Tag Archives: letters from russia

Letters from Russia project

Letters from Russia, Northern Voice x 11

“Letters from Russia” – prezo video from Northern Voice, 2009

Video 4 Comments

NV09 Letters from Russia from Singular Software on Vimeo.

Bruce Sharpe (who co-created an essential bit of software for audio production called Levelator and is an all around nice guy) shepherded a project to crowd-source and prepare quality video of Northern Voice 09 including Letters from Russia.

For more about the spiel and project – plus comments, tweets, blog posts etc. from the talk – visit: Letters from Russia Recap from Northern Voice 09

Here’s Bruce’s intro the Letters from Russia post at 25 Hour Day:

Dave Olson talks about the sources of inspiration, the creative process and publishing your work in this lively mixed-media presentation. Watch this and you’ll understand why Dave has been dubbed a “local cultural artifact”. From Northern Voice 2009. Note: Contains adult language.

And from @brucesharpe on Twitter:

Uncle Weed is in fine form as he illuminates the creative process behind Letters from Russia. From #northernvoice09

He and others – including my buddy Dale – made sure to mic up the presenters and set up a good angle for the shots. As the guy on the other end of the lens, i truly appreciate their work to provide a cool artifact from the preso (although i must admit my shock at seeing my decreasing hair follicles!) – my Mom will likely enjoy it as well ;-).

Lists + Awards + Profiles, Northern Voice x 11

“local cultural artefact” – Reco/blurbs from: S. Rees, G. Shaw + R. Bollwitt (NNV2009)


Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

As seen in Rebecca Bollwitt’s Miss 604 post: Northern Voice 2009 Dave Olson Letters from Russia

“Uncleweed is a local cultural artefact and we should find ways to get him funded so he can keep on doing his schtick.” 

Stephen Rees February 22nd, 2009

The only tweet I managed during this session was “laughing too hard to type”. Uncleweed is a local cultural artefact and we should find ways to get him funded so he can keep on doing his schtick.

Gillian Shaw February 23rd, 2009

That is too funny Stephen. Grants have gone to way less worthy causes – this should be no problem! ?

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When Uncleweed is on tap for a speaking engagement I make sure not to miss it even though I’ve seen him do over a dozen talks in the years I’ve known him.

Rebecca Bollwitt, Miss604 February 20, 2009

More from Rebecca:

I wasn’t live blogging his session as I wanted to pay attention and focus on his message, delivered as he stood before a packed while sporting a smoking jacket.


Photo credit: Dave on Flickr

I did however jot down some of his quotes on Twitter and John Biehler snapped some photos so I’ll share those now.

“I came across a ticket that was $420 to Belize. I was like ‘BUY’ … I wonder where Belize is?”

“If any of you have read it, it’s a big long story and there’s a lot of war and a lot of peace…”

“If you snip the kite string will it soar higher? No it will tumble to the ground.”

“80% meditation, 10% execution, 10% inebriation.”


Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

“What makes a work important is giving it an audience.”

 

Northern Voice x 11, Prezo Pitches

Letters from Russia Recap from Northern Voice 09, pitch

Letters From Russia

Whether blog article, photo, video, podcast – should tell a story. The best stories are retold and shared with others, and the very best stories create conversations which might live on for generations.

How does a content creator elevate their work from craft to art? The same creative parameters apply whether the delivery method is digital or analog or both. When applied with vigour, the work elevates to something beyond an ephemeral musing.

Using a mixed-media project called “Letters from Russia” as a example, Dave will discuss practical tactics for harnessing inspiration, plotting the big picture, grinding out the “real work”, and finally creating a satisfying tangible artifact.

Dave will discuss the role of blogs, podcasts, reader interaction, RSS, and self-publishing with chapbooks and/or on-demand web services as efficient methods of sharing and distributing the project to an audience.

Dave Ols(o)en

Poet, podcaster, pundit, and chronic documentarian, Dave Thorvald Olson particularly enjoys making arts and crafts and listening to vinyl albums while gazing at trees or soaking in a hot bath.

An ace marketer by day and renegade social media brewer by night, Dave gracefully nurtured, launched, sold, and/or jettisoned several internet companies. He now works for Raincity Studios (partially) revolutionizing the way media is created, consumed, and shared.

