Skulls have decorated human dwellings since ancient times.
The Aztecs built skull racks and towers that have since been unearthed by archaeologists. Indigenous people of Latin America like the Aztecs and the Toltecs first practiced Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a holiday now synonymous with skulls.
If an article by Elizabeth Weingarten of Slate is to be believed, “The skull crept into European decorative art in the mid-1300s, after the bubonic plague killed a quarter of the population,” writes Weingarten. Skulls were made into drinking cups and eventually filled churches with bones as decorative ambiance.
In the 1700s the skull and crossbones could be seen on the flags of pirate ships as a symbol of rebellion and lawlessness.
And just as the pirate’s image has been softened to cartoons that teach children math the skull has found its way into modern decor with gems for eye sockets and funny-faced Halloween decorations.
In honor of All Hallows Eve we are debuting a new print in the Muse Media Gallery on Etsy.
This original watercolor painting print features a cow skull drawn and painted with greys, neutrals and dusty browns. Hang it in a wooden frame to add more Western vibes to your home or a colored one for modern contemporary flair.
The summer is slowly slipping away, but we’ve put together a blog to help you enjoy it while it lasts with advice from Palouse bellwether Kym Dahl.
As college towns, Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Washington both have a culture of art, music, and great dining. Kym knows all this because she was born and raised here. But, she hasn’t always liked the patio way of life.
“I would put together an outfit for indoors, but then it would end up that whoever I was with would want to sit outside – in the sun, in the Palouse breeze,” said Dahl.
Eventually, she learned to embrace it.
“You can linger longer at the restaurant, especially in the summer,” said Dahl. “It’s more casual, for guests and the service team; you don’t feel the urgency to leave when you’re enjoying a bottle of wine with your friends because you’re not watching people mop up and put chairs away. It’s a lovely way to spend an evening.”
The ebbs and flow of student populations can make a college town dining scene unpredictable. Dahl loves planning, and put together a list so locals – or travelers – can triangulate a best case scenario.
Several area restaurants are standouts because of their stellar patio design, and hometown feel, said Dahl.
“Maelina is a frontrunner because they have such ample patio space,” said Dahl.
The Neapolitan style pizzeria has complimentary blankets for guests to borrow if the gathering stretches late into a chilly Pacific Northwest evening.
“I have come to love entirely Red Card in Pullman for everything it offers and especially everything it doesn’t…” The Pullman based pub offers small plates and big tables with a sporty vibe, said Dahl.
The owner and former Washington State University soccer coach is usually tending bar.
An example of a smaller patio experience is Rico’s in Pullman. “Small but pleasant, a secluded feel despite a busy street,” said Dahl. “Be prepared for grain trucks driving by.”
Dahl and her friends Kaitlyn and Joleen enjoying a summer evening on the Maialina patio.
Niki is putting the final animation and graphic touches on a new Kickstarter video for a client, and has made some amazing graphics for a local hospital that reflect the culture of our rural area.
Sophie may be 11 years old, but she and I hiked Kamiak Butte this week, a loop more than two miles. She is in great shape and great spirits, and we couldn’t be happier.
Taking a break at the top of Kamiak Butte, Washington.
We’re in the middle of re-designing the Muse Media website so bear with us. Visit the “About Us” page for a sneak peek. Stay tuned for springtime video projects.
A newly published photography book showcasing the beautiful mountains and people of Idaho has been published by Washington photographer Gregory Walsh and Idahoan producer Virginia Lynn.
Clearwater features photographs of the people and scenery of north Idaho.
Part of Muse Media’s mission is to showcase artists from Idaho, and I learned about this project because I was lucky enough to be part of it.
Walsh attended the showing of my short documentary Skeleton School in Grangeville, Idaho this past September and snapped a photo of the marquis outside after the show.
Walsh said throughout his road trip along the Clearwater River, it was easy to point his camera in any direction and find something inspiring to photograph.
“I have found Idaho has some of the most pristine and beautiful places on earth,” he said. “I love the Clearwater River, it has a timeless quality to it, a peace and serenity as it meanders through the canyons and open spaces of central Idaho.”
The book is available for order in paperback form on Amazon, and the hardcover edition can be ordered through Lulu Publishing. Walsh said the project wouldn’t have been possible without Lynn.
An experienced talent and location producer, Lynn organized Walsh’s trip through the mountain forests along the Clearwater River.
“While Idaho is indeed beautiful, it is the people of Idaho, like my neighbors, that make it a lovely place to live,” she said.
My latest project, Skeleton School, is the ultimate labor of love.
Last September, I finally wrapped production on a short documentary chronicling a tenuous levy campaign in the small rural town of Kamiah, Idaho.
My husband and I lived in Kamiah from the summer of 2017 to 2019. He was a teacher at the Kamiah School District at the time, and I was a substitute teacher while I freelanced as a media consultant.
Skeleton School has been submitted to several film festivals around the country, most of which are virtual.
I immensely enjoyed my time as a substitute teacher, more than I ever thought I would. I found my niche among secondary students, mostly subbing for middle school and high school, assisted with after school programs, and volunteered with school clubs.
To me there is something endearing and magical about how kids and teens are at the beginning of their whole lives. Their optimism and creativity is inspiring, and it is a joy to help them discover different skills and ways to navigate the world.
What broke my heart was walking through the classrooms of this rural school and realizing, even though I too went to a rural school, these kids didn’t have nearly the resources I did.
Opportunities for rural youth like sports, extracurricular activities, or even basic books continue to be a challenge for many rural school districts. This short documentary is a slice of life following teachers and staff anxiously awaiting a vital school levy in a divided rural community.
I did my best to remove myself from the story, and allow both sides to have their say. It’s important to realize that all stories have many voices. But I was part of the community of the town and the school, which gave me the relationships and the access to paint a picture of real people going through a hard challenge.
Although I’m a writer for a university by day, Muse Media serves as an outlet not just to freelance, but to produce my own creative media projects. For a short while during my time in Kamiah, I had a downtown office and art gallery.
Ms. Hopkins’ eighth grade language arts class visited Muse Media to see our What Does Equality Mean to You Exhibition in the spring of 2019. The students saw art made by artists all over Idaho, in a variety of different mediums.
The film was filmed, edited, and narrated by me, and I’ll be forever grateful to my friends who sat through screenings, and my mentor Jon Palfreman.
Since post-production finally wrapped in September of 2020, Skeleton School has been selected and shown and even as a finalist in several festivals. After the final notification date of September 01, 2021, I will make the documentary available publicly on YouTube and Plex.
If anyone out there would like to arrange a screening or showing of Skeleton School for their organization, get in touch by emailing me at lauren@musemediaco.com. The trailer is below, and the full film will be available to view on September 30, 2021. Those interested in screening the film for an event can contact me for an exclusive early screening.
For now, here is a sneak peek at what to expect.
Muse Media Co. presents: Skeleton School
Selected for festival:
Venice Shorts Montreal Independent Film Festival Toronto International Women Film Festival SHORT to the Point
Selected & named as finalist:
New Wave Short Film Festival Tokyo International Short Film Festival Roma Short Film Festival
Muse Media Co. 