Author Archives: Leann Erickson

The blackout curtains in my bedroom can’t completely hide a beautiful day. This video was shot as part of Your Views, an international collaborative video project.  There were very specific rules to follow- some sort of curtain, 10 seconds before … Continue reading →

We were pretty much broke when the three of us left Iowa for Massachusetts. I had accepted my first college-level teaching job in August 1994 and Julie and Jake joined me the following January. We lived in a large townhouse-style apartment with … Continue reading →

In July, sunset on Cape Cod comes early- usually a little after 8pm.  For ambitious residency artists who are spending the week with no electricity, writing is probably the obvious activity to do at night. For me, reading was my go-to nighttime activity.  I find … Continue reading →

There are hundreds of seals on a sandbar just off the beach.  Every morning they sing a beautiful and haunting song.  As we walk the beach, a few sentries follow us everywhere – they are fascinated by Julie’s twirling skirt.

Let’s be honest, one of the most challenging aspects of living off the grid is the issue of toilets.  The old outhouse had its day but was inconvenient, smelly and still required that sewage waste be periodically pumped out and disposed of. … Continue reading →

Paradise in 360 ˚ It was 17 ˚ F in February but I was already looking ahead to summer. Back then, in the dead of winter, I was researching summer artist residencies where I hoped to use my tiny trailer … Continue reading →

The notion of the hometown carries with it a longing, for both escape and return. When we were young we baby boomers chafed at the bit to leave our hometowns and all they represented- limitations, stasis, boredom. We wanted to … Continue reading →

I have a summer ritual. It’s not a secret thing, something you know you should keep to yourself so I can share it here – Summer doesn’t officially begin until I start reading Dandelion Wine. The first time I read … Continue reading →

Last week I slept out in my driveway.  I hadn’t done this sort of thing since I was in junior high and my buddy Sara and I thought it would be fun to sleep on lawn chairs in my parent’s … Continue reading →

Floating on the surface…flowing under water…