Tin Ceilings

Bio:

Does our art become us or do we become our art? I believe it is a bit of both, but I am most worried about the second. When we speak our hearts we are sending our truths out into the world. The world listens it reflects or echoes those truths right back. It cannot be expected to educate, heal or focus those truths. This is the job of the artist. In order to learn we must actively participate. To truly heal ourselves we must also focus on the healing sounds, visions, words and actions. To truly find our happiness we must say what we want. We must ask to be joyful. We must ask for happiness. We must ask for justice. We must sing of kindness. We must focus our minds on what we find to be beautiful and, even if we do not receive our requests, we will at least travel in that direction.


I stopped, picked up a guitar and began to sing.
I thought that I sang to open your heart. I discovered that I sang to open my own heart. I discovered that I sang to lift my own spirit.


May your journey be long. May you find joy in every step.

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Member Since:

May 27, 2005

Members:

R. Michael Illian w/ Guests: Patrick Corrigan, Graham Gangi, Jason Ingalls, Ed Kniseley, Dave Noyes, Sarah Ramey, Jeremy and Jerusha Robinson, Eric Schwan, Emily Thomas. On November 8th - Corrigan, Kniseley, Noyes, Schwan & Thomas!

Influences:

Sharon Burch, E. F. Schumacher, Caetano, Richie Havens, Seekonk, Bill Mollison, Grace Paley, Stan Rogers, Viking Moses, Tweedy, Nina Simone, Steve Earle, Bill Fay, Peace, Nick Drake, Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, Townes, Dylan, Beth Orton, Catherine Rubba, Archie Fisher, Elizabeth Mitchell, Cotton, Tara Jane O'Neil, T.W. Walsh, Dan Littleton, Ecosystems, Levon Helm, John Cale, Lou Reed, Gordon Bok, Woody Guthrie, Springsteen, Philip Glass, Neil Young, Jesus, Louis Armstrong, wood floors, wood burning stoves, McCoy Tyner, Buddha, Miles Davis, Graham Gangi, Ana Courtney, the spirit, the sea, long journeys, whiskey, skin, Ireland, death, sea creatures, trees, communication, Tom Ze, John, Paul, George, Howard, Georgia O'Keefe, Cassiopeia, Auriga, Orion, Cygnus, Mangos, Hemingway, Joni Mitchell, Wisdom, Resposibility, Language, the Moon, Martin Luther King, Jr., Richard Feinman, Fritjof Capra, Tom Waits, Albert Einstein, Herman Hesse, Emma Goldman, Crazy Horse, The Northern Gray Star, Robin.

Sounds Like:

2 Loons

Artwork by Ariel Fay Lowther

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Suheir Hammad

Record Label:

Portland Records