The STARFLOWER OF DESTINY:
A Macrocosmic Symbol of Peace
A Macrocosmic Symbol of Peace
y2112: A CAMPBELLIAN ODYSSEY to a H.O.P.E. CENTERED SOUND LEARNING MODEL
In Dedication to Amanda Day Faker, my mom
Our Best for Next Generations: From Origins
VICTORY!! My mother happy at her birthday in 2021.
It seemed simple enough: 100 years from now what kind of life do we want for our kids? And what can we do to make it reality?
Inspired by my mother's way of teaching in our home, I created a fun learning platform useful for introducing mine and other families to PNW life, with annual, light-hearted celebrations incorporating PNW elements of life at events seasonally.
That others would pick up where I would eventually leave off was not in my thoughts - but it works. And it's super fun!
The Origin Story follows...
Inspired by my mother's way of teaching in our home, I created a fun learning platform useful for introducing mine and other families to PNW life, with annual, light-hearted celebrations incorporating PNW elements of life at events seasonally.
That others would pick up where I would eventually leave off was not in my thoughts - but it works. And it's super fun!
The Origin Story follows...
2012 - 2019
Intentions CRYSTAL CLEAR since Origin:
The Painted Man: An Indefinite Article
Published 12-21-2012
Winter Solstice
For more complete manuscript, see US above
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(Note: Originally we called it the Lumins Festivus; 2016 we changed it to Stars 4 Peace.)
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y2112 & A Series of Fortunate Events
2012: CATACLYSM
2012 ORIGIN VIDEOy2112: Initial Presentation
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THE OCEANIC 2013
Caused ripples in Time
FISH BY OLYMPIAN ARTIST (SHOWN) We honor Olympia's Procession crew and enjoy collaborating with them.
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TNT ARTICLE BY ROSEMARY PONNEKANTI, who started 1) The amazing Ocean Fest in 2017 & 2) Downtown's New Year celebration called the Tacoma Light Trail in 2020.
We have supported these efforts fully and I believe Rosemary's contribution to Tacoma Arts is especially good for our city. Follow the links there to see what Rosemary has brought to Tacoma, and find the Tacoma Light Trail for our city's current luminary tradition. Many local artists participate.
For article, see PDF of p. 1 & 2 above
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River Meschi's Nautilus
2014 River also Destroyed the Deathstar (SEE VIDEO BELOW)
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River Meschi created her Oceanic Nautilus and documented her creative process so we would have a tutorial for a luminaria build.
Stars themselves are the Elemental Form we officially adopted from Olympia's Luminary tradition: If you can build a star, you have the basic skills to build (almost) anything. WA LUMINARIA are more ornate than lanterns: They are "sculpted" and have more detail where lanterns are more basic, devoid of nuance. |
2013 I met the inestimable Stena Troyer. She is a member of Surfrider Foundation and works with Harbor Wild Watch, two of the organizations we refer people to. Stena kept things light hearted and fun, has always been among the strongest team members I have known and made things "easy peasy."
Historic rains and flooding were so severe that some called them "Biblical." Manhole covers were blown off by heavy waters and cars were seen floating downtown. We sheltered at Corina Bakery but right in time for the parade, the weather lifted and we were able to proceed: We went through downtown to the private library at Sanford & Son's - luminaria examples included an orca, an octopus, a dolphin, starfish, a sea snail, River's Nautilus, Stena's Sea Cucumber and many more.
2014 THE SOIL OF EARTH
We rooted the idea.
Setting an Example of Our Intentions, 2014 We Hosted Events Including Learning on Topics Related to the Current & Previous Year's Themes, with Music
This series of events was impactful & significant - later I'll explain how & why.
PEACE DAY WEEKEND WE CELEBRATED
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2014 we hosted a series of events to introduce our community to relevant understanding about the themes we were focused on that year, starting on Spring Equinox, continuing throughout the Summer leading up to Peace Day.
We worked with the Hilltop Artists, getting youth involved in the creation process. I learned much, and probably most by Everybody's Dragon.  Star Party at Epworth LeSourd church on Anderson St. 2 blocks from 6th Ave.
