Steph Davies: Words.

this man held up a mirror

& in it-I saw what he saw

felt what he felt

knew what he knew.

we had the same questions

the same overwhelming lack of answers

this link, a chain-a line drawn.

______________________________

hold your breath

until you see the light

until the answers come

until you get it right

this road you're on-

others have traveled

& they've managed it

they've tripped & fallen

(but they've still managed)

______________________________

this dynamic-this equation

out of the pages of history books

deeply rooted in some strand of DNA

so, with a shrug of the shoulders-

accept your fate

(or don't)

you could walk, you could run-just don't end up crawling.

______________________________

a drone

static electricity

air conditioned humidity

safe inside these walls,

cup of coffee in hand.

______________________________

let it drop, let it fall-

you can't keep up this balancing act

(where there is anything but)

forever-for always...

and if you need hel

picking it all up-

putting it all back together,

I've got plenty of glue.

______________________________

this tower keeps

falling

the egg keeps

breaking

again & again & again

______________________________

what do you want me to do?

lie down so you can throw your punches?

sew patches in all of the holes?

well, I'm all out of thread

& I don't mind the imperfections.

It's all the blinding attempts at flawlessness

that make my head spin.

a teetering

a slight unbalance,

a fall even.

a change of seasons, 

a shift in the wind-

could be the undoing

could be the undone.

back to the daily grind

where there's never any time

& it's so hard to unwind yourself

from this string

of-one-day-to-the-next

keep on moving

without rest

wind & the sunlight

sweeping through

an afternoon in a Providence town

newspapers & record stores

flowers painted on false doors

Dragging my feet ever so slightly

at the idea of returning to schedules & alarm clocks

______________________________

(leaving Providence)

airport rush hours

x-rays & lines of waiting

sitting, waiting

standing, waiting

foot tapping

tapping along to the airport orchestra

a strange jazz of echoes & conversation

What cheer?

If your group is loud enough-

or large enough-

people stop to listen.

It doesn't matter who's on stage

It doesn't matter who gets paid

(it's the context of the thing-that matters.)

music in the bay

sun-kisssed skin

a blind man with a story

I'd been longing to know

before I even knew how

pick up that hula-hoop,

let's dance a while.

(at the Detroit Metro Airport)

Turbulence & long lines

of waiting

a busy stillness coughs through the air

If the ride is this long,

this bumpy

Surely we will appreciate our destination more-

certainly.

______________________________

radio static

the hums of stranger's tongues

overheard this

underheard that

footsteps echo down long corridors

long, moving corridors

carrying people home.

I saw this woman with an easy grin

Can you imagine that?

A grin that was so easy-

lines pulled tight across her face

from the lack of effort.

And it made me smile too, 

this ease.

______________________________

Come on home, my friend

Lay your weapons down at the door

(be careful)

Tread softly into my open, waiting arms.

Let's say everything we really mean

And I'll be more than careful,

I'll be full of mind.

______________________________

There's nothing left of the sinkhole

except a load of sand,

a little traffic jam,

a few men with their plans, 

and one less place to land.

one less place to stand.

(such a lot to demand)

______________________________

Put down the fight, 

let it run free.

Someone else needs it-

someone else is feeling weak,

muscles flexed-

ready to prove something

(if they have anything to prove)

A shrug of the shoulders-

nothing (& everything) to lose.

how much space can one man need

before he concedes

& lets me in

like a key in a pocket-

you don't have to unlock the door

Just let me have a peek at what's inside

(don't lie).

right on the dotted line

write only steps behind

& so we pass from this

to the next

And it wasn't so hard

the waiting-breath held

eyes closed so tight.

______________________________

one foot in front of the other

twelve square inches of feet

stepping & climbing all over your own toes.

Falling over your own shoelaces

(even when they're tied tight.)

"hello."

(face-meets-ground) & so on.

______________________________

A friend once told me-

"Everything happens to you in this big cosmic way"

Well, sure, if you look for the stars-

you'll find them.

But that doesn't mean they'll lead you home.

That doesn't mean the lines are all drawn straight.

It doesn't mean.

Seven lines-after a day

filled with lines

Do I choose one from the furrowed brow?

From the buried frown?

From the long wait.

The long wait of silence

has long run out.

2 old men on a bus

green sweater, hunched over

stooped shouldered

talking about the simple dangers

of crossing the street

Did they know eachother before hand

or find common ground

in the wrinkles of their skin

the lines of wear within.

______________________________

on the bus

terraces & telephone wires.

old familiar neighborhoods.

a laundry list of memories

and the ease of leaving the car parked in the same spot

three days straight

a certain lost freedom.

all roads have led me here-

to you

to this.

I find myself in orbit around you

circling & circling

And now-

spiralling down the drain.

How can I let go & still hold on?

______________________________

You say you knew me when

well that was then, my friend

Nothing much has changed,

the world (and we) are still so strange

And so it is now, as well.

You still know me oh-so-well.

Better than myself.

______________________________

(in the lobby of the Viaduct Theatre)

Walking miles through the city

will make you tired everytime.

If you're having trouble sleeping

Don't forget to walk the line.

Take a little detour, go by foot instead of bus.

It may take a little longer,

but there's never need to rush.

______________________________

Suspenders, hats, & bluegrass

and so, of course,

you've found your way 

into this empty theatre seat

next to me.

It's okay,

I never mind your company.

(Milwaukee)

a sweat hangs in the air

sweaty palms & racing hearts

a slight ache in the stomach

even the guitarist chooses 

to play his music indoors.

windows shut tight

to keep the cool air in, warm air out.

______________________________

(Chicago)

tired eyes, traveler's smile.

Your home is never home again

and no one has air conditioning.

