March 18, 2011
by Valya
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When I went out to Philly for Kyle Cassidy and Trillian Stars’ wedding party back in 2009, I met several people whom I now consider to be dear friends, not the least of whom are Kyle and Trillian. There I … Continue reading
February 6, 2011
by Valya
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Last year, several of us came together to begin a monthly creative collaborative gathering. Tonight we had a productive brainstorming session about projects we may work on in the future. It was fun and fruitful. Now back to the revisions … Continue reading
February 3, 2011
by Valya
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I’m behind on my post about Zlukacamp that I attended on Saturday, January 22, in Chicago. It was a remarkable experience, and I consider myself lucky to have met this driven and passionate group of Ukrainian students. We began with … Continue reading
January 11, 2011
by Valya
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The weekend was filled with some of my favorite people, starting and ending with Kyle Cassidy, who was in town taking more photographs of tattooed veterans for his next book, War Paint. The Tinley Park local paper did a nice … Continue reading
January 1, 2011
by Valya
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Tonight was a relatively quiet end to a year that was anything but quiet. I would not have it any other way. 2010 was an incredible year: published a novel and literary magazine, celebrated Chicago’s literary history, partied with rockstars, … Continue reading
November 16, 2010
by Valya
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Last month at the launch party for The Silence of Trees, I saw several friends and family I don’t see nearly enough. Among them was a high school friend I hadn’t seen in two decade. Michelle Conte Sylvia and I reconnected … Continue reading
October 13, 2010
by Valya
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It’s a quiet, rainy Fall morning at Casa del Lobos. I love this weather, this time of year. Life is busy but good–full of people I love, activities I enjoy, events I believe in. My only concern is that it’s … Continue reading
August 11, 2010
by Valya
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My dear friend Angie is a master at crafting celebrations, rituals, and events. She calls it “building a container.” I love that expression—the idea that we create a time and space to be filled with intention: be it with art, … Continue reading
June 10, 2010
by Valya
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The week after I attended Marian Call’s house concert, I went to see another ensemble of talented, independent artists–this time a nontraditional performance in the traditional venue of the Park West. Just as house concerts are bringing live music directly … Continue reading
May 5, 2010
by Valya
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My head is still spinning from last weekend’s events. I loved mulling about in such diverse creative pools of people, but that’s Chicago’s literary and art scenes—such a variety of styles and voices. Valya Dudycz Lupescu & Scott Markwell, photo … Continue reading