the dream of the blue basket

I wish I knew the contents of my dreams and I wish the contents
Ecuadorean--
Like hairpins made of Andean mountain roads or mist
in my braids that swayed as I danced before they were shaved off

Like a bright blue silk scarf sticking to my skin in the heat of the Otavalan market,
or the enduring fisherman from Guayaquil

Like sopa con papa y maiz,
aguardiente and a brown paper bag spilling over with fried plantains 

A star-filled sky resting over the sea shore that stores hundreds of sand dollars,
cardboard planked houses in Esmeraldas floating atop tide-withstanding stilts--

What are dreams made of, Sister?
Am I wishing for a home with you, Brother?
I'll do anything for you.

I know my dreams point to somewhere else,
but I just hope I have something to give to my children.

I wish I possessed mi abuela's blue basket.
Though in my dream it was red.
Though in my dream my heart was content.



--swc


carnival hearts is now accepting blog submissions off all kinds at skye.w.carrasco@gmail.com

what the thunder said

what the thunder said

let’s take off those 
hats we wear let them blow
away in the wind

that runs high across the prairies we've yet

to see them 
in

time

let’s relate 
to the wind is
the chief is
the way to the heart is the chief is
the way to the true mind is the chief is the way to

love is the chief
is an action, not a promise

     that 

we        notice        
     the finch
                  swelling with song

at the tip of the mountain

what the sand crab sees

           

 i.                    tide pools

the children run barefoot

down the steepest dune as fast as they can, 
careful not to land on any sharp sticks.

at the bottom of the dune,

their father is smiling

and his caring hands

           

ii.                  are full with sea water

i see now that this is the holy water

feeding the flowering marram grasses,

their seed heads rising above leaf spikes

that witness the glinting ocean all winter long.

Swaying to the sound of inspired gulls and primordial crashing,

this is our burial music.
this is the detraining song.

--swc

printed versions of these poems are available in Street Life Magazine at White Rabbit in Iowa City, Iowa.
click here to learn more about Street Life Magazine! 

Carnival Hearts and Arts and Thanks

Even though the weather forecast played a switch-a-roo on us, our third event was still a beautiful success. Three days of thunderstorms were predicted, forcing us to take the celebration inside the Where?house. But much to our surprise, we woke Saturday to find nothing but sunshine and blue skies. No matter, folks like us can have a good time almost anywhere!


We had loads of great vendors selling their handmade wares and publications, musicians and poets keeping the crowd entertained, the folks of Griddle Me This keeping a steady flow of veggie burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and other snacks moving on and off the grill, and everyone seemed to have a great time. At the end of the evening, we raffled off 5 gift certificates to Nemesis Tattoos. Now THOSE were some smiling winners!


Endless hugs and thank you's to all who participated, whether performing, selling or just hanging out, making all our work worthwhile. We had adults, kids, pets, and everyone in between out to spend the afternoon and evening with us. 


Since this is a celebration of art and the heart it takes to make and enjoy it, it would be nothing without all of you. 


We'd love for you to share your experiences with us....leave us a comment below...tell us what you like about our events, what you could live without and what you'd like to see us do again. Also share your photos with us. We have a flickr group that you can find here. Add your photos to the group so that we can see what you saw. 


We are likely to have our next event in September, so keep your eyes on this blog and our facebook page. If you'd like to get involved, email us at carnivalhearts.artscollective@gmail.com


See you all in the fall!!


P.s I am still working on the photos I took at this month's event and I will get them all up for you soon. 

Well, cats and kittens,


Springtime in Iowa City is proving to us how erratic it can be...hot, cold, rainy, sunny....unfortunately this weekend is going to be on the thunderstormy side. While we all would love to say we'll battle it out in the park, it just isn't worth the risk of getting everyone soggy. But....the show WILL go on!


The wonderful folks at the White Lightning Where?house are letting us take over the space for our event. While this eliminates picnic blankets and basking in the sun, we will still have vendors and art galore, the music, some snacks and tons of happy faces that won't be bogged down by the weather.


C'mon out to the Where?house tomorrow! Parking is very limited, so please park in the neighborhoods around the Where?house and walk on in. The Where?house is at 700 S. Dubuque - actually between Dubuque and Gilbert Streets...down the alley from the Delimart gas station on Benton street. 

don't forget your cash muneeez for all the treasures you will find at the vendor booths, and for the nemesis studios tattoo raffle! raffle tickets are just $5!

ALSO! Griddle Me This (a local iowa city food cart) will be nourishing our bellies with food hot off the grill that can be purchased in the warehouse parking lot! The Java House and The New Pioneer Food Co-op have donated snacks as well!

We can't wait to see all of you! Let's prove that real Iowans find the weather irrelevant to having a good time!

xoxo

the ladies and gents of Carnival Hearts and Arts Collective

PURRRR-FORMANCES

CARNIVAL HEARTS AND ARTS PARADE
MAY 21ST
HAPPY HOLLOW PARK
(IN CASE OF RAIN, WHITE LIGHTNING WHERE?HOUSE)
2PM-8PM




LINE-UP:


Poetlicious Poeticalz:

Nick Twemlow
read more about nick
Dora Malech
read more about dora
Mary Hickman
Zachary Isom
Adrianne Behning
Justin Alan Cox
Caryl Pagel
read more about caryl and rescue press


and....MUSIKZ!

Brooks Strause & the Gory Details
listen!
Alex Body
listen!
Luther Bangert
watch!
Christopher the Conquered
listen!
Pete Balestrieri
Pennyhawk
read!
listen!
Douglas Kramer Nye
listen!
Stinky Jones
listen!
Angie Pierce Jennings
listen!
Maxwell Johnson

we can't wait for the werdz & sowndz!!!!!

One Week Until the Next Carnival Hearts and Arts Parade!!

Thanks to Scott Newby of Nemesis Tattoo for making up this purdy poster for the upcoming event.

We're a week away from one of the most fantastic-est celebration of art in one of Iowa City's nicest neighborhood parks. I hope you've already planned to come and park yourself in the grass so that you don't miss a single minute of this diverse celebration! 

We're Pleased to Announce: Nemesis Tattoo Raffle

What would Carnival Hearts & Arts Parade be without the promise of art you can wear on your skin forever and ever? Did your interest just peak? Of course it did. tattoooooo<3<3: for you?

I want to take an opportunity to give some mad props to Nemesis Tattoo for making a generous donation to our little shin-dig on the 21st. There are few things better than art, unless it's permanent art that you take everywhere you go. We're super excited to announce that we'll be giving away a secret number of gift certificates to Nemesis.

If you wanna win some ink from the talented and super lovely folks at Nemesis, you gotta show up to the event on Saturday, May 21st and buy a raffle ticket. :) Tickets will be $5 each and all money will go back into making this and future Carnival Hearts and Arts Parade events happen.

*You must be present to win - so bring a friend, a picnic blanket, some samiches and stick with us for the long haul... ;)

Also check out some photos I took at Nemesis here: such a rad shop....

<3xoxo<3

-adrianne