INTERVIEW: SPIDERWEB SALON

Conor Wallace and Courtney Marie of Spiderweb Salon. 

You've probably heard the name Spiderweb Salon before. We say it a lot on the blog, whether it's on our Den10 or through sharing some of their literary work, but you might still be confused as to what it is. They sure as heck aren't gonna cut your hair. They're a "salon" as described by definition # 2 and they are everywhere. Spiderweb curates live shows and zines that feature all kinds of work from Denton artists - and they've been doing this for a year now. Within the span of that year, they got a lot accomplished. A gaggle of zines, a showcase during 35 Denton and plenty of recognition from art lovers. Conor Wallace and Courtney Marie are the two creative masterminds behind Spiderweb Salon. We hung out with them a bit in anticipation of their one year anniversary show (and pool party!) this weekend and asked them a couple questions, but never got to the bottom of why Courtney hates citrus so damned much. 

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WDDI: Who are you guys again? 

Conor: Well, I’ve lived in Denton my entire life. I work for Denton ISD transportation- during the day I drive youth from home to school. I am also a singer and a song writer and make music with my friends here in town, which is how I met Courtney Marie.

Courtney: I have lived here five and a half years. I currently work as a barista at Jupiter House to pay the bills. My passions include books, writing, photography, music, cooking, poetry, art, and my friends.

What inspired you to start Spiderweb Salon?

Conor: I missed seeing my writer-friends doing readings, and I play music but not everything I write fits with a band, so I thought it would be neat to get everyone together to share what we are working on creatively, to talk about it and encourage one another. I used to be a part of a similar thing at Tex Gallery a few years ago, but it wasn’t as focused on local artists, it was more about something new for the audience, things other venues in town wouldn’t necessarily host. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t feel comfortable performing there myself because my stuff didn’t feel avant garde enough.

Courtney: I had lost my job just before the summer and was feeling pretty aimless and depressed. I thought I was going to move away from Denton, but instead, one thing led to another and we started Spiderweb Salon. Conor and I were trying to find something to do that would nurture our various creative interests, inspire and motivate us and our friends to keep creating, and also be fun. It was a great idea to me because as a writer, I have found there are few outlets for readings or workshops in town, especially not affiliated with the Universities.

The two of you started operating creatively together as {we, bees} before Spiderweb Salon was created. Do you operate differently within the context of your band and Spiderweb or are all of your creative interactions the same? 

Courtney: I first really got into music, singing specifically, with Conor and several other good friends when I joined their band Ella Minnow in 2010. The bands we play in together are very collaborative, there are lots of people involved and I usually don’t take the reins. {we, bees} is different, it’s just the two of us brainstorming and making art and putting ideas into action. Our collaborations have included poetry, music, various writings and art, and photography projects, but the biggest project is, of course, Spiderweb Salon. 

Conor practically vomits ideas- while I struggle to come up with even a single concept I like or something I’ve deemed worthy of working on, he’s already come up with a hundred different proposals. I am incredibly hard on myself as an artist, and one of the million things Conor has taught me is to accept imperfections, be myself, and let go of the things that keep me from doing what I want to do with my time and passion.

Conor: {we, bees} is anything creative that Courtney and I work on together. I feel like the longer we work together, the more we approach projects as a unit, as equal contributors. As far as Spiderweb is concerned, I don’t think I ever would have gotten it off the ground without Courtney Marie, and it definitely wouldn’t still be around right now. She has taken the idea and built a community out of it. I help a lot with brainstorming ideas and working out the logistics of what we do, but as far as passion and organization are concerned, Courtney is the queen bee.

Tell us the inspiration behind and the reasons for the Spiderweb mantra - ‘You are here, we support you.’ 

Courtney: Think of your creative life as a map. You could be doing a thousand different things, all over the place, but when you are at a Spiderweb show, all that matters is that you are there, expressing yourself and learning and growing. You are here, but you get to decide where you’re going, too. That’s what it means to me, at least, and I think it is a good mantra because it is open to interpretation. We support you is pretty simple. I think artists are not always effectively encouraged or nurtured by the community. A simple reminder such as this might do wonders for someone who is struggling.

