The idea for this blog began with a Facebook post. I was thinking and reading some about the issue of gender and violence in the face of the horrible shooting rampage in Newtown, CT on December 14, and this occurred to me, so I posted: "I have a bee in my bonnet, which is I guess a way a lot of good things get started. Maybe if I post publicly about the seed of an idea, I'll be forced to carry it out. I've been reading some about the relative lack of conversation about gender in media discussions of shooting rampages. I may want to devise a performance about gender and violence, I think more specifically having to do with masculinity. Like the project about marriage I did with students a few years back, this piece will combine interviews about personal experiences of physical violence (this can include anything, serious stories or funny or whatever: bar brawls, learning to shoot a gun, fights you had as a kid, etc.) with demonstrations of stage combat, scenes from dramatic (or other) literature about the subject, and other scholarly research. Who knows what form it will end up taking, but I'd like to start the process soon. Suggestions, ideas and possible collaborators are welcome."

My friend Susan (with whom I have a common interest in community based arts, as we met at the Cornerstone Theatre Summer Institute in 2010) commented on my post that she had said almost the exact same thing a couple of days before.  Here was her post:

"In light not just of yesterday's events but also the many that have defined this year, I think my creative recourse is to make a piece. I think it will be called Lone Gunman. Exploring what about America drives a person to feel they are so alone they must commit violence to themselves and others. Sounds completely depressing but I think there are other layers in this that are not apparent right away, having to with love, grief, joy, routine, health, etc. I think it might need a lot of movement/dance and text. Maybe music? I figure if I declare it publicly (as public as fb is) I'll have to do it eventually. Let me know if you have ideas/skills/time/money/space to share in this."

So we decided to create a blog that could be a public space on which people could publicly declare projects they would like to see realized. It's not yet completely clear how this will work, but in the face of destruction and grief, for many of us creating something and building connection seems the only viable recourse. There will be more soon on how this might work, but feel free to comment with ideas and suggestions. Eventually we expect to have places to post ideas, seek collaborators, and share resources. But for now, just getting the idea up and running seems important. 

Thanks for reading. More soon.