The most ambitious Hilltop Artist made the frame and first paper of Everybody's Dragon - he was very disappointed not to finish it himself in class.
The lesson was a good one: Some visions require more than you alone to realize. Several hands completed it and it became a highlight of 2014. (See 2015 poster below for finished Dragon) |
Jane Goodall Peace Dove leads, 2014
Collaboration in the community in those days was very common: Jen's Baby Blue full of Luminaria made by Hilltop Artists & others, 2014
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Early on this was our 'About' Page on our website:
2014's Spring in the Kitchen
Our website promotion leading up to the event
Bringing it Home at the Free Range Kitchen (6th Ave)
 TR Stewart plays for Spring! In the Kitchen at the Equinox
In the spirit of the PNW's Victory Music TR Stewart played (above), known for the original Puyallup Fair song. A genuine 'Wright' spirit.
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Installations w/ Art by Maria Jost
& Julie Like
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September We Learned About Life in WA Waters, Setting an Example of Possibilities
(See below for more we did that year)
A Jane Goodall Peace Dove led the procession (left); Also pictured: Cheryl Rux, who would later be involved in the Tacoma Light Trail (2020) brought Sally the Serpent (center)
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Artwork for the John Stark Presents Program, by Artist Sean Alexander
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1st Annual Procession of Stars at the Holidays
At Wright Park, bringing light w/ the Dickens Festival
2015 AIRS OF THE HEAVENS
Birthed the StarFlower (more on this year TBP)
A STARFLOWER is Born
EVERYBODY'S DRAGON
EVERYBODY'S DRAGON, Started by Hilltop Artist Student in 2014, was completed by others at luminary events: I thought it was a really great metaphor for my work and was used for the 2015 Poster Air of the Heavens
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A LEARNING LANDSCAPE
"It is Good & We are Able"
"INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN." - EINSTEIN "Working directly with the local organizations, businesses and people active in their fields, we gain a fresh look at life in our environs from the perspecive of those daily doing the work that betters our quality of life." |
Bix: An Eternal Legend
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Bix was a black sheep priest of the St. Leo's Parish in Hilltop. For more than 20 years he was so misunderstood by the people around him that his own Parish kept him at an arm's length. He was called all kinds of things.
But he took on causes that he felt especially strong about and stood firm in his resolve to address the issues that mattered to him. It was his gently centered nature that astounded me. He was so kind & down to earth and served people in a way I have always admired: He treated all people the same, rich or poor regardless. His influence on me is dramatic and long lasting. Bix loved SUNFLOWERS, which alway look to the Light, and provide real nourishing sustenance (their seeds). So to honor him in my work I merged the sunflower with the idea of the light of life in all of us: The STARFLOWER was born. I enjoyed having some small part in his community for several years and his place in my life remains for me a lasting example of what is good and worth pursuing - and what's possible when your heart aligns with vision. |
2015: Dain Norman, Self-Taught Musician
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Our 2015 luminary sub-theme was The Chrysalis, and when I met Dain I told him this. He said, 'My band is Dain Norman & the Chrysalis Effect!' We worked together immediately and have collaborated in promoting HOPE in many ways since.
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2015: Eddie Harris, Self-Taught Artist
I also met Eddie Harris that year, a self-taught artist and world famous when I met him, with paintings of presidents in museums and early days working on the original Scoobie Doo. (hear some of his story on this podcast: https://carsyeah.com/ourportfolio/713-eddie-harris/). Start at ~10:00 for a short list of the well known people he worked with.
We worked together many times over the years, and I learned quite a lot from him in truth. He was rough around the edges but kind at the core.
We worked together many times over the years, and I learned quite a lot from him in truth. He was rough around the edges but kind at the core.
MaKenzie's first ever attempt to paint in airbrush under Eddie's guidance
Eddie's passion was teaching next generations, and we collaborated to connect him to a student named Makenzie who would learn under Eddie, with the thought that she would illustrate the work of John Stark.
She was a quick study and he took her to car shows where she was featured in an automotive magazine. We held our own car show with the LeMay Family Museum represented where we showcased Makenzie's work on the first basic element needed to understand Dr. John Stark's work: Bioaccumulation.
