Our featured artist, Jordan Kim, is an artist, mother, and ecologist. She has always loved creativity and nature. Crafting and playing in make-believe worlds outside were her favorite pastimes as a child. Her creative and professional pursuits have been largely inspired by the natural world. After having worked as an ecologist and natural resource manager for more than 15 years, Jordan learned that she needed both art and nature—preferably together—to feel whole. Her art business, Found & Rewound, was born in 2003 out of that desire to combine these passions and make art that honors connection—to each other and the natural world. She now works for Found & Rewound full time where she is able to combine all of her loves in one space.

Jordan makes paper collages—with a twist. People often describe her work as “painting with paper.” As the name Found & Rewound suggests, she likes to use found paper (junk mail, magazines, packaging, etc.) and re-purpose it in her artwork. Her favorite subjects are simple moments and observations from life—children, scenes from motherhood, gardening, and the natural world. Jordan loves the way collage lends itself to layering: paper, meaning, symbolism. She often tucks hidden messages into her artwork with the paper she uses, the words on it, or even little found objects that she finds and incorporates. These little “love notes” are another way Jordan tries to encourage slowing down, looking deeper, and seeing beyond first impressions.

The bends: The day I texted a suicide hotline from a philosophy conference

by Jacqueline Viola Moulton

I am only half listening. It’s all too fast—for what I worry is too sick a mind. But something cues me back in. The speaker, David M. Peña-Guzmán, from San Francisco State University, is talking about the phenomenology of whales, but what catches my attention is when he mentions the bends. …

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And then

by E. Lynn Heinisch

I keep waiting for inspiration to write on the theme “slow.” The only things that come to mind are clichés: slowing down in a sped-up world; staying present in an era of distractions; the art of doing nothing. None of this feels fresh.

Frankly, slow is not sexy. …

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Just add water

by Marissa B. Niranjan

The squeaky clunk of metal in rapid succession has become a routine part of my morning soundtrack. It is as if I am attempting CPR on the “Push for Signal” button, which metaphorically is not too far from the truth. I am trying to revive my morning by getting my kids to school on time…

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I wonder what it takes

To ride the Tilt-o-Whirl from one inch below the line.

A new set of boots?

A fast fiver?

A diversion? …

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The case for inefficiency

by Alicia Tremblay, N.D.

A Sigh escapes my lips as I bend over to stack the white ceramic plates in the cabinet. He’s doing it again. His comfortable warmth sidles up next to me, the soft plaid brushing my arm, as he leans in to set the matching bowls tidily in their place. Working together, the dishwasher is emptied and reloaded, pots scrubbed and set to dry in the rack. 

 “Is something wrong?” …

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The time we do have

by Rachel Womelsduff Gough

“I know you’re busy.”

My 81-year-old friend says this to me as I’m leaving his new apartment. He doesn’t drive anymore, so we moved him into town to be closer to church and the bakery and the bank. Places he can walk. Places where everyone knows his name and he theirs. His second day in his new home, he fell in the bathtub and hit his head and cut open both his arms. It’s a few days later and I’ve just finished changing his bandages. …

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The root of the problem

by Samuel Greenlee

It happens here every spring. As leaves break bud and flowers bloom, people are struck with inspiration to plant fruit trees. Summer seems so close at hand, and visions of sun-warmed peaches replace sugarplums dancing in their heads….

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Flicker of hope

by Lisa Shawcroft

Like many people wanting “more” out of life, I am often in search of the thing that will be the answer.

Recently, I’ve been finding feathers everywhere. Mostly crow feathers. The internet tells me that this a sign that I am being protected and am not alone….

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The anguish of waiting

by Avani Nadkarni

I am, by nature, enormously impatient.

I always stop the microwave with two seconds left. I just cannot wait for those two beats before devouring my warmed food.

I often shoot off a text—or worse, an email—too early….

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Simon Alexander

by Sarah McArthur

How did I watch
Her soft hands
pull his stiff body close
to dress his purple skin…

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