2

Stevens Point (and neighbors) Calendar of Events

ArtThrough June 22Bob Erickson and Keith Wilson.Scarabocchio Art Museum.

Through July 16Verse&Vision II. Gallery Q.

Through September 17Dual Lives: Chinese Opera in New York City. Noel Fine Arts Center.

June 9Sculpture Park Summer Celebration. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

June 14-July 2914th Annual Juried Art Show. Riverfront Arts Center.

June 25 or 26Glass Fusing and Slumping. 8:00 - 4:00 p.m. UWSP Continuing Education.

June 25 or 26Assemblage Sculpture. 8:00 - 4:00 p.m. UWSP Continuing Education.

June 25-27Life Drawing. 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. UWSP Continuing Education.

June 27 or 29Mixed media painting. 8:00 - 4:00 p.m. UWSP Continuing Education.

June 27-28 or 28-29Metal Casting and Relief Sculpture. Day 1 8:00 - 12:00 p.m., Day 2 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. UWSP Continuing Education.

June 27-August 10Kristin Thielking and Keven Brunett.Scarabocchio Art Museum.

DanceJune 2-3Dance Dynamics Dance Recital. Sat 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Sun 2:00 p.m. Theater @ 1800.

MusicJune 2Canon Ball. 7:00 p.m., Rising Star Mill, Nelsonville.

June 6 - August 1Stevens Point City Band Concerts. Every Wed, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Pfiffner Park Bandshell.

June 15Good Soil. 12:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 15Pachouli. 3:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 15Baba Ghanooj. 7:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 16Tracy Feldman. 12:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 16Moogie. 3:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 16Galynne Goodwill. 7:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 16The Mustache. 8:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 17Norm Dombrowski and the Happy Notes. 9:00 a.m. The Energy Fair.

June 17Tom Pease. 2:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 17One Drum. 3:00 p.m. The Energy Fair.

June 24Vampirates. 8:00 p.m. The Brick House.

OtherJune 3Stevens Point Airshow and Fly-In. 9:00 - 4:00 p.m., Stevens Point Airport.

June 3Water Pumping with Solar and Wind. www.midwestrenew.org/workshops.

June 5-10Homebrew Wind. North Wind Renewable Energy. www.midwestrenew.org/workshops.

June 12-13Small Wind Conference. The Holiday Inn Conference Center.

June 15-17The Energy Fair. www.midwestrenew.org/energyfair

June 16Annual June Dairy Breakfast. 8:00 - 12:00 p.m., Gordondale Farms, Amherst Junction.

June 19Poky Pedaling Potluck Picnic. 5:15 p.m., start at Goerke Park near the pool entrance (5 mile ride).

June 23Poke Around Ride - West Side. 12:45 p.m., start at Pfiffner Park duck pond footbridge (11 mile loop).

June 26-August 10Basic Photovoltaics Online. www.midwestrenew.org/workshops.

June 29-July 1Riverfront Rendezvous. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Pfiffner Park.

If you would like to see your event in The Bitchin’ Kitsch next month, please email the details to chris@talbot-heindl.com.

3

content may 2012With John Pearson - Alexander Landerman

Calendar of Events

Bristol Palin, Bullying Victim? Please. - John Becker

Warrior Woman - Wlkn_Fire and Riley Furmanek

Underneath: Brooke and Sozzie - Chris Talbot-Heindl

Alice - Andrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE

bust - kaleeM rajA

The Most Perfect Time of the Year is Here - Robin Lee

Underneath: Freedom H. - Chris Talbot-Heindl

when hope fails - kaleeM rajA

charcoal portrait - kaleeM raja

ruE - Andrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE

A Letter - Jan Haskell

With Joseph Cousineau - Alexander Landerman

Three Person Doodle - Wlkn_Fire

The Word on the Street - kaleeM rajA

Flying Lessons - Andrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE

tell the future i’ve gone home to roost - douglas somers

Action - Robin Lee

setting sail - douglas somers

An Old Man Has Taken Over My Face - kaleeM rajA

Turkey Buzz - Andrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE

Donors and Index

BWWWOOOOSH!!! - Robin Leeadvertising:the bitchin’ kitsch is offering crazy low rates of $5 for a fourth-page ad, $10 for a half-page ad, and $20 for a full page ad. book yours today by emailing chris at chris@talbot-heindl.com.

donation:we love our donors. If you would like to become a donor, email chris@talbot-heindl.com and make your pledge.

about b’k:the bitchin’ kitsch is a zine for artists, poets, prose writers, or anyone else who has something to say. it exists for the purpose of open creativity. if you have something you want to share, please email it to chris@talbot-heindl.com.

kareeM rajA - pg. 9 douglas somers - pg. 15

on the front cover:With John PearsonAlexander LandermanCharcoal and graphite on Rives BFK paperwww.alexander-landerman.com

on the inside back cover:BWWWOOOOSH!!!Robin LeeInk and watercolor on papercreativecollectivity.com

cover

2

4-7

4

5

6

6

7

8

9

10

10

12

12

12

12

13

14

14-15

15

15

16

16

17

4

john becker, wlkn _ fire and riley furmanek.

