Keeping Things Whole

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body’s been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.      — Mark Str

I don’t remember where or when I first read this poem, but it has remained with me for well over ten years. The poetics of moving to keep things whole especially resonates within the part of me that identifies as a long distance backpacker. With well over 7,000 miles hiked across countries, states even across Portl ’s Forest Park, I move to keep myself whole.
What does this have to do with Central Oregon’s art cultural scene? I believe we can all identify something we do to keep ourselves whole. Painting? Singing? Writing? Running? Teaching? By recognizing what we need to live a full balanced life, we can then turn to our communities ask the same question: What can we do to keep our community whole? That is where Central Oregon’s arts cultural scene comes into play.
In supporting our arts entertainment community by attending Art Walks, or catching a show at CTC, drinking an artfully crafted beer or reading the newspaper at the library, we help to keep Central Oregon whole. While drinking a cup of coffee at Thump looking at the art on the wall may not seem like a large part to play, it is. Same as a step on a trail. With many steps many small appreciations of the vibrant community around us, we create an amazing place to live.