Conor: To me, You Are Here means whoever you are, any fears or preconceptions about creating art or performing at a show are dropped and you can just give yourself to the creative project you’re working on and the people who are there to support you. You shouldn’t be afraid of where you are creatively. That’s how we get better.

To us, Spiderweb seems to push poetry above all else (at least recently). Is this a calculated choice? If so, why? 

Conor: I can see why you would think that, after National Poetry month just happening in April, and with the recent show we hosted for some traveling poets, but we are definitely a mixed-media, mixed-performance collective and don’t want to highlight any art form over anything else except for specific showcases. I will say there aren’t many venues for poets to perform, and we are glad to give them the opportunity.

Courtney: If there is a need for artists to be heard and respected in Denton, we’d like to be able to fill it. Recently, some poets from Chicago asked if we’d be willing to host their tour if it came through our town and we were delighted to be able to make it a variety show completely balanced with local acts as well. We’d never done anything like that before and we would definitely do it again! It’s fun that Spiderweb has become a flexible venue in this way. The focus is always shifting, but never about one specific artist or art form: rather, it is simply ideas, collaboration, and supporting others.

“Tragically, I think art in many forms has been dominated by men in the past, and seeing proof that this can change in the future is inspiring to me.”

— Conor Wallace

What’s been your favorite Spiderweb Salon performance so far? What did you enjoy about it? 

Conor: Maybe not a particular performance, but there have been at least three times I have said, “This is my favorite Spiderweb Salon show.” I love the idea of celebration without any precedent- a holiday or some long-term achievement -so when we had our masquerade last fall, where people were dressing up and painting their faces, and making art that reflected the event, I thought that was really great- the whole evening had a wild and unexpected tone.

I also really loved the first Ladies’ Night Showcase. Tragically, I think art in many forms has been dominated by men in the past, and seeing proof that this can change in the future is inspiring to me. Social change you can see.

Courtney: I have to agree with Conor, it would be impossible to single out a performance that has been my favorite! The great thing about Spiderweb is the collective experience. Each show as a whole is incredibly powerful, which is why we encourage attendees to come before the show begins and stay until all the acts are finished. Not only is this respectful to all the artists involved, but it promotes the idea of the show itself being the performance, with everyone working together. I sometimes compare this experience to attending the theatre- you wouldn’t show up halfway through a play and leave before it finished!

I have really loved the shows we’ve had at the house venue, but recently hosting events in a more public space has been really positive- it’s awesome to be able to reach more people and bring the artists involved in our collective a little more exposure.

The Ladies’ Night Showcase was also a favorite of mine, everyone worked so hard: the all-female lineup had everything from shadow puppets to a performance piece that connected everyone in the audience to each other with a rope, incredibly passionate readings and music and awesome paintings; it made my heart happy, and the fundraiser aspect let us give back to the community while we were doing it. We look forward to hosting a similar showcase soon, for sure.

Which area of the arts do you think Denton is the most under-appreciated for? 

Conor: People know us for our colleges, our college of music, our music festival, and a few national musical acts that have made it out of here. Music is highlighted above all else, but I think it could still be appreciated on a different level, both locally and nationally. We sometimes forget about our writers, poets, visual artists, and they’re everywhere, I think the architecture of the town has not yet found a way to showcase them properly. I’m not saying our artists should be legends held above the rest of the population, but it would be nice to see all of our creatives embraced and nurtured.

Courtney: Literature. There is an incredible number of talented writers and poets here. I don’t think we as a community are suffering from a lack of appreciation, but I definitely think we have a problem with how we go about promoting the literary events we already have, and cultivating the creativity of writers in our midst. There’s a huge push in Denton to support local music, which is great, but I envision a culture where all art can co-exist on the same stage.

Are there any collectives that influence the way you guys operate? 

Conor: I already mentioned Tex Gallery... Good Bad Art Collective, The Porch, Bolivar Art Collective, even the Denton Greater Art’s council. Hell, even the universities. We’ve tried to go and learn about events hosted by these people, and I guess we pay them tribute when we find something in them that works for us.

Why do you think that Spiderweb has caught on so quickly in Denton? 

Conor: We’ve made ourselves accessible and inclusive, and we have such a high population of people that are without a place to collaborate with others or showcase their creativity. Personally, I don’t think of this as an organization or a business, I think of this as a social group or family. I think that open, caring nature comes through in the things we do.