We featured her at Art on the Ave in 2017 and 2018 at The Wall and I was impressed with her capacity, aptitude and character. At a later date I'll go into an insightful revelation she had on this project and why it amazed me. . .
She was a quick study and he took her to car shows where she was featured in an automotive magazine. We held our own car show with the LeMay Family Museum represented where we showcased Makenzie's work on the first basic element needed to understand Dr. John Stark's work: Bioaccumulation.
We featured her at Art on the Ave in 2017 and 2018 at The Wall and I was impressed with her capacity, aptitude and character. At a later date I'll go into an insightful revelation she had on this project and why it amazed me. . .
2015 PARIS & THE BATACLAN
"WE CANNOT MEASURE TIME - WE ARE THE TIMES."
PARIS, NOV 13, 2015
PARIS, NOV 13, 2015
"We cannot measure Time: We are the Times."
PHOTO: PARIS, NOV. 13, 2015 |
Photo taken following the Paris Attacks
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2015 the trajectory of my work changed dramatically due to a life changing event that radically altered my center focus: A fateful Friday the 13th, in Paris for business, I was present for the attacks that night as the city was in chaos. Had I heard of the show at the Bataclan it is without any question I would have been there - in fact, I looked all over for shows in that area that night and found nothing interesting, so went for music elsewhere. We were kicked out of the venue we attended and had to walk a long ways, me and friends, through the streets of Paris as the attacks were still taking place.
That night would change me forever, in ways I could not foresee and even then I did not know until several years later. Trauma can be like that. In fact for me it would be years before I was aware that I had untreated PTSD and didn't begin to explore therapy until after the Pandemic, when I finally was at a point I knew I needed help. I had been going to the Bastyr University Clinic since 2008, so I started there. The affects of the events that day linger in me still, and affect me greatly. But at the time it was a more instinctive impulse that directed my course of action as my work transitioned to be more centrally focused on the impacts of Abuse Culture on the personal planes.
I had met Adrienne Casteele of H.O.P.E. Victims Advocacy in 2015, and her story has inspired me greatly since that time. So I focus much of my effort on the work supporting people in hardship and situations more challenging than most in life will ever have to encounter. People experience all kinds of evils in the world, and it is important they have others to help them along the way.
2016 the Orlando Pulse event solidified this impression, and I called Tacoma's Rainbow Center to ask if they would help me with a Memorial for the lives we lost that year. They did, and working as well with Tacoma's Spaceworks, who provided a communal working space, we installed at the 2016 Tacoma Pride.
2017 I started THE WALL, with the help of local art professionals, and through the years have adapted it to the changing climate of life in our region.
It seems fitting that Rosemary started Ocean Fest that year, and in hindsight I wish we had started collaborations sooner: Using music to amplify causes in Tacoma is a primary focus of ours, and she brought South Sound waters to the public in a way that was really good for raising awareness. Pairing our work with hers would have had a positive effect on many of us, I believe.
That night would change me forever, in ways I could not foresee and even then I did not know until several years later. Trauma can be like that. In fact for me it would be years before I was aware that I had untreated PTSD and didn't begin to explore therapy until after the Pandemic, when I finally was at a point I knew I needed help. I had been going to the Bastyr University Clinic since 2008, so I started there. The affects of the events that day linger in me still, and affect me greatly. But at the time it was a more instinctive impulse that directed my course of action as my work transitioned to be more centrally focused on the impacts of Abuse Culture on the personal planes.
I had met Adrienne Casteele of H.O.P.E. Victims Advocacy in 2015, and her story has inspired me greatly since that time. So I focus much of my effort on the work supporting people in hardship and situations more challenging than most in life will ever have to encounter. People experience all kinds of evils in the world, and it is important they have others to help them along the way.
2016 the Orlando Pulse event solidified this impression, and I called Tacoma's Rainbow Center to ask if they would help me with a Memorial for the lives we lost that year. They did, and working as well with Tacoma's Spaceworks, who provided a communal working space, we installed at the 2016 Tacoma Pride.
2017 I started THE WALL, with the help of local art professionals, and through the years have adapted it to the changing climate of life in our region.
