Dinner Party Guest #6: Julie Larson

Photo by Sarah Faith Strong

The first person I could ever be myself with was Julie Larson. We were twelve year old awesome lil weirdos- and now we are in our forties, doubling down on the authentic goofiness that comes from being deeply known and loved by a friend in all of one’s life phases thusfar. We have been like Mother Trees to each other, sending messages through art and conversation and memories over three decades.

She has always had a poetic nature to her, and I daresay she has always brought out the artistic nature in me. As teenagers we asked questions, so many questions. Turns out that is key- to be in wonder and to ask what else is possible.

I recently had a conversation with someone about the cynicism of the 90s and how it held us back then, and continues to threaten any amount of hope we may have cobbled together. Yet my longstanding friendship with Julie is the source of so much poetic potential in the spaces that we can have a sense of control over.

As the September Bright Moon Salon guest, Julie led us in some writing practices that were rooted in something broken that we were supposed to bring with us that evening. It was so moving to be in a space of collective understanding and support of the sense of being broken and yet healing and hopeful. We each left feeling that although we had collectively processed so much heaviness, we were lighter for it. Is this the power of poetry in community?

Photo by Sarah Faith Strong

During our Mother Trees dinner, I looked over to see Julie writing in her journal, pulling together inspiration, the perfect words to describe the feeling of a taste. It was the essence of the night, and I can not wait to read her words in print on the gallery walls of the Arthouse. If we are lucky, we may even get a live performance.