Page 12 | Bohemian | Sonoma & Napa Counties

For the Win, Another Kind of Victory

Open Mic

Jul 7, 2026

Who would have imagined that an international sporting event would be the next battleground in the fight against authoritarian repression?

Yet that scenario is unfolding right now, and the battleground is the World Cup tournament. In the past year and a half, the Trump administration has deployed ICE as an instrument of state terror. At least 46 people have died in ICE custody since Donald Trump took office last year.

Markwayne Mullin, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, made clear that ICE will be present at World Cup venues. Mullin ruled out broad immigration sweeps but not individual apprehensions.

At the same time, FIFA, international soccer’s governing body, has required stadium workers to disclose sensitive information (Social Security numbers, residential addresses, nationality and country of birth) and to allow the sharing of that information with federal authorities.

Some say that workers, vendors and visitors have nothing to fear if they’re here legally. But the argument is both specious and disingenuous. It denies the toxic power of racialized scapegoating that Trump ratcheted up over the past 11 years.

From the time he announced his first candidacy in 2015, when he declared that Mexico was sending us rapists, drugs and crime, he has made pronouncements about “sh-thole countries” like Haiti and African nations, about ways that unauthorized immigrants are “poisoning the blood” of Americans and about Haitian immigrants stealing and consuming the pets of their citizen neighbors—to name just a few of the lies.

Solidarity and discipline are needed now at the World Cup games. In Los Angeles, for example, there are about 2,000 unionized workers at SoFi Stadium—servers, cooks and bartenders—and they’ve begun to take action through their union, UNITE HERE Local 11.

They’ve filed a complaint with California’s attorney general, citing an intrusion of their privacy and the violation of their rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act. They’ve also threatened to strike unless several demands are met, including assurances that ICE will have no place at the games.

Were ICE to be forced into retreat once again, that would indeed be a World Cup victory deserved by all.

Andrew Moss writes on politics, labor and nonviolence from Los Angeles. He is an emeritus professor from the California State University.