It seems fitting that Rosemary started Ocean Fest that year, and in hindsight I wish we had started collaborations sooner: Using music to amplify causes in Tacoma is a primary focus of ours, and she brought South Sound waters to the public in a way that was really good for raising awareness. Pairing our work with hers would have had a positive effect on many of us, I believe.
2016: Fire of the Hearth
2016 was the transitional year when Tacoma's Lumins became Stars 4 Peace.
The Orlando Pulse Nightclub incident reinforced the nature of our work to be broader in scope than merely our local community. We installed a memorial at Tacoma Pride honoring the lives lost that year.
We moved the parade element to be part of Tacoma's 6th Ave. Santa Parade and had a final Lumins event at the Wright Park Conservatory.
The emphasis on Learning remained, and Eddie collaborated with me to have a car show to showcase and support Makenzie's work. That year my deeper focus changed to nurturing compassion through understanding, highlighting H.O.P.E. (actually) in our communities, learning what it takes to help people get out of, overcome and reestablish their life after abusive situations.
The Orlando Pulse Nightclub incident reinforced the nature of our work to be broader in scope than merely our local community. We installed a memorial at Tacoma Pride honoring the lives lost that year.
We moved the parade element to be part of Tacoma's 6th Ave. Santa Parade and had a final Lumins event at the Wright Park Conservatory.
The emphasis on Learning remained, and Eddie collaborated with me to have a car show to showcase and support Makenzie's work. That year my deeper focus changed to nurturing compassion through understanding, highlighting H.O.P.E. (actually) in our communities, learning what it takes to help people get out of, overcome and reestablish their life after abusive situations.
Working with Tacoma's Rainbow Center & Spaceworks (pictured) many came to help
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The TACOMA WEEKLY helped publicize the Memorial & many participated.
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ACTUALLY UPLIFTING!THE GRAND STAR OF DESTINY
We incorporated the Star of Destiny into the Starflower: The STARFLOWER OF DESTINY
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2016 H.O.P.E. Sunday Poster: 3 Generations of Women Musicians & 2 Family-Motivated Male Musicians
On the 1 year anniversary of the Paris events I hosted H.O.P.E. Sunday
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Stars Kits were prominent all around Tacoma. Spaceworks provided us a space for Star Builds and donations from our test clothing drive.
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1st Annual Procession of Stars
At the 6th Ave Santa Parade
TERRACRUX GAMES downtown sponsored the Stars for the 6th Ave Santa Parade. A friend on team created a luminary template for people to make a luminaria easily. Stars 4 Peace has been part of the Parade every year since. Each year we add a new element one way or another.
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2017 We Started THE WALL
1st: Spring! in the Streets Clothing Drive City-Wide
2nd: 1 Block of Art on the Ave (see footpring)
3rd: Destiny Saturday is born (Peace Day Celebration)
4th: 6th Ave Santa Parade
The Star Wars style video here was made to promote our Spring! in the Streets (see below). Star Wars and Jedi themes feature much in our work: If film can have Star Wars, I think music can have Star Peace!
TERRY LUMSDEN (LAW)
I began working with Terry Lumsden in 2017, helping him with his Scotch Whisky Case Collection, which is probably the biggest of its kind. Terry provided work space for us at his law office located at 6th Ave and Union for several years. I would eventually become his legal assistant, helped him until he retired in 2024 and enjoy his friendship greatly. His spirit is one of the Old Washington, his heart is made of gold.
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Tacoma Frame Makers made it possible funding the installation
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We Featured Adrienne Casteele of H.O.P.E. (Below)
Featuring Adrienne Casteele of H.O.P.E. Victims Advocacy Foundation at the H.O.P.E. Classic
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Butterflies represent what our city is transforming into; Mindy Barker made a paint by number for the public to paint.
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BES played and then in Sept, for Destiny Saturday at 6th Ave's North End Social, with Dain Norman & several other bands.
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For more about The Wall in 2017 see History, HERE
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2017 we made clay stars with SPUN Clay Arts Studio, hid them around the city and also gave them to people when we gave them clothes in Winter.