Courtney: The format of our shows is unique, and we put a lot of emphasis on respecting artists. I think that is something that is often neglected at other events in town, whether it’s an open mic or rock show, either people get distracted or they’re there to socialize. We operate under the idea that you come to our shows for a reason, to appreciate the art and learn something. I think the people who are involved in Spiderweb Salon appreciate that, and it makes them want to come back.

What are your future plans for Spiderweb Salon?

Courtney: We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, and let it continue to evolve the way it has this last year. Someday we would like our own space where we can host shows, workshops, and have a permanent gallery. Until then we want to continue to collaborate with local organizations, print zines and host showcases and workshops from our home and at local businesses, support as many artists we can, give back to the community, and have fun.

Conor: I would like to see interest grow and more contribution, from artists and from our town as a whole. We would like to be a cultural influence on Denton and help shift the focus to our artists and our people, rather than mainstream media. I believe we should try to support people we know, that we can see and touch, more than nameless celebrities we will never meet.

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If you want to celebrate Spiderweb's 1 year anniversary, go RSVP on their event page. 

A NIGHT OF LITERARY ABANDON

​Words and photos by Courtney Marie

Justin Bigos, one of the curators of the Kraken Reading Series, sits up high in the back of a pleased crowd. 

Dentonites tend to be desensitized by the sheer volume of events and activities they're regularly invited to on Facebook and in real life. We get used to hearing about all the great bands we're missing every weekend. We see show posters overlapping one another at Jupiter House and J and J's. And our excited friends won't ever keep quiet about their weekend plans. 

Listen. There's no denying that our music scene is off-the-chain, y'all. It's no wonder other forms of non-musical art go by the wayside when planning a fun night on the town. Squeezing a literary reading into the weekend’s agenda may not be as wild or loud as, say, a punk rock show at Andy’s or Rubber Gloves, but it can be just as stimulating, and you might wake up with less of a headache in the morning.

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Stephen Danos, poet, reading at Paschall Bar as part of the Kraken Reading Series

The unsung heros of Denton’s literary scene tend to be less outspoken than their creative friends in the music biz. That’s why we’re here to advise you to keep a lookout for these local organizations and what they’re up to.

Two weekends ago we attended a packed reading at Paschall Bar, featuring Ft. Worth’s own nationally acclaimed poet, Alex Lemon, and Stephen Danos, poet and co-curator of the Dollhouse Reading Series in Chicago. The event was hosted by Kraken Reading Series, an organization dedicated to poetry and interested in helping promote those who have just released their first or second book. They host several events a month, most of which are at Paschall Bar. 

The event was cozy and quiet and perfect for those seeking to grab a nice cocktail and enjoy the beauty of words or a breath of inspiration.

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The crew of Denton Performance Lab reads a humorous piece about meeting a significant other's  family. 

The Denton Performance Lab hosted a show that very same night, luckily beginning after the Kraken show ended. Originally hosted at the late Art Six, the group now gets together at Greenspace Art Collective, performing their own work and pieces by others. They have an open invitation to the community to submit pieces to be performed, and host a show once a month.

This particular show, themed “Love, Lust, and All That Bullshit,” was casual and fun, blending a healthy mix of comedy and serious literature together. Almost everything read was performed with a theatrical twist, including the sock puppet productions of Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby. It complimented the earlier Kraken Reading Series very well and we definitely plan on hitting both up again. ​

“Almost everything read was performed with a theatrical twist, including the sock puppet productions of Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby.”

Can’t get enough readings and performance art? Check out the other events and open mics hosted at Green Space, keep a lookout for the monthly show at Rubber Gloves hosted by Denton’s Spoken Word Collective, go laugh at one of the many comedy shows put on by the Denton Comedy Collective, and of course, try and keep up with Spiderweb Salon.

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Spiderweb Salon is a local creative arts collective that partners with We Denton Do It a few times a month. We recently discussed a show of theirs that we took in on the square. They also sometimes lend us short stories to post.

If this post got you hankerin' for taking in some of Denton's literary scene, you can catch the largest show Spiderweb has put on to date this Sunday, March 10th from 2-6pm at Dan's Silverleaf as part of 35 Denton. 