Free Will Astrology, July 8-14

Astrology

Rob Brezsny

Jul 7, 2026

ARIES (March 21-April 19): There are only two types of humans, right? Some of us serve beauty, truth and goodness, while the rest pledge their allegiance to illusions, lies and shadows. Our planet is now caught in a colossal showdown between these two sides. And it’s high time for you to align yourself with one or the other. JUST KIDDING. The truth is far messier and more interesting: Every one of us is a blend of luminosity and ignorance. And now is a perfect moment to study how those two currents move within you. When you clearly see how you contribute to the murky jumble, your commitment to love, harmony and justice will soar.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You’ll move with style and purpose if you take quick jaunts, dare gentle risks and make a few nimble leaps of faith. You’ll go awry and astray if you wander too far afield, chase swaggering adventures or try vaulting across yawning chasms. Keep it light, sharp and intuitive, Taurus. Refrain from lugging heavy emotional baggage or drifting into daydream limbo. It’ll be wise to trust your sprightly impulses but foolish to dissect them so ruthlessly that the magic leaks out. The color amber and the number three will be your allies. Somber gray and the number four will not. Align with sly visionaries and soulful realists but sidestep bitter contrarians and nostalgic clingers.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I swear I’m smarter in some places than in others. My intelligence soars in Barcelona; Kyoto; Aix-en-Provence, France; and Florence, Italy. But I seem dull-witted in Munich, Moscow and Washington, D.C. Even in Northern California, my long-time home, some areas bring out the best in me. I feel mediocre on Valencia Street in San Francisco, for instance, whereas I’m extra wise in downtown Berkeley. Why is this? The branch of astrology known as astrocartography says that my strengths are more likely to shine in certain spots than others. In the coming weeks, Gemini, I urge you to experiment with the possibility that this may be true for you, as well. Wander far and wide. Find out where you feel most aligned with your deep, bright, genuine self.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Male humpback whales in the Pacific Ocean change their songs over the years. New phrases can spread across thousands of miles as other whales take up and transform them. Researchers don’t know why, but the pattern is clear: The whales value novelty even in their ancient rituals. They create an evolving musical tradition. Consider what this practice might suggest for your own relationship with the past, Cancerian. The memories and patterns you’re carrying don’t have to remain frozen. You can honor your history while remixing it, adding new verses and changing the key. What needs to be preserved isn’t the exact form but the living spirit.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo-born oceanographer Marie Tharp created the first comprehensive maps of the ocean floor. Her work was pivotal in proving theories about plate tectonics. She did much of this work in the 1950s, when women weren’t even allowed aboard research vessels. She had to rely on data collected by others, never seeing the terrain she mapped. But her limitation became her advantage; distance allowed her to perceive patterns that field researchers missed. I suspect that you, too, are working with incomplete information, Leo. Does this disqualify you from drawing conclusions? No. I believe your inability to access certain details will compel you to see larger patterns. What you’re missing might be precisely what enables you to see what others can’t.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The “problem” confronting you right now is unusual: Your vision is too sharp, your thinking too precise and your words too unambiguous. This would usually be good news to celebrate, but at the moment it’s blocking you from noticing the subtle openings life is presenting. Those portals may only reveal themselves if you soften your intense scrutiny and call on a creative, blurry logic. It’s like how, at night, you sometimes see more clearly when you peer from the edges of your vision rather than staring straight ahead.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): This is a perfect moment to express your own unique power more than ever before. I invite you to act with conviction, assert your influence and claim what you’ve earned. For best results, clarify your ambitions and assert your authority. Write down a formal vow or two. Don’t wait for approval from anyone higher up, and don’t waste time wondering whether destiny is on your side. The succulent opportunities aren’t somewhere else or someday later. They’re here and now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I’m exultant when a vigorous bike ride up the trail of my local mountain leaves me so cleansed and energized that a flash of truth strikes and instantly dissipates the illusions I’ve been clinging to. I get a delightful shock when, while wandering through a city’s maze of asphalt and litter, a sudden breeze carries the earthy aroma of a rebellious garden. I love it when the reckless choices of misguided leaders jolt my community into doubling down on our quest for audacious harmony, inventive affection and untamed wisdom. How about you, dear Scorpio? Where do you search for your awakenings and salvations? Keep your inner radar tuned; they’re circling close.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian physicist Freeman Dyson (1923-2020) proposed that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations might build megastructures around stars to capture their energy. These “Dyson spheres” would be detectable from Earth as unusual infrared signatures. We haven’t found any yet, but his idea revolutionized how we think about looking for alien intelligence. Moral of the story: Valuable contributions can come from inventing the framework for how to search for unknown things. In the coming weeks, Sagittarius, you might not solve problems, but you could redesign the questions. You may not find the answers, but you could create better tools for exploration.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Do you have a muse? If not, please find one. You shouldn’t go another day without a provocative, inspiring presence to stir your imagination and drive you deliciously wild. If you already have a muse and that genius has been faithfully fueling your creative fire, bestow a reward. Give a gift or blessing that provides a muse-like boost to your muse. And if your existing muse has grown quiet lately, go off on an adventure together. Dream up plans to stimulate the bursts of kaleidoscopic energy that you two are capable of generating.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In some monastic traditions, practitioners engage in “work prayer.” They transform ordinary labor into spiritual practice not by thinking holy thoughts while working but by bringing complete presence and fond attention to ordinary labors. Chopping vegetables becomes meditation. Sweeping floors becomes devotion. The sacredness arises from their wholehearted attitude. This would be an excellent experiment for you to try, Aquarius. Divine solace and inspiration will arrive as you perform your daily duties with verve and gratitude. Try this: For a few days or even two weeks, approach routine duties and familiar obligations with a ceremonial reverence. Be joyful for the privilege of being alive in the most ordinary ways.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ve entered a phase when your magnetism and charisma will expand as you focus on ruminating deeply about what’s most meaningful to you. Seeking out new teachers and fresh lessons will bring lucky breaks and helpful influences into your sphere. Each fresh insight will polish your allure, and every surge of curiosity will add to your glow. Be extra sexy and ultra smart: Cosmic energies will work in your favor as you weave your id and intellect together.

Homework: Imagine I say to you, “Teach me the most important things you know.” https://tinyurl.com/s44s44s44

Piano for Pinot, Sound Waves Might Help Vineyards Cost Cut

Daniel Ekonde

Jun 30, 2026

Piano for Pinot, Sound Waves Might Help Vineyards Cost Cut

At 2pm on a Saturday, “Frère Jacques,” a classic French nursery rhyme, flows from a red speaker mounted on a metal pole with a solar panel in a dormant vineyard in the Russian River Valley in Santa Rosa.

