Tale Tumblers

2022, Commissioned by the San Francisco Institute of Possibility

Created by Kaytea Petro, Kelleigh Trowbridge and Julian Barber

Glazed Ceramic with Cobalt

Each is approximately 4” x 4” x 5” (Photos by Todd Seelie)

We made 100 tumblers with imagery derived from every line of the following poem by Chicken John and hid them around the 2022 Strawberry Moon Campout. The idea was that people would interrogate what they had found and why - thus wandering around and building community of conversation as well as a shared mythos.

Fairy - tormentor of my dreams

'Fairy!' said I, 'thing of fey.'

I awoke and flung the angel

Deep into that darkness thick

Once I sat engaged and dreaming

Much I marveled the splendid coven

On that day my soul grew hungry

My passion is the magic elixir

Deep into that darkness fantasying

When I thought of the fairy

Much I marvelled the elvish pal

I heard a mad, lonely palling

In a kingdom full of cupids

On that day my soul grew immortal

Back into my memories counting

'I crave the marzipan,' I muttered

And its eyes have all the tinkering

It threw its ghost against the cherubs 

Eagerly I looked for the sissy

The mad mermaid - that sly silkie

My crepe paper, I could not awaken  

I felt compelled to sniff the nosegays

The sprites twinkling in the sun

Munificent thumping 

Forever only known to the pixies 

Back into my memories tapping

Only this and a earl

I threw my blade upon the floor 

I was a gnome and you an ogre

I discovered the secrets

I crave the lacey lovebird 

I heard an elvish, mad grinning

Who is this daliesque santa claus

Deep into that darkness sponsoring

I have dreamed of the scepters

By the grave I saw the satyrs

A musk hung over the conclave

The smiling story swagging 

I crave the smiling, smelly story 

I awoke and flung the blinds

I have dreamed of the fauns

The the immortal glitter

I heard a heavy, pedal tinkering

That moment my soul grew enchanted

Who is this lonely lovebird

Deep into that darkness grinning

The mad marsh marigold miming 

I crave the splendid snuffbox 

I awoke and flung the fruitcake

Are thou this magical mandrake?

Deep into that darkness enchanting

Spinning wool from the wolves

I heard a mad, immortal swagging

I have dreamed of the pistils

That moment my soul grew weary

I look for you in the damp earth

The blade mocks, the torch flares

A penny for your thoughts indeed!

Ask the gnomes hiding in the thicket

There be dragons inside us all    

Such a tender sound, a coin hitting a cup

Be careful what one gets good at…

Riddles are keys

That moment my soul grew dark   

Turn back now, I will think no less of you

The stale, cracked parchment yawns

The children drink the moon tea

The madman drunk on moon tea

The muse bathing in moon tea

There is a djinn trapped in the wood

There is magic in the moon tea   

The queen drinks the moon tea

The valkyries drink the moon tea

The runes on the blade tell a different story

The lutes gayly play   

The stains on his hands betray his words 

In that moment my soul grew hungry 

The magical script came to life

Only dwarves can stand to drink the stuff

Ancient oaths will be upheld!

The lute strums the player

The gnome was named Fraznet Dringle

The blows from the hammer on the anvil

A talking abacus? That’s impossible!   

The spirit in the bottle

Six fingers on his left hand

One single drop of venom dangling off the fang

Why would someone put a lock on a book?

The wise, noble effretti took note

They walk the earth as menfolk

The knives are made of lies

Today is yesterday’s tomorrow   

The lightning bugs are out!

Lanterns hang at the full moon market

We will never forget the strawberry moon

Altar of the lupine lords   

Jewel on black velvet

Pearl in the sea

The pale perfect moon

BLAH