Published in numerous magazines, journals, and books, Dave is most proud of his handmade chapbooks, static montage art, and international audio hi-jinks. His co-conspirators frequently comment on his ability to recount stories after several micro-brews while inventing new lexicon and avoiding the bill.

Recap/video: Letters from Russia Northern Voice

Community Feasthouse, Letters from Russia, Northern Voice x 11

“Letters from Russia” – prezo audio from Northern Voice, 2009

Audio

He's a poet, dontcha know? - Northern Voice 2009
photo by randy stewart >> He’s a poet, dontcha know? – Northern Voice 2009 (CC) Randy Stewart, blog.stewtopia.com.

Blurb: Whether blog article, photo, video, podcast – social media should tell a story. The best stories are retold and shared with others, and the very best stories create conversations which might live on for generations.

How does a content creator elevate their work from craft to art? The same creative parameters apply whether the delivery method is digital or analog or both. When applied with vigour, the work elevates to something beyond an ephemeral musing.

Using a mixed-media project called “Letters from Russia” as an example, Dave discusses practical tactics for harnessing inspiration, plotting the big picture, grinding out the “real work”, and finally creating a satisfying tangible artifact.

Including the role of blogs, podcasts, reader interaction, RSS, and self-publishing with chapbooks and/or on-demand web services as efficient methods of sharing and distributing the project to an audience.

Build your book with: “Letters from Russia” – a preso from Northern Voice (48MB, 34:31, 192k mp3)

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Letters from Russia, Northern Voice x 11

“Letters from Russia” – prezo re-cap from Northern Voice, 2009

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Letters from Russia in action by Retrocactus on Flickr

Overview

Here’s everything to do with my presentation of Letters from Russia at Northern Voice 2009 – a volunteer run social media conference in year #5 and Canada’s biggest shindig of its ilk.

Letters from Russia: Folio, letter 4
Letters from Russia – page from dossier of letters

I am in year 4 of presenting my mixed-media messages to a diverse and enthused audience. Previous years included Fck Stats, Make Art; 3 Ps of Podcasting; and Blogging your Passion. This year i also participated in a panel “Social Media and the Olympics: Then and Now” and moderated “Rock n’ Roll Photo” panel. Continue reading “Letters from Russia” – prezo re-cap from Northern Voice, 2009 →

Northern Voice x 11

Northern Voice 2009, Miss 604 talks about Dave Olson’s Letters from Russia

Link

Northern Voice 2009 Dave Olson Letters from Russia

Today he was talking about the process from idea to publication while sharing his personal journey surrounding his Letters from Russia series. I wasn’t live blogging his session as I wanted to pay…

Northern Voice x 11

Northern Voice 2009 Speaker Submission – Story of a Story (letters from russia)

Not to spoil any surprises but if i don’t post it here, i’ll misplace my notes and forget what i pitched to Northern Voice 2009 (awesome site by Alexa Booth too).

Pending acceptance, this will be my 4th year spieling forth to the assembled masses.

Year 1 – i pinch hit on a “Blogging your Passion” panel with awesome folks and impromptu banter and anecdotes

Year 2 – i was emergency replacement call up for “3 Ps of Podcasting” featuring my Bob Dylan-esque analog presentation

Year 3 – i was among the chosen and presented the secretive “F@ck Stats, Make Art” preso to the delight of most assembled

Year 4 – i’m hoping for a “creativity track” with Nancy White, Monique Trottier, Rachel Ashe and other artsy, craftsy types in a row – here’s my pitch and bio for 2009 (both awkwardly written in 3rd person):

Story of a Story (Letters from Russia)

Content – whether blog article, photo, video, podcast – should tell a story. The best stories are retold and shared with others, and the very best stories create conversations which might live on for generations.

How does a content creator elevate their work from craft to art? The same creative parameters apply whether the delivery method is digital or analog or both. When applied with vigour, the work elevates to something beyond an ephemeral musing.

Using a mixed-media project called “Letters from Russia” as a example, Dave will discuss practical tactics for harnessing inspiration, plotting the big picture, grinding out the “real work”, and finally creating a satisfying tangible artifact.

Dave will discuss the role of blogs, podcasts, reader interaction, RSS, and self-publishing with chapbooks and/or on-demand web services as efficient methods of sharing and distributing the project to an audience.

Presenter Bio

Poet, podcaster, pundit, and chronic documentarian, Dave Thorvald Olson particularly enjoys making arts and crafts and listening to vinyl albums while gazing at trees or soaking in a hot bath.