Plants need water & we need plants

(to breathe)

Don't forget to breathe-it will get you through.

(and it's a way to measure time)

______________________________

I once was.

I was once.

and still am.

(3 lines for the road)

______________________________

When it rains, it pours.

On this "vision quest"

this long, old road-

along which I'm collecting pieces of myself 

(my old self) I've remembered or discovered

(rediscovered, recovered)

I really like drawing & writing in diners.

For those of you who might be curious as to where all the sketchbook entries have gone, don't worry...they will reappear soon enough in the "sketchbook" section....for now, this is going to be a place for words....and perhaps a few doodles, we shall see...

Art exhibit opens April 10

TWO RIVERS — A public exhibition of new works by Milwaukee artist Steph Davies will open at 7 p.m. April 10 at Stumpjack Coffee Company, 1606 Washington St. Her husband, folk musician Matthew Davies, will perform live at the opening.

The exhibit, "This Moon or The Next," will run through June.

Davies, who studied scientific illustration at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, features a group of bird studies presented in every size from very small to rather large, creating a range of experiences from intimate to overpowering.

"She's one of those artists whose art works on a number of levels, on the surface — in composition, color, imagery — and below the surface," said David Smith, co-owner of Stumpjack and an art history scholar, in a news release.

Stumpjack Coffee Company is an amazing coffeehouse owned by an amazing family in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. David & Kim have opened their doors and supported all kinds of up and coming artists & musicians, always making sure we leave their shop with full bellies & money in our pockets. I'm sad to say that they've had to close their doors for a while do to a lack in finances, but they are working hard to open those doors again. I was scheduled to have an art opening there this past March, but they weren't able to open up in time, hopefully my art will hang on their walls again, and to help make sure that happens I'm currently offering up the paintings I intended to display there for sale on my website (right here in the art work section) all paintings/drawings with a * in front of the title will help Stumpjack. Half of the money from any sales of these items will go directly to them to help them open their doors again!!! If you've ever considered buying a piece of my work, now's the time...because you won't only be helping me make future work, you'll be supporting a wonderful place and some wonderful people who have always opened their arms to artists & musicians like myself & my husband, Matthew Davies.

So check out the art work, if you see something you like email me at stephdavies@stephdaviesartmusic.com and we'll figure out the payment either through paypal or check or whatever. All work will still be displayed at some point at Stumpjack (so you'll receive your work after the show)

If you'd like to learn more about Stumpjack Coffee Company in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, go here:
http://www.stumpjack.com

Thanks for your love & support!!!
-Steph Davies

Don't miss this show!!! Here's a great flyer designed by Jeremy Lowther:

I've been selected as a featured artist in Status Hat (an online arts magazine) for their "Doorways" Issue in March. You can view my artist profile by going here:
http://www.statushat.org/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=224:steph-davies&catid=47:guest-artists&Itemid=72 The March Issue will be up at the end of February so check in at http://www.statushat.org to see several of my pieces featured on the main page!!!

Matt has been asked to play a fundraiser sponsored by 88.9 on Feb. 27th, I'm designing the poster for that and other future Matthew Davies' shows & performances...here it is in the works...

here's the original drawing.

and here's the poster-in-progress.

So, after hearing several times that my drawings on wood panels either look like they're burned into the wood OR would look cool burned into the wood, I did it...I bought a wood burner and went to work...here's the first piece.

I'll admit, I don't have the control over this tool that I have with a pen, but I'm working on it and hopefully I'll get better!

On January 3rd, Matt, our good friends Jason Lambeth, & Connie Jordan & Them Damn Kids all performed at The House That Willi Built in Madison, Wisconsin. Jason & Connie were amazing hosts and even displayed some of my art for the evening, here's a drawing of Jason from that night:

Today is our last day in Wales and what a beautiful day it was...we took a drive up a an Abbey ruin, it was gorgeous, it was also the first time I was without my camera but it's etched in my mind and I'm hoping to do some sketches of it later...then we went on to Hay on Wye (the town of books) where Matt & I spent the first night of our honeymoon...it was so lovely to return there and I still think having a town full of books is the best idea ever. Picked up a couple of books and had a lovely afternoon walking around. Back at Diana & Nigel's house now...Diana is roasting a chicken for us tonight and I'm very much looking forward to it!

On to London tomorrow...Matt will be playing some music there and then I'll be heading home the next day, back to the daily grind I suppose.

much love from Wales,
Steph

...back from a lovely day of hiking...saw magic rocks and went through a maze and saw a great herd of elephants...Matt is building a fire in the main room right now---looking forward to relaxing in front of it!
This trip is going to be much too short...Steph

Not much time on the internet in Wales and I'm happy for that, it's so nice to be disconnected from everything for a little while...just wanted to fill everyone in on our travels so far, here's some notes from my sketchbook:

November 4th...a rainy day in Wales...we drive through Aberswyth and hike up a cliff that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean...it's so windy that I honestly feel like I might be swept right off the hillside and into the water. Here we are now at The Milkwood Jam in Swansea. Matt is all signed up and ready to play & I can't wait to see him perform. Tonight we're sleeping at the lovely Sea Haven Hotel...(later on, underneath a picture I drew of Matt's feet while he was on stage I wrote this:)
I'm so proud of Matt tonight that I can hardly draw him.


And I was proud, he played a fantastic set!!

Here's some notes from yesterday, November 5th:

We weaved our way along the shoreling to Dylan Thomas' house in Laugharne...saw the craziest cat fight we've ever seen (quite literally...a viscious fight between two cats that were at the house) and now we're on our way to see Diana and Nigel in Aber Village....


which is where we are today-getting ready for a hike on this rainy morning after having some porridge with our lovely hosts!

much love from the road!
-Steph