CELLAR DOOR

I heard you knocking
at our cellar door
shakey made a run to New York
and he had scored
and you were desperate

how did you know?

acceptance proceeds at
its own pace
perception is constantly
a step behind
a step behind

the bottle,
empty.
friday evening.

the needle,
empty.
thursday night.

it was a secret
until it wasn’t

the neighborhood kids didn’t hear our warnings
they were simply kids
tired of warnings
tired of fighting
tired of trying
some survived
some were revived
and some of you died

credits

lyrics by Ellery Twining

https://ellerytwining.bandcamp.com/music

from RESULTS, track released June 1, 2023

Love Conquers All

The Demeter and Persephone Story: The Genesis

As the legend goes, Hades rarely ventured out of the underworld. But, the few times he did, he encountered Persephone. She was the alluring daughter of Zeus and Demeter.

From the moment he first set his eyes on her, he was drawn to her and instantly fell in love. So, Hades went to his brother Zeus to consult him. Zeus had previously promised Hades one of his daughters in marriage. And when Hades told him that he wanted to marry Persephone, Zeus obliged.

He knew, however, that Persephone’s mother Demeter would never allow her daughter to marry the dark god of the underworld. Hades was heartbroken that he would never be able to have Persephone as his wife. So, the two brothers hatched a plan that would see him marry the woman he desperately loved.

The next morning, Demeter and her daughter descended upon the earth. The two were incredibly close just as most mothers and daughters are when girls begin to transition into womanhood.

Demeter was the life-giving goddess of agriculture, grain, and harvest. She provided mortals with plants, food, and vegetables. She also gave them the ability to cultivate wheat.

She showed them how to plant the seeds, nurture them, and harvest them. She even taught them how to grind the grain to produce flour, which they could turn into bread. Demeter left her daughter with the nymphs of the sea to watch over her while she went to tend to her earthly duties.

Zeus knew that the nymphs would never let Persephone out of their sight for fear of Demeter’s wrath. So, he had Gaia plant an enchanting narcissus flower in a nearby garden. As Persephone wandered away from her mother and into the garden, she saw the flower and was immediately drawn to its beauty.

Free From Gravity

Django Django are a British art rock band based in London, England. Formed in 2009, the band has released four studio albums starting with their self-titled debut in 2012. Their latest album Glowing in the Dark was released on 12 February 2021. This music video was shot in Stonington, CT and released 24 January 2021.

Written, Directed, and Produced by James Canty

COMMUTING

A day in the life of an American based Drone operator – a modern breed of warrior ‘Commuting’ examines the dramatic changes in the way modern battles are waged and questions the banality of remote, commuter warfare.

Written, Directed and Produced by James Canty

Chicago 1893 Overview

“The future is now Old Man!”, he said to himself.

Official Website: http://chicago1893.com

Documentary Film: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JCPFJ54

Paperback/ebook/audiobook: https://amazon.com/dp/1082413585

Merchandise: https://teespring.com/stores/1893-chi…

Soundtrack: https://chicago1893.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicago.1893

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chicago_1893

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago.1893

PORTERSVILLE & GREENMANVILLE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 AT 5:45 PM

Mystic River Park

Join us for this special presentation on the unique history, arts, and culture of Mystic during the 1990s at Mystic River Park featuring the local artists, writers, and musicians who were there: Matthew Tarbox, Arden Levine, Michelle Gemma, Stephen Chupaska, and djshecky.

Matthew Tarbox, co-editor of Hozomeen Press, will present. Hozomeen Press published over 30 magazines and poetry chapbooks throughout the 1990s in Mystic. He will show the audience the Mason’s Stoup process, and how the originals were also used as promotional material.

Arden Levine, poet, author, literary editor and urban planner. Originally from Washington, DC and now living and working in New York City, she was saturated in Mystic and New London culture during her years as a Connecticut College student. She will be reading new work, including poems from her recent collection Ladies’ Abecedary (Harbor Editions, 2021), and discussing how the various art forms of female identity-assertion in the 1990s (from pop music to photography to politics) influence her approach to writing in the current moment.

Michelle Gemma, owner of Mystic Army Navy in Downtown Mystic. She became a fine art photographer and contributed to the iconic Mason’s Stoup and the Root of Twinkle, as well as being a founding member of Greenman Collective, where she housed her darkroom throughout the 1990s. She will discuss the impact of the Root of Twinkle on the Mystic art scene, and read from her forthcoming photography book, and show her most recent artistic creation: WEATHERALL- a music video which highlights the dance culture in Mystic in the 1990s.

Stephen Chupaska, writer, reporter, and producer. A member of The Day reporting staff from 2004 to 2011 and a former radio host, Stephen covered arts, culture, and politics in Southeastern Connecticut and San Diego, CA after growing up in the New London and Mystic music scene in the 1990s, including spending hours in front of the bins at Mystic Disc. Now a resident of New York City working as a communications professional, Stephen has developed and performed live storytelling (featured on Netflix and NPR) exploring the humor of ‘90s young adulthood.

djshecky, one of the house DJs at the famed Mystic dancehall “Mars Hall”, which is featured tonight in the “Weatherall” video production helmed by Michelle Gemma. He hosted a weekly radio show “Radio Post” on WCNI from 1990-1996, honing his layered style of mixing up to six sources into one cohesive mix. In addition, he has produced demo recordings for local bands at his Centraal Studio since 1997, spanning hip-hop, electronica, art rock, and indie rock bands from Mystic.

This event is free and open to the public.
Date:
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Time:
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Contact:
Michelle Gemma 860-536-1877 mgemmaphoto@gmail.com
Location:
Mystic River Park
http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/xp_newpopevent.cfm

I made a music video!

Weatherall is the first music video from Ellery Twining’s debut solo album “Revenge”, released 17 January 2022.
It is a deep dive into intergenerational relationships…
Written and directed by Mystic photographer Michelle Gemma, featuring archival photographs from Mystic’s 1990’s underground dance party scene at Mars Hall, alongside video footage from last decade’s recreation of scene at the Workshop.
Edited by Jim Canty.
The song and video are a tribute to British producer/DJ Andrew Weatherall (1963-2020), who passed as Twining was writing the songs for “REVENGE.”
Song credits: Ellery Twining (all Noises) Dave Bentley (the Bass Guitar) Brad Bensko (Electric Guitar) Jason Curland (Percussion)
Produced by Eric Lichter at Dirt Floor Recording & Production Haddam, CT
Engineered by Guido Falivene
Video credits: All photographs and video by Michelle Gemma Except two indoor Mars Hall dance party photos by Kerry Niering and Mars Hall demo photos by Erin Pipping
Models: Carly Straub and Jane Anderson
Photographed March 2022 in Mystic, CT, USA

1 Comment

https://youtu.be/2Nr_hx_9jiQ.