Sedition Books, Houton, TX

We went to Houston unsure of what to expect. Everyone we spoke with in Austin basically told us that Houston was not the place for us. We caught a ride in with our friends and navigated the expansive highway into town. A few blocks from the exit, we came across a tiny outpost of loving creation, Sedition Books. You could tell from the outside that this was a place for freethinkers and artists, and looking in we saw a diverse collection of people who had gathered for their weekly potluck dinner. Maybe the rest of Houston is not for us, but this was definitly our kind of place. We went in and said hello, set up Thrashley's new paintings and figured out how to make the store's stereo system work out as a PA. We started the night with a discussion of public art and political message - why we thought it was important or even acceptable to be making art in the street or other public areas. This was the first time we really had to answer questions about what we were doing - people were interested and wanted to know why we had come all this way. It was a challenge to explain, and we found ourselves learning a little more about what we were doing in the process. This led into the poetry performance, with beats playing over the stereo and no microphone. With everyone sitting in a big circle, it felt more like an intimate talk - and afterword we did a discussion of the work. The immediate feedback, questions and answers developed a new element to the show - participation and integration. This expereince really gave us a new perspective on what we were doing, how it can impact others, and what we could do further develop and refine it.

Thanks to everyone who is making it happen for original, personal, diy culture at Sedition Books. Check out their online presence and if you are in Houston, drop by, because they are a friendly and fun bunch of people.