Demystifying Anarchy Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 17, 2019) by Wes Modes Demystifying Anarchy featured a panel of self-identified anarchists who spoke about what anarchy means to them and how they see the world. …
Anarchist Convergence Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 17, 2019) by Wes Modes Collective Event: Santa Cruz is a hub of anarchist culture and resistance, with a long history of radical struggle and active anarchist projects spanning decades. A four-day anarchist convergence in May 2009 for community building and sharing radical ideas….
North American Free Skool Conference Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 17, 2019) by Wes Modes The first ever North American Free Skool Conference, an amazing opportunity for free skools from all over to get together, exchange ideas, and make ambitious plans….
Free Carpentry Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 17, 2019) by Wes Modes A coalition of experienced builders and artists to work on interesting projects that required a combination of building ingenuity and artistic inspiration….
Million Clown March Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 17, 2019) by Wes Modes Some 80 normally jolly clowns, supported by the buzz of a dozen kazoos, sought to make their plight public and turn the fortunes of clowndom toward a brighter future….
Free Coffee Bar Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 16, 2019) by Wes Modes We set up at the corner of Pacific and Cooper, our would be town square. We had a handsome coffee bar, a bright green market umbrella, stools, and fancy cafe aprons. People were cautious, confused, incredulous, inquisitive, excited, and grateful in pretty much that order….
Insurgent Photographers Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 16, 2019) by Wes Modes Collective Project: A regular gathering of radical photographers in 2008 and 2009 to come together to share, discuss, and critique photographs…
Megalophone Posted on November 19, 2023 (November 24, 2023) by Wes Modes With lead artist Lauren Benz, I helped create a light-enabled Mbira Installation that responded to the sound of user-created music…
Comics and Illustrations Posted on November 9, 2019 (October 10, 2020) by Wes Modes I discovered the comic book writing of Alan Moore when he was penning for Swamp Thing in the late 80s. I had no idea that comics could be an intelligent,…
Freight Train Riding Posted on November 9, 2019 (October 3, 2024) by Wes Modes I’ve hopped freight trains for transportation and adventure since 1992 all over the West Coast and Midwest, attending annual hobo gatherings in various places….
Ragdolls and Monsters Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 18, 2019) by Wes Modes I’ve always had a fascination with homemade ragdolls and creatures. It started with building monsters by hand out of the scraps from my sewing room. At one point, I invited friends…
Urban Adventuring Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 12, 2019) by Wes Modes A city skyline says different things to different people. To an urban adventurer, it is the siren on the rocks beckoning “Climb me.”…
Comic Artists’ Collective Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 16, 2019) by Wes Modes Collective Project: A regular informal gathering of comic artists, in which artists illustrated their own personal stories, radical history, imagined futures, or experimental expressions….
Land of Lost Socks Posted on December 8, 2019 (November 20, 2023) by Wes Modes Where do all those lost socks go? Sock-eating driers? Alien abduction? Runaway socks hitting the road and living on the streets?…
Blackmail Posted on December 8, 2019 (November 20, 2023) by Wes Modes You lookin for something? A special something? Maybe you lookin to send somebody a message? Just tell me, what you need done. But, if anyone asks, I don’t know you….
Message in a Bottle Posted on December 8, 2019 (November 20, 2023) by Wes Modes Toss a message in a bottle into the surf of the Internet sea. Eventually, it may wash up in the form of E-mail on someone’s personal beach….
Dumpster Diver Posted on December 8, 2019 (November 20, 2023) by Wes Modes You’re going diving! Dumpster diving! It’s like give-away day at the Thrift Center. It’s like Sunday evening curb-side after the yard sales give it up. It’s like, well… it’s just like rummaging around in the trash behind the junk store. …
Spy Soiree Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 19, 2023) by Wes Modes Come in formal wear, with a cover name. Enjoy yourself. Complete your mission. Try not to get killed….
Gamelan Anak Swarasanti Posted on November 9, 2019 (November 19, 2023) by Wes Modes Gamelan Anak Swarasanti, an award-winning Balinese gamelan orchestra performing professionally throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond in a wide variety of settings….
Brazen Squaredance Posted on November 9, 2019 (December 4, 2019) by Wes Modes A sporadic Santa Cruz event, in which scores of squaredancers take over public space, moving to increasingly brazen locations…
Kecak Monkey Chant Posted on November 9, 2019 (December 4, 2019) by Wes Modes Kecak is a form of vocal percussion and dance originating in Bali, Indonesia, and inspired by traditional gamelan, performed by a circle of dozens and even hundreds of performers chanting in…
