. The universe repays in full. Everything is balanced and connected. Juice tastes better cold.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

CS helped me prepare for my move from KC to Chicago during the summer of 2009. The kindness of Julie and Jane, my hosts on two separate scouting visits, was a beautiful way to be introduced to this amazing city.

Now, 5 years later, I am embarking on a year long journey to create a book that explores how hospitality has evolved since the advent of Internet. I am starting in Chicago, and in the spring of 2014 I will make my way west to SF. My research survey for the Chicago population can be found here, and only takes 10-15 minutes to complete:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11V0-xg-rmslLaA96MVlQmOJFs5oa0h5F_o_uS-H1NLs/viewform

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

NYC, CO, AZ, SF, and LA.

I also have a couch to share in Oakland

Interests

I'm a big advocate of avoiding waste - in space, material, life, time, etc. I have a small quiet friendly boston terrier mix named Sancho Panza; he is my relentless sidekick. I enjoy reading, fine beer and whiskey, worldly conversations, worldly food, exploring, discovering, music of all kinds, art of all sorts, sports, card games, chess, board games, coffee, tea, rain, massage circles, camping, sailing, floating, and architectural design. And people. Golly I love people.

• arts
• writing
• books
• performing arts
• design
• photography
• illustrations
• dancing
• dining
• beer
• coffee
• shopping
• board games
• chess
• reading
• painting
• magic
• music
• camping
• sailing
• sports

Music, Movies, and Books

So many. Recently: Don Quixote, House of Leaves, Iron & Wine, Always Sunny, Flight of the Conchords, DeVotchka, Neil Simon, Modest Mouse, Synecdoche NY, Roald Dahl. Always: Incubus, Radiohead, NIN, Fight Club, Waiting for Godot, Never Swim Alone, Boondock Saints, Monty Python, Sexual Perversity in Chicago.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I am a proud tap dancer, and recently had the honor of tapping at a TED fellows conference.

Teach, Learn, Share

a good sleeping bag turns every surface into a couch. 30 minutes of self-reflection a day keeps you focused. reuse, reuse, reuse. pennies add up. kindness pays. Amtrak. Make friends where ever you go, and stay in touch. The day before trash day is the best shopping day. Patience: if you let it, Life will lead you.

Countries I’ve Visited

Barbados, Costa Rica, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Ukraine, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States