The music, regulated from a customized app, RegenApp, plays for two minutes, vibrating through the bare vines, which are budding, with the aim of stimulating photosynthesis, essential for the growth and well-being of the grapevines.

Regina Martinelli, owner of the 14-acre vineyard, part of the Martinelli Winery, hopes the music played at a one-hour interval from dawn to dusk will be the only thing the vines need to grow this year, having tested the technology in 2024 alongside fertilizers and pesticides. She thought the music that year made the plants vibrant and healthier, so if everything goes according to plan, she would not need to fertilize or spray during cultivation.

“[I’m] curiously experimenting with it and being open-minded,” said Martinelli, who doesn’t yet have a buyer for her grapes after her previous client went bankrupt in 2025 following a drop in wine consumption across the country. She said she will only apply sulphur to amend the soil and not to feed the vines.

The device known as Quantum Sphere Helios 2 is developed by mathetician and musician Archippe Yepmou, and it’s being experimented in two farms in the Russian River Valley, with the aim of expanding to other farms in Santa Rosa and Napa Valley.

Yepmou developed the technology in 2015 when he completed his research on rhythmic patterns and pulsation, the mathematical method time is beaten in music. To understand the mathematics behind music patterns, the classical musician used calculus and the equal temperament scale—a universal mathematical algorithm used to set up modern instruments—to recalculate what he believed was the original pulse of music to create his own pattern.

When he played the patterns on a piano for six months in his Paris apartment, he noticed the plants in his neighborhood blossomed more than that of his neighbors. He thought the music had a positive effect on them.

“When I told my wife about it, she said I was crazy,” Yepmou said.

To move beyond his curiosity and prove that he wasn’t just hallucinating, he collaborated with the City of Paris and the Polytechnic Institute in Paris to test the finding before setting up a greenhouse laboratory on the windy mountains of Woodside, San Mateo County.

“I wanted to test the technology in a very complex environment with a lot of wind and different plants,” Yepmou said. He noted that the vegetables and tomatoes he planted in Woodside had an explosive growth, including the sequoia trees around it, because of the music patterns he played systematically.

There are numerous studies proving that plants are sensitive to music. A 2004 study published in the Environment and Conservation Journal in 2023 found that sound vibration increased the number of roots and lengths of the kiwi plant. One kHz with 100 dB boosted the Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) content of the plant, which determines how much energy a plant has for growth, nutrients transfer and defense against pests and diseases.

Sounds can affect the growth of plants negatively or positively, said Dr. Laurent Bekale, a Stanford University biophysicist. Bekale pointed out that either the Quantum Sphere sounds are creating the ideal environment (influencing soil-enriching organisms) for growth of the vines or the sound is solely impacting the plant. “The hypothesis that can be tested in the lab is to validate whether the sounds directly impact the [vines] plants,” Bekale added.

Ryan Maier of Maier Vineyard Management had listened to a similar study in a podcast before Yepmou approached him one spring afternoon in 2023 when he was mowing a plus 30-year-old pinot noir vineyard just in front of Yepmou’s house in the Russian River Valley. Yepmou moved from Woodside to the area with the aim of testing his technology on vines there.

“When he told me about music helping vineyards to grow, I was skeptical and at the same time curious,” Maier said. He noted that a friend had sent him a podcast about vine owners in France playing Mozart to enhance growth, and he’d dismissed the article for being mystical. Maier recalled having a fascinating conversation with Yepmou, though they didn’t agree to collaborate on the technology.

But two seasons later, he noticed invigoration and dark-green pigmentation from the side of the vineyard a few feet to Yepmou’s house, because he’d been playing the sounds in his yard full of trees, including redwood. “The portion which was in front of (Yepmou’s) house was extremely stunted,” Maier said. He explained that the stuntedness is because of the giant trees shading the vines from sunlight and their roots competing with the vines in soil penetration.

“The next time (Yepmou) approached me, I had become a believer of the music,” Maier said. He had done his own research about how music vibrations can improve photosynthesis in plants, so when he and Yepmou had another discussion about the project in spring 2025, they were on the same page.

“He says to me, ‘Ryan, don’t spray any fungicides,’ and I thought that was a huge risk,” Maier said, fearing the vines would be vulnerable to powdery mildew. But he used just the sounds without any fertilizers and pesticides.

