Written by Kyle J. Smith

Much has happened at the Salt Space in the past two months- beads of styrofoam littering the floor and not-so-white patches on the wall are all that remain to remind us of the creative battles that have taken place. Two words, no, ideals, stick with me now, planted deep in my brain by farmers posing as poets and jazz musician and paper artists: Trust and Truth.

Did you read the newspaper today? Patrons of the Salt Space spent over a month petting a newspaper as the Paper and Pulp Exhibition graced the white walls of our creative tabernacle. The exhibition, curated by Grace Hwang and Leann Boyd of Pop-Up Art Studios, featured works of art made completely of paper. From a scene featuring two people and (roughly) one million tacks in the wall to a whale’s tail, the entire show had everyone staring at their recycling bins the next day with more creative energy than ever before.

Anis Mojgani, Buddy Wakefield and Mike McGee took the stage as the Night Kite Revival, poets who waltzed in with their own audience, die-hard fans who placed hope upon hope on the clothesline the poets assembled. Before the show, I listened as the trio planned their evening. Their fragmented sentences can be summed up in three words, “Let’s have fun.” Humbly, they laid themselves upon the altar, never treading upon each others’ boundaries as they composed one of the most effective, heart massaging, stupidly funny shows I have ever seen. They shared every moment like a true team, trusting each other’s instincts and the audience’s energy.

The first two installments in the Loft Lab Jazz Series, presented by Destination Out, left every audience member tapping rhythms with their shoes they never could have imagined alone. Musicians may never show up on time, but they do arrive with plenty of truth straight from the buffet of their lives. Joe Giardullo, Harvey Sorgen and Darius Jones spoke directly to the souls (and soles) of their audiences with styles hewed out of the marble of their talent by practice, time and laughter. Music penetrates any material, lifestyle, age, begging that its listeners find truth in their own breaths.

Enter the Salt Space with your wet umbrella, unfinished Daily To-Do List, and ceaselessly ringing cell phone, enjoy remarkable entertainment, then leave creatively invigorated. And take all that other stuff with you too. Our Lost and Found is already too full of dreams.