Wishwood
A creative gathering place surrounded by trees.

Wishwood began in 2022 as an offering to my
community in Seattle Washington. I have invited an
array of artists and performers to present their work at
monthly gatherings during the summer. Presenters have
included writers, menders, musicians, readers,
filmmakers, clairvoyants, poets, gardners, and a variety
of thinkers. It is an absolute pleasure to offer
these events under the trees.

2025

Third Annual Arbor Day Celebration
This year we presented the movie,
Do You Know Why We’re Here?,
Frances Woods and Shelli Markee
performedand composed the live score.
A book of vintage photographs,
Women in Trees, by Jochen Raiss
inspired the movie. In addition the Wishwod
library was open for looking and lending.
Following the movie we gathered
togetherunder the trees to celebrate
new blooms, sprouts and branches.

2024

Circus of the Strange
Bringing this years’ season to a close was the annual
fall event by Morphic Mythology. A magical Crankie
and Step Dancing show by special guests Sue Truman
and Cil Pierce was surrounded by curious projections
and exhibits by Lana Sundberg and Ursula Brookbank.

Reading with Tea
As the long days of summer
ebbed we enjoyed a lazy afternoon
with books. The Wishwood Library
was open for browsing and lending.
Our featured edition “Commom Sense
Physics, Electromagnetic Energy from
Antennas to Atoms,” by Larry Spring
was on view as the video Lighting Storm,
by Rebeca Bollinger played in the shop.
Mint tea and lemon cake were served.

Summer Travel
Seattle based artist Jesse Paul Miller shared
films/raw footage, field recordings, and radio
gathered in Southeast Asia during multiple trips
between 1995 and 2023.

While the video played continuously in the shop
we gathered in the garden for refreshments and delicious
food from the region, nature field recordings
accompanied us as we mingled. “Dream Boxes
and Psychic Microphones Radio and Other Sounds
From Southeast Asia 2008 - 2017” played on a
boombox in the cabin. All together, you could hear
a feeling for cosmic radio anomalies, human voices,
interactions, and ceremonies, from locations in
these magical parts of the world.

The video above is an expert from Jesse’s show
with an slight intervention by Wishwood.

Solstice Sunday
We gathered to bask in the long days
of summer and music played by Noel Kennon.
California based poet Diane Ward read to us
and invited those interested to write in response
to objects from the garden. The evening
ended with a movie screening of
Fulvia’s Flight by Ursula Brookbank.

Second Annual Arbor Day Celebration
A screening of woodsy movies by Lisa Marr,
Hogan Seidel, Shelli Markee and Jesse Proebstel, 
Christine Alicino,  Bootleg Eileen Myles, 
GX Jupitter-Larsen, and Ursula Brookbank.  
A selection of books from the Wishwood library for
browsing, refreshments, and an overhead projector
in the garden was provided for all to enjoy.

Music for Connection
As part of Music for Connection’s 2024 tour,
Transitory Tapes presented at Wishwood
a generative sound piece based on breathing
that considers the interior and exterior as an
inhalation and exhalation of space.
Performers - Patricio Coronado, synthesizer,
Grant Beyschau, saxophone.
https://transitorytapes.bandcamp.com

2023

Folded Zine No.2, 2023
We are thrilled with the wonderful world
created here this year by so many talented artists,
musicians, filmmakers, teachers and visitors.

First Annual Arbor Day Celebration
The evening began with a reading from “Side By Side
(2012 edition)” by Gilbert and George, the sculptors,
followed by movies by Christine Alicino, Dagie Brundert, 
Bette Burgoyne, Caryn Cline, Carole Kim, 
Kate Lain, Lisa Liedgren, Tim Knowles, 
and Ursula Brookbank.

Field Trip
In June we travelled to see the giant Sequoia trees.
Some roads were closed due to this year’s extreme
snow and melt. There were majestic trees
next to those felled by fire and disease.
We collected ancient charcoal.

Bird Show
Live shadow projections of birds and nature
by Shelli Markee and Ursula Brookbank.
Music and oration by Frances Woods.
First presented at the Seattle Audubon Center
with an encore performance at Wishwood.

Artist in Residence
Using time under the trees
to think, write, and read.
Wishwood welcomes
Rebeca Bollinger as it’s first AIR.
https://www.rebecabollinger.com
READINGS ( part one and two ),
experimental readings, sounds, silver stains and fizz
occurred during Bollinger’s residency.

Morphic Mythology
A self guided Peep Show and Shadow Play
celebrating the mysteries of transformation
by Ursula Brookbank and Lana Sundberg
.

2022

Zine No.1, 2022, video.
Last summer Wishwood had
a delightful first season. We partnered with
The Fieldtrip Society who offered a series
of al fresco workshops for curious grownups;
free-form painting, sashiko mending, konnyaku paper,
phytogram prints from plants, jewelry redux, ice dyeing,
suminagashi floating ink, and cake stenciling.
Inviting beautiful mistakes and surprises,
everyone learned something new.
We ended our summer with a debut of short stories,
movies, and a celebration under the stars.