“The vines were mildew-free, and yields climbed from four tonnes per acre to seven,” Maier recalled. Yepmou said they tested the grapes for wine-making, and they were of high quality.

Maier, who’s been working with wine growers in Sonoma County for almost a decade, has partnered with Yepmou to translate the wonders of Quantum Sphere to farmers. He said adopting the technology will help farmers reduce fertilizer, pesticides and labor cost to 70%. “[It can save farmers] $10,000 an acre,” he noted.

But he says most farmers are hesitant to pivot, as they’re still dealing with market shocks and are reluctant to abandon traditional cultivation methods passed down for generations.

Martinelli, whose family started growing grapes in the land in the 1880s, is willing to go all out with the sound patterns. But if she gets a buyer for her grapes, it will be down to how the buyer wants the grapes to be cultivated. Yet using sound energy to stimulate growth resonates with her, as she’s a life coach, using energetics and quantum field to help her clients to be emotionally sovereign.

“If it goes really well, it can really change the landscape of how farming happens,” Martinelli said. “We could spray less, which makes better ground soil [and water].”

Linda Perry Rocks, a Butterfly Tree and The Submarine Show

Crush

Weeklys Staff

Jun 30, 2026

Linda Perry Rocks, a Butterfly Tree and The Submarine Show

San Rafael
Linda Perry Rocks Fair

With the recent release of the documentary Linda Perry: Let It Die Here in Bay Area theaters and an upcoming tour with the Indigo Girls, singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and reality TV star Perry is enjoying deepening interest in her estimable oeuvre. The former lead singer of 4 Non Blondes—who has worked as a producer and songwriter for artists including Christina Aguilera, P!nk, Alicia Keys, Adele and Dolly Parton—will lend her talents and presence to Stars, Stripes & Stories—the four‑day Marin County Fair this coming Fourth of July weekend. Perry will perform a Pride Day-themed concert at 7:30pm, Friday, July 3, which is aptly timed for this cultural moment, as pretty much everyone is screaming at top of their lungs, “What’s going on?” Other Marin County Fair concerts feature The Family Stone, Steel Pulse, Pete Floyd, Mustache Harbor, Super Diamond, Fleetwood Macramé and Lupita Infante. The Marin County Fair is open daily from 11am to 11pm, July 1-5, at 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. For concert times, tickets and more information, visit marinfair.org.

Glen Ellen
The Butterfly Tree

Some botanical spectacles announce themselves with fanfare. Others quietly bloom once every few years. Sonoma Botanical Garden is preparing for a rare mass flowering of Emmenopterys henryi, an exceptionally uncommon Chinese tree prized for its fragrant clusters of creamy white blossoms and distinctive wing-like sepals that flutter like butterflies in the breeze. Considered near-threatened in the wild and the sole member of its genus, the species is a living relic of ancient forests that once spanned the Northern Hemisphere. The garden’s towering specimen—grown from seed collected during a 1996 expedition to China—is expected to flower for roughly three weeks, offering visitors a fleeting opportunity to experience one of the world’s most celebrated ornamental trees in full bloom. Nature, as always, keeps its own schedule. Expected to begin this week and continue for approximately three weeks, weather permitting, at Sonoma Botanical Garden, 12841 Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen. More information at sonomabg.org.

Monte Rio & Penngrove
Double Dose of Dirty Cello

Why settle for just one Fourth of July concert when one can catch two? Dirty Cello celebrates Independence Day with performances at opposite ends of Sonoma County, beginning with a lunchtime set at Wonderland Pizzeria in Monte Rio before heading south for an evening show at the Penngrove Pub. Fronted by virtuoso cellist Rebecca Roudman, Dirty Cello has built an international following by swapping the traditional lead guitar for an electrifying cello, blending rock, blues, bluegrass and Americana into high-energy performances that are equal parts concert and hoedown. Whether one is easing into the holiday or ending it on a high note, the band offers two chances to celebrate with one of the North Bay’s most distinctive live acts. 12:30–2:30pm and 7–10pm, Saturday, July 4, at Wonderland Pizzeria, 20391 Hwy. 116, Monte Rio (free), and Penngrove Pub, 10005 Main St. ($12). More information at dirtycello.com.

