In one of the speeches yesterday, a presenter asked, “What was your happiest moment today?”

I knew my answer in a second. It was the workshop presented by Bea Aaronson. It was also the first time I had a better definition of the Dada movement, “Dada,” she said, “ridicules the meaninglessness of the modern world.”

It started as a response to the crazy logic that had led to the first world war. That made perfect sense to me, and it made even more sense when she suggested our current thinking is also in need of some nonsensical responses.

She had us collage using only words. “Cut random words out of the magazines, toss in a bag and shake. Wherever they fall on the paper is where you will glue them.”

Oh my. I’m more of a picture collage person. Plus, I wanted to arrange them in a more pleasing pattern. In fact, truth be told, I shook the bag a second time in the hopes of controlling the chaos. But finally I accepted the mess.

Then we were to read them, breaking syllables, creating new words, emphasizing random syllables.

The next project, we were allowed to cut words that we were attracted to, but arrange them into any pattern we wanted. A poem emerged, or at least we can call it a Dada non-poem of sorts. I just like the words assembled like a ransom note on bright orange paper.

Start the Feast.

Keep Your Look.

Baby I Love Vibrant Euphoria

Hearts on Fire.

Your Childhood Vision.

Passion.

Living Creative.

Fleeting. Thrilling.

Summer IS.

Talk. One Word.

Enchanting.

There was another project called One Exquisite Corpse, which was the capper (more on that later…) By the time we were done, my head was reeling with words shooting in creative fireworks in my brain. I grabbed her in a bear hug when I left, thanked her profusely, went to our room and pulled up my half-assed agent pitch.

Synapstic explosions could be heard as my brain cracked into my skull. Bam! Boom! My pitch was written.  I had it printed and I met with the agent.

He liked it!  And j’adore Bea Aaronson!

Start the Feast!