Few things last as long as books. We continue to read and write no matter which way the world is spinning. With the rescheduling of Independent Bookstore Day, which celebrates small bookstores across the nation, from April 25 to August 29, one’s thoughts go to the independent presses that depend on readers and small bookstores for support.
Tolsun Books is a nonprofit organization based in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Brandi Fairbanks Pischke, David Pischke, Risa Pappa, Bridget Brados and Heather Lang-Casser make up the all-volunteer Tolsun team, a tight-knit group that helps bring to life a variety of books and writers, including local author Jesse Sensibar, whose Tolsun-published book Blood in the Asphalt: Prayers from the Highway was nominated for a Viola Award in 2019.
Margarita Cruz is a MFA candidate for Creative Writing at Northern Arizona University. She serves on the Northern Arizona Book Festival board and as editor-in-chief for Thin Air Magazine.ÌýHer work has been featured in The TunnelsÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýSusquehanna Review.Ìý
The Art of takes a look back at the past year in Flagstaff’s art community. The first Art of Art featured Andres “Dapper Dreâ€� Adauto in February 2020. This year, a three-part series will focus… Read moreThe art of art: A year in review, PT. 1
When I was 10, I knew that I wanted to be a writer. At 11, I had joined an online writing community and wrote my first fantasy novel, which I now look back at with a slight cringe—but who does… Read moreThe art of fiction: Hiding in the page
“Kids might not remember what you taught them, but they will remember how you made them feel,� Flagstaff High School Art and Graphic Design teacher Kayley Quick says. Read moreThe art of teaching with Kayley Quick
What’s in a story? We all have them. We’re a living library—we’re full of love and heartbreak, of hardship and good times. When we meet others, we exchange parts of ourselves and build new stories. Read morePinestories: The art of storytelling
How we choose to decorate our bodies is expressive to who we are. Whether it’s a haircut, a tattoo or even jewelry, we make ourselves known to others through this process. Jess Majella Worthin… Read moreThe art of jewelry: Symbolic narratives
This is the second in a three-part series focusing on musicians as they navigate what it means to produce music during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the first three-part series 'The Art of S… Read moreThe art of song: House music with Jaybird
This is the first in a three-part series focusing on musicians as they navigate what it means to produce music during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the first three-part series 'The Art of So… Read moreThe art of song: On continuing
Long before we could subscribe to niche podcasts on Patreon or Spotify or Apple Podcasts, we probably listened to a lot of radio. Now, podcasts are increasingly popular modes of consuming info… Read moreThe art of podcasting
Last week, with the help of friends, Derick Monroy pressed 18 gallons of apple juice, which is now fermenting and waiting for a crisp fall day to be enjoyed as the ultimate cider. Monroy has b… Read moreThe art of homebrew
Do you remember the first time you saw The Karate Kid and began to imitate Ralph Macchio under the teachings of Mr. Miyagi? Or, watching Avatar: the Last Airbender for the first time and imita… Read moreAll about skill: The art of martial arts
In being removed from our normal daily life, we often seek new ways to overcome the challenges of staying at home. Margarita Bauzá typically teaches yoga at ESenEm Yoga and often at Northern A… Read moreBreathing through it: The art of yoga
Art and science are often pitted as opposites, but the two have always been intertwined. Both art and science help us understand the world around us. It takes a great deal of creativity to mak… Read moreThe art of rainy days: Monsoon season and you
This year’s Flag Wool and Fiber Festival, an annual celebration of fiber arts, wool dying and more, appeared online at the end of May instead of the usual in-person gathering due to the COVID-… Read moreStories and patterns: The art of weaving
“If music be the food of love, play on.â€� If COVID-19 be the test for all performers, devise contingency plans. In the case of Flagstaff’s Shakespeare Festival, the coronavirus pandemic has rat… Read moreStepping into the acting world: The art of the Bard
The Coconino National Forest is part of the largest contiguous stand of ponderosa pine trees in the world. The trees loom large and tall, in various shapes and sizes, uninterrupted from New Me… Read moreBurning beauty: The art of pyrography
Few things last as long as books. We continue to read and write no matter which way the world is spinning. With the rescheduling of Independent Bookstore Day, which celebrates small bookstores… Read moreTolsun Books: The art of publishing
Breathe in, breathe out. Fill your diaphragm with air again and this time, laugh it out. Feel your chest flutter with the roar of it. Laughter might be the best medicine in these unpredictable… Read moreHonesty in laughter: The art of improv
Late January at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, a small group of students peer over Mike Masek’s shoulder as he stirs dried calendula flowers, oil and water into a large crock pot.… Read moreReconnecting with nature: The art of herbalism
We are all born with the urge to create. At a young age, many of us utilized crayons and dry pasta to create masterpieces only family members could love. We often set art aside as we grow up, … Read moreGreater than the sum: The art of trash
A house of boats is docked at the end of a hilly street where I find Brad Dimock, author, boatsman and owner of Fretwater Boatworks. He’s building a wooden dory, putting on the finishing touch… Read moreA river runs through it: The art of boat building
A year ago, I told former Flagstaff Live! writer Gabriel Granillo that I believed in the beauty and power of art. A year ago, Granillo gave me the go-ahead to seek out artists and talk to them… Read moreWhy is art important? The art of Art Of
Inescapable and omnipresent, design follows us from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep. The logo on a backpack, the button on a toaster, the coffee sleeve we use to protect our… Read moreLet's get graphic: The art of design
As I flip open to a new page in my journal, I hear the crack of the spine. I run my fingers across the thread that binds it together and think about the evolution of bookbinding and making. I … Read moreOn book binding: The art of the tangible