Larkspur
The Submarine Show

Two performers. No props. No dialogue. Somehow, an entire undersea adventure emerges. The Submarine Show is an award-winning feat of physical comedy from Bay Area clowns Slater Penney and Jaron Hollander, whose imaginative production transforms bodies, voices and movement into a cast of explorers, sea creatures and improbable characters. When two submariners crash to the ocean floor, the result is a nonstop journey through slapstick, mime, clowning and theatrical invention that has entertained audiences worldwide since its 2009 debut. Hollander, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, and Penney bring decades of circus, puppetry and physical theater experience to a family-friendly show at Lark Theater that proves imagination remains the greatest special effect. 4pm, Saturday, July 11, at Lark Theater, 549 Magnolia Ave., Larkspur. Tickets and more information at larktheater.net.

Happy 250, America: A Nation Fails to Show Up to its Own Party

Daedalus Howell

Jun 30, 2026

Happy 250, America: A Nation Fails to Show Up to its Own Party

Unless one counts the “Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250” fracas on the White House lawn as the pinnacle of civic celebration, one might conclude that the federal government has phoned in the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration.

This is giving real every-other-weekend bad-dad-forgot-your-birthday energy. This is some gas-station bouquet, silver-anniversary-level crap. This is “I thought your mom was handling the cake” finger-pointing. This is showing up to the party late with a half-inflated Mylar balloon that says “Congrats Grad” because it was the only one left at CVS. This is the republic’s milestone birthday being celebrated with a sad sheet cake, a spork and the whiff of propane. This is a nation founded on a rocket’s red glare waving a dead glowstick from the junk drawer.

I mean, you had two and half centuries to plan this. We did a Bicentennial dry run 50 years ago and went all out. In 1989, the French had their Bastille Day bicentennial and even made little edible guillotines, and that still was in better taste than a green reflecting pool. ’70s America had Watergate, Vietnam and the energy crisis, and they still got the damn colors right.

The best it can seem to muster is a bipartisan fundraising initiative called “Giving 4th,” which is, according to its website, “a movement to establish July 4 as a new national day of charitable giving” for organizations that the government used to fund. There is something uniquely dispiriting about commemorating 250 years of self-government by passing the tricorn hat.

And look, I am not asking for a national bacchanal of tasteful excess. I don’t need laser eagles. I don’t need the cast of Hamilton rapping the Federalist Papers whilst riding a drone swarm (though that, admittedly, would be cool). But give us something. A little pageantry. A little coherence. Maybe even a little responsible governance. Is the Smashing Pumpkins playing an America’s Block Party gig in Los Angeles the best we can do? Seriously, this is real—tickets are still available for just $17.76.

Because at 250, America is no longer young, scrappy and hungry—it’s old enough to know better—and do better.

Daedalus Howell is editor of this paper, the writer-director of the feature film ‘Werewolf Serenade,’ author of the novel ‘Quantum Deadline’ and host of ‘The Drive,’ weekdays on 95.5 FM.

Harvest Time, From Garden to Kitchen with Thomas Mendel

Food & Drink

Amber Turpin

Jun 30, 2026

Harvest Time, From Garden to Kitchen with Thomas Mendel

Hamel Estate sits on a hillside above Sonoma Valley, where winemaker John Hamel has spent years developing certified biodynamic and organic vineyards through dry farming.

The winery’s culinary program, under executive chef Thomas Mendel, has become a meaningful part of the Hamel experience.

Mendel came to cooking early, learning at the side of his Italian-American grandmother in her kitchen. He went on to train formally at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and later completed the CIA’s wine program in St. Helena. Prior to joining Hamel in 2023, he served as sous chef at Hazel Hill, the signature restaurant at Montage Healdsburg, part of the team that opened the property.

The new Chef’s Experience tasting features four small courses paired with Hamel wines, highlighting the culinary garden that Mendel planted last year. Farmed biodynamically, it produced its first harvest in early December and ultimately produced more than 100 pounds of beets, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, eggplant and other vegetables. The garden currently holds strawberries, tatsoi, herbs and edible flowers, with summer squash, corn, cucumbers and eggplant.

Worth noting as well is the winery itself, a contemporary space with floor-to-ceiling windows that open the building to its hillside setting and the valley views beyond. A small herd of Scottish Highland cattle graze the vineyards and contribute to the estate’s biodynamic farming cycle.

Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?

Thomas Mendel: I found a love for cooking at home, and I always remember being in the kitchen with my Nonna at a young age. I started out cooking part time during high school at a local seafood restaurant. That then translated to a career when my dad suggested I look into culinary school. I applied to the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park; got my degree; and moved out to California, where my professional career really started.

