Santa Cruz, 2024
Listen to my conversation with Tom Noddy (née Tom McAllister) on performance, humor, sight, and silence recorded in 2024 on October 30th in his living room six days before Donald Trump was elected 47th President of the United States. We were drawn together by our corresponding interest in bubbles and invitations to perform for Sven Davis’ Nail-Biter 2024 where the bi-line was: Come celebrate, commiserate, or sit–and–wait while enjoying a night of fun and distraction at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz!
On November 14th, 2024 I met with Aaron Rhodes in his living room in preparation for the 25th anniversary celebration of The Box club at the Blue Lagoon. We discussed his DJ name, “Maker,” derived from his passion for creating unique items and delved into his recent foster parenting journey, his concerns about the political climate, and his philosophy of saying “yes” to new experiences. We also explored his love for tasting exotic fruits, his commitment to using durable materials, and his involvement in the goth scene. The conversation highlighted his dedication to community-building, his creative endeavors, and his reflections on historical and contemporary societal issues.
Santa Cruz (2024) is a work celebrating positive creativity through a series of conversations with dynamic thought leaders. It features individuals contributing to the richness of the city I cherish. So far, interviews have featured notable figures like Tom Noddy, a pioneer in bubble performance, and DJ Maker, who leads The Box, a renowned goth music event celebrating its 25th anniversary. Each interview lasts about sixty minutes and is conducted in a comfortable setting, resulting in both recordings and text transcriptions.