The `Speare Bearer’s Ride: Redding, California...

13 Jun

The `Speare Bearer’s Ride: Redding, California 06/10-11

Well, there’s a lot to explain here. After I left Chico, heding north, the next place I stopped was a town called Red Bluff. I must admit when I got there, I didn’t perform ar all, nor did I try all that hard. I was really just put off by the town. I was almost in disbelief. Firstly, many of these towns in northern Cali are pretty depressed, and I’m surprised at how… southern the culture there is. I wanted not to be so put off by the town, but there were pretty much no other black people there, and I could feel it. In a way I didn’t even really feel in the south to be honest. So I didn’t try very hard to perform, I just sullenly had some ice cream and checked email in a cafe, and then when it was dark hid behind an elementary school and went to sleep. I regret behaving that way now. I was real tired, but I should have made more of an effort. That’s what my project is about.

So the next day I do a grueling ride to Redding, and I luck out with some awesome hosts. Before I head to their house they advise me to try Sundial Park. I get there, and sure enough I find a good crowd and do three scenes for some of the people hanging out by the Sundial bridge monument. Was a fun show, a fun time, and a great crowd. Then I bike over to Kevin & Susan’s and meet them and their son Travis. They give me some dinner, I perform some for them, and they tell me about all the art in their families which is pretty interesting. It’s been interesting to think about how art runs in a lot of people’s families. I don’t know if there are many people who would declare themselves artists in my family. I dunno.

Anyway, like I said, many of these towns are depressed, and as funny as that sign/art is, it was kind of chilling, because riding through these towns, it doesn’t seem as if that is so far off the mark.

God, how can it be helped?

Tags: redding, red bluff, california, art, shakespeare, theater, culture, race, small town, bike, bicycle, camping, family, host, meth, depressed, travelogue, tour, sundial park, street, performer, actor, actress, acting, show, audience,

Notes

thecomedylocal reblogged this from thespearebearer and added:

Ralf Jean-pierre, a New York comedy guy (who does stuff mostly at The Pit), is biking around the US, performing street...
thespearebearer posted this