What is your favorite thing to cook (or eat) and why?

I can never turn down freshly made pasta. It’s one of the most versatile mediums, works in all seasons, and can be almost therapeutic when making it.

What ingredients do you use or eat the most?

I love tomatoes, mushrooms, ramps and all types of citrus, to name a few. While I don’t typically cook with it too much, one of my vices is dark chocolate.

What are some of your go-to places to go out for a sit-down meal? What about take out?

I love Bear at Stanley Ranch, Charlie’s in St. Helena, Amami Sushi in Napa and Ciccio’s in Yountville. We don’t do much take out, but we like a burger or salad from Gott’s or pizza from Croccante.

Last meal on Earth?

Costco hot dog plus Diet Coke, any sandwich from Deli Board in SF, Agnolotti del Plin from Cotogna, soft serve from Angler and a glass of Green Chartreuse VEP.

Hamel Family Wines,15401 Sonoma Hwy., Sonoma. 707.996.5800. hamelfamilywines.com.

Infinite Heart: The Art of Samantha Dawn Kuhlman

Locals

Cincinnatus Hibbard

Jun 30, 2026

Infinite Heart: The Art of Samantha Dawn Kuhlman

I don’t know why, but some types of people are common (and dominate the social ecology). Others are rare. Some I wish were common. I think of my friend Sam, otherwise known as the artist Samantha Dawn Kuhlman.

Although she sometimes presents as a super goof in social spaces, Kuhlman has a stubborn independence of mind. One that resists all imposition of hierarchies on things. One time, I heard someone gush that she was the coolest, to which she replied, “But everybody’s the coolest.” (Not true.)

For that reason, I think she would (kindly) hate this introduction. And perhaps the premise of all broadcast media—which to some extent has always been about putting exceptional individuals on platforms (pedestals) so they can perpetuate new social types among us (influence).

Let me describe Kuhlman. She is from the Buckeye State. She is a trained actor. She is obsessed with purple (purple everything). She gives strangers long loving hugs. She is an original thinker, and replies thoughtfully and “essayistically.” She involves others in childlike play. She is learning to be a pilot. And she came to our (audio-only) interview dressed as a snail (with the gentle admonition that we can all slow down).

Cincinnatus Hibbard: Samantha Dawn Kuhlman, introduce yourself.

Samantha Dawn Kuhlman: Shout out to my parents for creating me and giving me this name. I’d consider myself a curious heart in motion, multidisciplinary artist and creative guide for play, presence and expression.

What are your principal media at this time?

Good thing you mentioned ‘at this time’; otherwise, we could go on forever. Creation of all sorts, especially performance and visual arts. Lately, I’ve been deep diving into meditation. It’s been special to learn perspectives that feel familiar, as if I have practiced them my whole life.

Tell us about infinity, one of the main themes in your work and philosophy.

At times, I’ve felt lost because the things I’m most sure about are infinite: learning, growing, creating, adventuring… Eventually, I realized one of my favorite feelings is being lost, but at peace within that lostness. Infinity reminds me there is always more to explore.

Tell us about play.

So important to remember. There is no wrong way to play. It’s a pathway to presence, creativity and connection.

Tell us about dance.

I took dance classes as a child and somehow by high school I was too cool to be seen moving in my body around other humans. Later, I found flow arts (meditative dance with LED or fire props), rediscovered my love for dance, and to this day, movement is my favorite form of medicine. It isn’t about what it looks like—it’s about how it feels.

Tell us about love. As I discern it, another of the themes that you bring forth in life and art.

Pretty sure this is the answer to everything when it comes down to it. If there’s one thing I have, it’s an infinite amount of love. I believe it’s within us all, even when it’s difficult to see.

Tell us about keeping an open heart.

Sometimes, I get my feelings hurt easily. I try to see this as an opportunity for growth. In difficult moments, somehow remembering the hurt only exists because I have love, and that love doesn’t go away no matter what, feels better than closing my heart.

Learn more: Kuhlman invites creative exploration and connection through art, movement, performances, guided meditations and hoop dance workshops. A forever student, she translates and shares what she learns, offering spaces designed for people to feel grounded enough to explore and open enough to grow. Explore samanthadawn.art or @artvibrations on Instagram.