Week in review

["Anthropocene" by Clark Gibson.]

It was hard to see my teensy-weensy pieces in the paper this week. I'm struggling to work in Metro's new format. Every smudge of newsprint by a freelancer represents a long chain of efforts: contacting the subject, scheduling, interviewing, researching, getting images, fact checking, writing... it can be frustrating to see it all boiled down in this way. On the other hand, I do like creating little pull boxes of information. Plenty of opportunities for that. I'm trying to embrace it as best I can.

On Wednesday I had a great visit with abstract painter Clark Gibson. I needed that. It reminded me what I love about this work. Many days I get to delve into the lives of rare people -- artists that have paid a price for who they are. Often their work has fused with their life, creating a voice profoundly their own. It's never the same story. I was proud of the piece. I hope it runs mostly intact.
Scheduled to run in the Philadelphia Metro on 10/2


Started the week talking to Gina Renzi about the Rotunda's 10th birthday. She's the lone employee of the beautiful venue, which had a former life as a Christian Science church... Saw some great shows there over the years. Seeing the Rock-A-Teens with maybe a dozen people on a rainy night in 2000 sticks out for me.
Ran today in the Philadelphia Metro
Click here for article



Finished another in a series of education pieces. This week: How to become a plumber! I disobeyed a direct order to make a Joe-the-plumber reference -- hope they forgot about that idea. I'm praying I never have to do a piece like this on freelance writing. There are no answers.
Scheduled to run Monday in the Boston, NYC and Philly Metros
Click here for article