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11-11-17 VETERAN'S DAY
On the 2nd Anniversary of the Attacks we hosted Vietnamese-American documentary film maker Tiana Alexandra-Silliphant, who had been part of Oliver Stone's From Hollywood to Hanoi, who presented her Debut North American Preview of her new film, THE GENERAL & ME.
On the 2nd Anniversary of the Attacks we hosted Vietnamese-American documentary film maker Tiana Alexandra-Silliphant, who had been part of Oliver Stone's From Hollywood to Hanoi, who presented her Debut North American Preview of her new film, THE GENERAL & ME.
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PHOTOS from 11-11-17: See Captions on Photos for Context
Dec 2017 6th Ave Santa Parade
THE GRAND STAR OF DESTINY
TACOMA SANTA PARADE, 2017
TACOMA SANTA PARADE, 2017
2018 We Continued
St. Patrick's Day Dain Played with Sister Madame celebrating what we had accomplished over Winter
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Destiny Saturday
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Tattoos for Clothes at the Holidays
Brass Monkey Tattoo, 6th Avenue
Tats 4 Clothes Was Successful & Fun
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Me at my workspace at Terry Lumsden Law, December 24, 2018. We went to Hilltop and gave people everything for the holiday - it was amazing seeing how people smiled!
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2018 Santa Parade Flyer:
THE WALL at Terry Lumsden Law
Star building (Ellyn Motas) and Peace Dove Creation for 6th Ave Santa Parade & Donation Preparations
Star building (Ellyn Motas) and Peace Dove Creation for 6th Ave Santa Parade & Donation Preparations
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Through the 2020 Pandemic I became aware of the need for a hybrid system of contribution to people in need and began planning The Wall in a new form.
To see the primary work of Stars 4 Peace from 2021, follow the link here to our Galactic Center home page:
Scroll to the very bottom & read scrolling up to the Top.
But before that, I needed to do one more essential thing
2019: Saving MUSIC & HEART IN WRIGHT PARK
REMEMBER NEVERMIND
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2019 My good friend Martin Thomas Reed and I collaborated to saved Music & Art in Wright Park,
a bedrock NW music festival with roots reaching deep into the earliest 1990's when it was Art in the Park.
This is one of the smallest handful of festivals from that time, and it seemed important enough to keep this real.
Website for Music & Heart in Wright Park (link).
Tacoma's music history is rich with forward-thinking bands ahead of the Times. From the Sonics and Wailers to the bands of the 1990's when Northwest Music was found internationally, Tacoma has had its place.
NIRVANA and SOUNDGARDEN practiced here, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS was born and raised here and attributes his upbringing in Tacoma to influencing his songs, especially ROOSTER.
I feel our work can also add to this richness and depth of experience in our own particular way.
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Culture in the PNW has always been deeply influenced by what our artists do in music, and Tacoma has been a navel of a creative oasis that provides the freedom and place for artists to create for decades: This is the Way.
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More currently, our city has the First-in-Washington, voter-approved Arts Initiative TACOMA CREATES: It's EPIC. They support Artists and creative activities of all kinds and have helped MUSIC & HEART IN WRIGHT PARK since 2022 in our efforts to save this bedrock institution created by musicians and artists, providing funds that allowed us to focus more on creating and worry less about how we're going to pay for it.
Music really does save lives (if you know you know), and certainly music has impacted me profoundly.
Some of us simply need it.
I believe greatly that we as musicians and artists can create for the world a better, more hopeful, caring and enlivening way of life that also contributes to solutions in our communities, even when the world is darkening.
We work in the media of Light & Sound and change how others see what's possible in their own lives.
My life changed completely because I met some of the best people I've ever known in this city, who happened to be artists. They opened my eyes to what's possible and being part of their lives changed mine completely.
See what I have been able to do here:
www.Tacoma.ROCKS
Thanks for taking the time to share in a few steps of my life's work on this Campbellian Odyssey.
Wherever you are, I hope you are as blessed as I have been with a supportive, creative and kind of awesome community. Visit The City of Destiny and see why we believe life in Washington's PNW is the BEST.
Music & Heart in Wright Park
Photos from a few years since
(More on Website HERE)
(More on Website HERE)