Bristol Palin, Bullying Victim? Please.By: John BeckerReprinted with permission from Truth Wins Out.www.truthwinsout.org

Bristol Palin, exemplar of so-called “traditional families” that she is, just couldn’t let President Obama’s historic endorsement of marriage equality pass by last week without throwing in her two cents. (If you missed this important development in this historic story, reading this handy post from Evan will catch you right up.) Basically, Bristol Palin turned the story around into one about how she, her mother, and other “Christian female” presidential candidates are, in fact, the victims of the current President’s social conscience. His daughters’ perspectives helped him evolve on marriage, but when “Christian women” run for President, they’re picked apart about the degree on which they rely on their spouses. As an example, Bristol cites Michele Bachmann being asked at a debate about whether, as president, she would “submit” to her husband Marcus. (Palin writes as though the question was just plucked out of thin air by a mean-spirited, anti-Christian debate moderator rather than a logical follow-up to remarks Rep. Bachmann made herself when running for office in Minnesota in 2006.) And of course, there’s also her mother, the perpetually victimized Sarah Palin, who her daughter believes was the target of unjust questions about the role her father — Gov. Palin’s husband, Todd — played in decision making (despite the fact that Todd Palin was widely known to be one of Sarah’s closest advisors).

Bristol also hauled out two thoroughly debunked right-wing talking points about marriage — first, that it’s been a static and unchanging institution for “thousands of years,” and second, that “in general kids do better growing up in a mother/father home” (when in reality, study after study after study shows that claim to be patently false).

As it turns out, a lot of people had a lot to say about Bristol Palin’s factually inaccurate, anti-Obama, anti-gay blog post. Some were supportive, some opposed; some were well-reasoned and calm, others were vicious and mean-spirited. In response, Bristol came out with another post on Monday where, in vintage Palin fashion, she failed to address any of the legitimate arguments made by her critics, bashed “Hollywood-

type sheeple” for their allegedly uniform intolerance for people with anti-abortion and anti-gay views (apparently I missed the memo that a stint on Dancing with the Stars qualifies one as a Hollywood insider these days…), and said that she felt “[hated] in the name of love” and “[bullied] in the name of tolerance.” She then attempted to imply that in voicing her belief in marriage discrimination, she was speaking for her generation — my generation, the Millennials, who support marriage equality by a landslide margin of 22 percent. Yeah, no.

But it was Bristol’s attempt to cast herself as a victim of hateful bullying that really bothered me. In fact, it bothered me so much that I spent part of my lunch break on Tuesday writing a response that I posted to her blog and Facebook page. While she’s not likely to see it, reply, or come around to a pro-LGBT perspective anytime soon, I thought I’d share it with you, dear readers, just the same. Here’s what I wrote:

Hey, Bristol. I’m so sorry that you felt bullied by some

Warrior WomanWlkn_Fire and Riley FurmanekGraphite on paper

5

john becker (con’t), chris talbot-heindl.

of the abusive comments that were left on your original post. They are indeed awful and inexcusable.

That said, welcome to the world that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people live in every day. In fact, according to an exhaustive analysis of FBI hate crimes data by the Southern Poverty Law Center, LGBT people are at a greater risk of being targeted for a violent hate crime than literally any other minority group — more than twice as likely to be attacked as Jews, 2.6 times more likely than African-Americans, nearly 4.5 times as likely as Muslims, almost 14 times more likely than Latinos, and 41.5 times more likely than whites. In large swaths of our country, gay, lesbian,

bisexual, and transgender youth are regularly teased and beaten up for who they are (or who their peers *think* they are), all the while living in a culture that shames them into silence. Many of them have homophobic parents or guardians, so they can’t even turn to the people who are supposed to love them unconditionally. LGBT youth are four to five times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight counterparts because of the malicious bullying and crushing hatred that they’re surrounded by every day. I should know: I attempted suicide myself at age 16.