An ace marketer by day and renegade social media brewer by night, Dave gracefully nurtured, launched, sold, and/or jettisoned several internet companies. He now works for Raincity Studios (partially) revolutionizing the way media is created, consumed, and shared.

Published in numerous magazines, journals, and books, Dave is most proud of his handmade chapbooks, static montage art, and international audio hi-jinks. His co-conspirators frequently comment on his ability to recount stories after several micro-brews while inventing new lexicon and avoiding the bill.

Letters from Russia

“Letters from Russia” discussion on “Write Now!” radio show – interview transcription

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Audio at: “Letters from Russia” discussion on “Write Now!” radio show

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DJ Snailmail:  Our guest tonight for “Write Now, The Art & Action of Letter writing” is a letter-writer of sorts and a storyteller Dave Olson out of Vancouver, British Columbia.  Dave, can you tell me about the two websites that I visited there? Can you talk about those two; I’m not sure, the podcast one and the other one?

Dave: Sure.  Well, I do a whole bunch of different writing and creative projects and uncleweed.net (note: now daveostory.com)  is my home for all my creative arts and crafts I make, whether it be my writing projects or academic projects, and then I do a bunch of podcasts.

I do a literary podcast called, Postcards from Gravelly Beach – you can subscribe to it in iTunes.  It’s just like a little audio show I make that I send out from time to time, that’s just me doing some reading in a variety of locations and mixing up with the music.

DJ Snailmail: It was very cool I actually listened to your London podcast last night.  Your podcast from London, that was very good.

Dave: Nice.  I have a little portable recorder and I do a lot of travelling.  So, I just go on long meandering strolls and love to find places where things were originally written.  I kind of put in a little context like I did on early morning Jack Kerouac scroll in San Francisco one time where I found places from San Francisco Blues specifically on location and in situ.  I love my arts and crafts.

DJ Snailmail:   What is Gravelly Beach? Continue reading “Letters from Russia” discussion on “Write Now!” radio show – interview transcription →

Community Feasthouse, Letters from Russia, Postcards fr. Gravelly Beach

Letters from Russia on “Write Now!” show – Santa Cruz Free Radio (2007)

Audio 7 Comments
Countryside
scene from Letters from Russia

Stamp your envelope for: Letters from Russia on Santa Cruz Free Radio (.mp3, 57:07, 26MB)

Blurb

DJ Snailmail and DJ Anon discuss Letters from Russia with writer Dave Thorvald Olson on the “WriteNow! The Art & Action of Letterwriting” show, Dec. 2007 on Santa Cruz Free Radio – low-power unlicensed station – also streaming live.

Thanks to DJ Snailmail for invite and Bread the Producer for capture.

Transcription: 

Subscribe: 

Letters from Russia

Background notes about Letters from Russia for “Write Now! The Art & Action of Letter Writing “

letters from russia notes for rainzine
Letters from Russia Dossier w/backstory for @rainzine – made with old-timey Underwood typewriter & Thai mulberry paper

In prep for a chat on “Write Now! The Art & Action of Letter Writing w/ DJ Snail Mail” on Free Radio Santa Cruz’s about my Letters from Russia project, i jotted down some a bit of backstory which i’m posting here lest i misplace and to share with others with interest.  So, … here ya go :

I started writing LfR while at an Evergreen College week long course “Poets and Philosophers Discuss Love and War” at Lake Crescent, WA. I had prepared with much reading about the historical context so i could make the story accurate. I then charted out the philosophical topics to address during Herni’s political transformation and personal journey.

I wrote each letter separately, handwritten on different papers and different writing instruments and only taking a piece or two to keep the letters brief and intense. Each letter was written while out on a walk/hike (so i could be in character a bit i suppose) and i didn’t edit from the original letters at all.

I also sketched/painted that summer to fill out the story and help me visualize his world and support the letters by replacing some visual narrative – and finally bound the original letters and paintings in a wood/hemp book (a few are at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncleweed/tags/lettersfromrussia/).

I lived overseas (Japan, Micronesia) quite a bit pre-Internet so am an enthusiast of printed letters and papercraft (I collect paper ephemera from trips).

I’d very much like to find someone with some deeper historical knowledge to give a read to see if there are glaring historical
inaccuracies – though i am sure on the dates and locations – before distributing the piece more broadly.