Volume 3 • No. 24 • Full Moon • December 15, 2024
Bike Cart, Traveling Tea Set, Group Aprons: Gathering, Foraging Bowl
Collective Inquiry Design • 2018 • Sara Alsum-Wassenaar
Is This The First Whole Field That You've Received?
We aim to thoughtfully curate these newsletters to make the woven pattern of strands comprising Crosshatch clear.
If you only have a minute, the quick clip below offers a concise overview of Crosshatch's work. Want to dive deeper? Keep reading, and keep an eye out for other brief explainer clips.
The Warp — Ideas and Inspiration
|| 1 || For the first time in more than two and a half years, a Whole Field won't arrive in your inbox in two weeks time. The Crosshatch office will be closed and we'll be resting up for the last week of the year. We hope you can do the same. Warm and happy holidays!
|| 2 || I already knew that Sara Alsum-Wassenaar (the artist featured at the beginning of this edition) brought thoughtful details to her work. I had heard the story behind her Buffalo Shoes "walkshop" in Iowa: a joke from a colleague turned into a participatory work of art reminiscent of what Tim Overdier once shared about—"Native American management of the Great Plains- a thriving system involving bison, elk and fire."
I had also heard mention of some of the philosophy behind the work she was creating at the time, explored in the book Speculative Everything: Design, Fiction, and Social Dreaming.
Knowing that the nuances tend to signify intention, I was curious about Sara's email signature's reference to ki/kin. I clicked the link and found a write-up from Robin Wall Kimmerer on "the grammar of animacy."
Objectification of the natural world reinforces the notion that our species is somehow more deserving of the gifts of the world than the other 8.7 million species with whom we share the planet. Using “it” absolves us of moral responsibility and opens the door to exploitation. When Sugar Maple is an “it” we give ourselves permission to pick up the saw. “It” means it doesn’t matter.
But in Anishinaabe and many other indigenous languages, it’s impossible to speak of Sugar Maple as “it.” We use the same words to address all living beings as we do our family. Because they are our family.
Take a look. If your interest is piqued, you're in luck: Robin has three speaking engagements in the Petoskey area thanks to the work of the Bay View Association, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians, the Little Traverse Conservancy, Crooked Tree Arts Center, and Petoskey Schools. Maybe I'll see you there in August!
The Weft — News and Events
We’re heartened by a wide-range of expressions of resilient communities and gatherings. Here’s a smattering of regional events and happenings that reflect that diversity, collected for your consideration. Choose your own adventure!
|| 1 || Alluvion Arts: ”Under Pressure: A Printmaking Exhibition”—Curated by local printmakers Brad Kik and Kat Kline, this exhibition aims to educate viewers on this unique and ancient artform by highlighting different techniques with examples of work, process and history. The exhibition is located on the first and second floors of Commongrounds and is on view until January 17th, 2025.
|| 2 || The USDA/FSA's Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program is now accepting applications from Dec. 10, 2024 through Jan. 8, 2025. The program involves a direct payment based on the total sales of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, culinary and medicinal herbs, honey, nursery crops and more in 2025). You can find more on the opportunity here. You can also reach out to your local FSA office—find them here.
|| 3|| Michigan Organic Food & Farm Alliance's Organic Intensives 2025 is now open for registration. The one-day event (Saturday, January 18th) offers three different topic tracks to explore: Korean Natural Farming, Farming in a Changing Climate, andInnovative Marketing. Find details, maps, and registration here.
|| 4 || Author Reading and Book Signing (Wednesday, February 12th in Bellaire) and Fiction Writing Workshop (Thursday, February 13th in Alden)—John Mauk. 25 copies of John’s newest book, Where All Things Flatten, will be given to the first 25 people who register for the reading or fiction writing workshop. Click the links above for more details and to register.
|| 5 || Planning for Profit: Marketing & Production Budget Workshop—9am-3pm on January 24th and January 31st. An MSU Extension workshop offering tools for maximizing profit on the farm, held in Kalamazoo. Free. Please register and learn more here.
|| 6 || North Central SARE’s (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) Farmer Rancher Grant Program—Proposals are now being accepted for grants “for farmers and ranchers who want to explore sustainable solutions to problems through on-farm research, demonstration, and education projects.” Find more information on deadlines, Q&A sessions for potential applicants, and other details here.
|| 7 || Produce Safety Trainings, Virtual and In-Person—One-day training courses for produce safety certification from MSU Extension’s Agrifood Safety Department are coming up soon. Here’s a list of upcoming dates and opportunities, along with more details.
|| 8 || Happenings at The Alluvion Between Now and the Next Whole Field include: Alluvion Presents: May Erlewine & The Motivations Dance Party SECOND SHOW!, Big Fun, Here:Say Storytelling - Breaking the Rules, The Jeff Haas Trio featuring Laurie Sears + Lisa Flahive, Drew Hale & Friends, Bob James & DiSimone Family Holiday Concert, Funky Uncle, Molly, Super Nuclear Presents: A Trip To Space with BoneHawk & Angel Of Mars, Ship Yard #1: Pug Loop + The Sordid Orchids, Groundwork's Community Party & Concert: Goodbye Hans, Hello Elizabeth, and The Anthony Stanco Quintet - Live Album Recording.
Find more information at www.thealluvion.org.
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Crosshatch’s The Whole Field is a biweekly (meaning roughly every other week) human-written newsletter. We aim to provide engaging, thought-provoking content that’s worth your time. If you’ve been forwarded this email and want to receive future editions, click here to subscribe to our mailing list or view past newsletters.
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