Do you know why that world of bullying, death threats, verbal and physical violence, and murder on the

Underneath: Brooke and SozzieChris Talbot-HeindlInk and gouache on paperwww.talbot-heindl.com

6

john becker (con’t), andrew peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE, kaleem raja.

basis of sexual orientation and gender identity exists? Do you know why my community, the LGBT community, faces such a grave threat of hate-motivated violence? Guess what – it’s because of religion-based bigotry. I work for an organization that fights the “ex-gay” myth (propagated, incidentally, by your own church, among many others), which is the lie that it’s possible to change from gay to straight – to “pray away the gay” – through a mixture of prayer and so-called “reparative therapy.” Anti-gay pastors and religious profiteers across the country peddle this lie to scared, self-loathing teenagers and homophobic parents who’ve internalized the vicious anti-gay rhetoric they hear from the pulpit every Sunday. The claim that gay people can become straight is denounced by literally every single reputable medical and mental health organization in the country because it has no basis in research, doesn’t work, and can actually be dangerous to its victims, but that doesn’t stop the evil charlatans who cash the checks and make bank while holding out false hope for change, oblivious to (or utterly careless about?) the lives that they ruin in the process. And before you even *dare* to doubt that lives are ruined, I’d like to challenge you to walk in

my shoes. We hear from people who bear permanent emotional and mental scars as a result of the “ex-gay” myth literally every day. Many who attempt suicide as a result of their guilt about their inevitable failure to “pray away the gay” bear physical scars as well. We also hear from many parents, siblings, and relatives of those who are no longer alive to tell their own stories – people who killed themselves trying to live a lie in order to accommodate the religion-based bigotry of people just like you.

So while I am truly sorry to read about the abuse that’s been directed your way since your anti-Obama blog post, I strongly object to your attempt to cast yourself as any kind of a victim. To the contrary, you, your mother, and the putridly anti-gay Republican Party are the ones who are victimizing LGBT people. And spare me the line about how your anti-gay views are unassailable because they’re your firmly-held religious beliefs. It’s utterly hollow. Hate wrapped in the name of God is still hate.

In closing, I must submit an important correction. You

AliceAndrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIREPainting

bustkaleeM rajAInk on paper

7

john becker (con’t).

wrote about the “younger generation” in the context of abortion, then continued in the same sentence about how “voters just keep defending [so-called] traditional marriage.” If you meant to imply here that the “younger generation” — *our* generation – supports the continued exclusion of loving same-sex couples from full civil marriage equality, you are wrong. Seriously, no, *incredibly* wrong. In fact, you couldn’t be more wrong: repeated polling consistently proves that our generation OVERWHELMINGLY believes that EVERY American deserves the freedom to marry the person they love, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. You’re free to hold any views you like, no matter how bigoted they are. But you are *not* free to misrepresent the truth. And the truth is that when it comes to marriage equality, the jury is in – and you’ve lost. The anti-gay mistakes of our parents’ generation (anti-LGBT marriage discrimination amendments, laws that marginalize and persecute the LGBT community in the areas of employment, housing, etc.) will be fixed by our generation, if they aren’t rectified even sooner than that. Despite your own personal homophobia, ours is *not* a homophobic generation; your anti-gay views are already a minority view among your peers. The day will come, very soon, when the loving marriage (of six years and counting!) that my husband and I enjoy will be recognized from coast to coast, and our nation will be the better for it. My hope and prayer for you is that someday you’ll be able to stop your homophobic bullying, let go of your own bigotry, and come to embrace your lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender friends, family members, and fellow citizens as equal Americans and full human beings.

John M. Becker

8

robin lee, chris talbot-heindl.

Underneath: Freedom H.Chris Talbot-HeindlInk and gouache on paperwww.talbot-heindl.com

The Most Perfect Time of the Year is HereBy: Robin Lee

The most perfect time of the year is here.The most perfect time is here.When the plants begin a flourishingand the rain washes the air clear.

Before all the bugs have been bornbefore the garlic mustard’s gone to seed.Before every good garden,must battle the war of weeds.

When there’s still hope to find a mushroom,or better yet a pound.When birds can still sing the sweet song of spring,their twitter-paited sound.

When weekends seem a little longer,although, they’re never long enough.When returning to the work weekseems a bit more tough.

When the creek runs like a river,and the buds have turned to leaves.When air is calm, and full of balm,and the breeze blows with soft ease.

And even if the cars still rumble,and the jets still roar.Even though things are still jumbled,with everybody wanting more.

The grass out shines the violence.And, the games will out score the wars.All the good things that pop up all over,make bad easier to ignore.

When nature over grows the city,and the beauty out weighs fear.We know when ugly’s subdued by pretty,it’s the best time of the year.

The most perfect time of the year is here.The most perfect time is here.When the plants begin a flourishingand the rain washes the air clear.

