In SevenDaysVT, Signs of the Times: My Neighbor Debra on Protesting Again

Read the comic in the Cartoon Issue of SevenDays VT, published July 9, 2025 HERE!

After having a great time with my neighbor Debra at as many protests as I could this winter/spring I pitched this comic for the yearly Cartoon Issue to editor Dan Bolles at SevenDaysVT. I interviewed my neighbor Debra while on a walk, drafted this comic, showed it to her for her input, edited again for clarity and correctness, turned it in, and left for Italy (with my dad and kids) and Greece (for the archaeology at Kenchreai and Mud House Residency) for two months. I returned to VT just in time to see it in print. Attending these protests, especially with Debra’s humorous, practical, and hopeful-depsite-all attitude, and standing/marching together with so many people willing to brave the cold then rain, gave me energy and the feeling that resistance is worth it, and necessary for change. The fight against the current regime needs documentation in print, not only on the internet, and am glad for the chance.

I’m proud to be in the issue with CCS alumni (students in my Thesis Seminar class) Clover Ajamie and Kristin Shull, as well as national cartooning heroes Harry Bliss and Alison Bechdel. Both have new books, You Can Never Die and Spent, which I’m reading side by-side with the joy and delight of inhabiting their worlds for the moment. The endpapers of Spent show the same red chacos and blue hokas I wear—another way of walking in Alison’s (cartoon) shoes.

How a Librarian Created Community in a Pandemic

I drove to Westport, VT (about half hour from Burlington) and met writer Margaret Grayson and librarian Bree Drapa, to hear about what she’s done to keep the the community together over the past 10 months—which was a lot! I had 2 days to draw, ink, copyedit and color the story. Read it here and in the Dec 16 issue of SevenDays.

In Seven Days Quaranzine

Seven Days VT editor Dan Bowles compiled stories, poems, photos and comics responding to our Covid-19 world for the May 6 issue Quaranzine. I was glad to exorcize some of my anxiety about school-at-home in this comic. SOME of my anxiety.

My Life with Charlotte Bronte in SevenDaysVT

This one page is in the annual Cartoon Issue, with a great cover by Alison Bechdel.  

Euripides' Helen

The week of March 20-25 is consumed by the production of Euripides' Helen at the Black Box Theatre at the Main Street Landing in Burlington, VT, and stars UVM students & affiliates.  The show is a unique mix of pathos and comedy, with new music, dance, costumes, and my projected images.  

The play began with John (Franklin)'s idea to honor Phil Ambrose (professor emeritus) and his desire to compose music for ancient songs.  Following the constraints of ancient rhythms and tunings, John creates songs that are both accurate to possiblilty and catchy.  He had an electrified lyre made especially for the occasion by Creston Guitars.  John and the other two musicians seem to be having a very good time with this music.

John asked me to design the costumes, sets, and to create projections that accompany three of the songs.  I hand-cut stencils and then painted trims that were sewn onto costumes for the chorus, Helen, Menelaos, the Dioscouri, and the orchestra. Rachel Cosgrove and very hard working student volunteers Zoe Anszperger, Eileen Parks, and Claire Wilcox made all the costumes with tremendous care and attention to detail.  The inspiration for the costumes comes from Greek vase painting, Minoan wall paintings of Santorini, and Egyptian art.  

On stage there is a 4-foot high fence of lotus flowers and the one prop, a bench with hieroglyphs, that I painted in our garage.  

I created around 80 images that are projected while the chorus sings the three Stasimon songs.  The effect of the chorus of seven women dancing and singing to a live band in front of the projections is magical--in a strange Ancient-Greece-in-Vermont kind of way! 

So many people have been involved in making this production happen--that alone is impressive for an extra-curricular event for all of us.  Many thanks to everyone for making this show possible.  

Dan Bolles wrote an article for SevenDaysVT about the play.

Demeter beside the deep roaring ocean