9

kaleem raja.

when hope failskaleeM rajAink on paper

10

kaleem raja, andrew peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE.

charcoal portrait 2kaleeM rajAcharcoal on paper

ruEAndrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIREPainting

11

12

jan haskell, alexander landerman, wlkn _ fire, kaleem raja.

With Joseph CousineauAlexander LandermanCharcoal, graphite, conte, and ink on Rives BFK paperwww.alexander-landerman.com

A LetterBy: Jan Haskell

The sun skips off the water, marking a point in the far distance. I point the bow to that end and pull the sail til she catches that easy wind. With a little jerk, the bow digs into the ripples, small splashes of water skim across the deck. The sail is tight and like a bird I fly across a sky of water.

Hey ********, Today would be a perfect day for a sail. Well, except for the threat of storms, but a perfect day. I can close my eyes and see you standing on the deck hanging on to the mast. The wind and soft sprays of water pushing your clothes tight to your skin, and you screaming with joy. mmm If I open my eyes, I will only long to close them again.

Three Person DoodleWlkn_FireInk, pastels, and watercolor sketch on paper

The Word on the Streetby: kaleeM rajA

The words on the street are not what they used to be.A text was once a script to be read or heard.Twitter use to be the sound of a bird.A mouse was not a thing you could click.And wicked and sickWere bad states, not good.And ing not the sort of thing you shouldPut at the end of tea bagOr place on the endOf dog.

13

andrew peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE.

Flying LessonsAndrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIREPainting

14

douglas somers, robin lee.

tell the future i’ve gone home to roostdouglas sommersPrint

ActionBy: Robin Lee

The time has come to take some action!The time has come to take a stand.Every boy and every girl,every woman and man.

To take action against the garlic mustard,stop this epidemic plague.To pull it from its toxic roots,and choke it dead with leftoverbags.

The time has come to take some action,against this oil spill.Time to try to clear the pathof all it intends to kill.

The time has come to take some action.The time has come to make the bed.The time has come to write the wordsthat have longed to be read.

The time has come to brush the teeth,and stretch the achy bones,and write about the action,through a hyper sensitive poem.

Action must be taken,and it needs to be taken by us.There are many points of rhyme and

Take some action against the status quo,from within its ranks.To try to choke the cash flowfrom big business to the banks.

Just a little bit of action,or maybe a lot.To quit buying beer in bottlesand legalizing marijuana-pot.

The time has come to act on instinct.To unresist resisted desire.To try to burn the bramble,and enjoy the fire.

15

robin lee (con’t), douglas somers, kaleem raja.

setting saildouglas sommersPrint

reason,that we must discuss.

Discussion is the first step,then comes thoughts to be thunk.Which will lead to the action,to keep the island from being sunk. (ref. Guam)

Action action we want action!Don’t worry it’ll be here soon,after another night of sleep,but before tomorrow’s moon.

An Old Man Has Taken Over My FaceBy: kaleeM rajA

An old man has taken over my faceHe’s moved his bags into my eyesAnd set up lines where I smileAnd painted my hair a ghostly white.He’s planted hairs in my earsAnd world weary cares in my head.He’s borrowed my imageAnd buried in furrowed brows and faded teeth.He called unexpected and came unannouncedAnd frowns when I ask him to leave.

16

we love our donors!We love our donors, and to prove it, we’re going to let you know who they are. Without their generosity, the Bitchin’ Kitsch would probably not make it through the year. If you would like to become a donor and see your name here, email chris@talbot-heindl.com and make your pledge.

acquaintences of the bitchin’ kitsch ($1-10)Colin Bares, Casey Bernardo, Eric Krszjzaniek, Dana Lawson, Jason Loeffler, Justin Olszewski

friends of the bitchin’ kitsch ($11-50)Charles Kelly

lovers of the bitchin’ kitsch ($51-100)Scott Cook, Jan Haskell, Keith Talbot

partners of the bitchin’ kitsch ($101 & up)The Talbot-Heindl’s, Felix Gardner

advertisersBitchin’ Kitsch 18

mcfishenburger 13

Second Space 7

The Energy Fair 11

Vote June 5th 10

www.talbot-heindl.com 13

artistsJohn Becker 4-7

Riley Furmanek 4

Jan Haskell 12

Alexander Landerman cover, 12

Robin Lee 8, 14-15, 17

Andrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE 6, 10, 13, 16

kaleeM rajA 6, 9, 10, 12, 15

douglas somers 14, 15

Chris Talbot-Heindl 5, 8

Wlkn_Fire 4, 12

andrew peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIRE, donors, index.

Turkey BuzzAndrew Peterson of OVER NIGHT EMPIREPainting

a talbot-heindl project1600 reserve st, stevens point, wi 54481www.talbot-heindl.com