THAT HAPPENED: SPIDERWEB SALON

Local creative artist group and friends of We Denton Do it, Spiderweb Salon, hosted a guerrilla-style throw-down on the courthouse lawn this past Saturday afternoon. We were there to take some photos and snap our fingers at some poetry readings. Read on for more info!

A crowd gathers before the show at this past Saturday's Spiderweb Salon. 

​Saturday afternoon 30 some-odd people gathered around a makeshift stage created out of an old white door, some busted-ass milk crates and some clamps on the south-east corner of the Denton square. Some were there to listen to poetry, music and some works of nonfiction by some of Denton's purveyors of literature, others were just there because people are attracted to large crowds Behind the stage was a gigantic white banner that read "spiderweb salon" in all lowercase letters. 

Spiderweb Salon has been doing things in a similar vein for quite a while now. They've gained enough notoriety over the past several months to even garner a 35 Denton showcase and a regular feature on an awesome local blog (read: us, duh). 

Comedian Ron Lechler looks down as ponders his next non-sequitur. 

This particular event marked a departure from the norm for the group (led by WDDI contributor Courtney Marie and her partner in non-crime, Conor Wallace) who normally showcase local artists at a local house and not in front of the court house in the middle of the day. Thankfully, the group was not even given a second glance by local law enforcement who just seemed to give a cockeyed glance to the comedy-stylings of Ron Lechler as they past by.

The event started off strong with local writer, Matthew Salack's account of a young romance from behind the counter of a Chic Fil-A. The crowd was engaging and laughed often. Afterwards, many local poets and musicians shared their art. Many participants who had not prepared any work in advanced even participated in an open mic after the six or seven planned performances were done. It was a nurturing, supportive environment that encouraged those attending to share - if not during the open mic, then to at least send something to read at the next event.  

Local duo {we, bees} singing a duet about a girl full of trouble.

​Shannon Hall reading her poem about reality. 

The guerilla-style showcase went over very well for Spiderweb. After the initial greatness that was Salack's short story, the local poets, musicians and comedian (which just so happened to be the strongest one man comedy performance we've seen in Denton) mostly kept the bar at that high point. If this recap is making you sad you missed this, fret not. Spiderweb Salon's next event will be here before you know it. You can catch the largest show Spiderweb has put on yet at 2pm Sunday, March 10th at Dan's Silverleaf as part of the 35 Denton schedule. Leave your tomatoes and rotten fruit at home. You won't need 'em. 

DENTON LIT - WALKER SMART - "HERE"

The following prose piece is a selection from the upcoming zine entitled Local Lore, to be released next month during the 35 Denton music festival. The zine is the fourth in a series printed by the art collective Spiderweb Salon and will showcase a wide variety of art, prose, poetry, and essays inspired by and within Denton, Texas, USA. Copies of the freshly printed and hand-bound zine will be available at 35 Denton Presents: Spiderweb Salon on March 10th at Dan’s Silverleaf. 2-6 p.m. The show will feature art, readings, music and performance pieces, as well.

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“Here”

by Walker Smart

There used to be a hospital here, the one I was born in. The grounds were donated to the city to make a park. They made the City Park apartments instead. Here used to be a pizza place where I played the Dungeons and Dragons arcade game while my dad wrote in his notebook. They tore it down and built something else, but it was here. Here used to be a school, the school where I met my two oldest friends. There’s the creek we used to explore, to us it was a separate world. Here used to be the video store where we rented the movies that desensitized us. We still see the ghost face of Piggly Wiggly through the trees driving down Greenwood. This was the theater we had our first jobs at, where we first stayed out too late. They spent a million dollars renovating it after it closed. When I saw it after I felt a part of me was gone. But you go up into the projection booth and it’s like walking back in time, they didn’t change a thing. That part of a place that makes it home can’t be changed.

Here’s the house I met your mom in. Later it became the house we lived when you were born. Then it became the house I first felt heartbreak in. Soon it will be the house another baby girl lives after she is born. The part of a place that makes it home can become complicated.

You are the place that makes hell feel like home again. You are the place that can make something old feel new again.

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Walker Smart is the on stage alter ego of Walker Smart. He's twice as weird and loves the sound of his own voice even more than the real Walker Smart. The real Walker Smart has lived in Denton, TX his whole life. You’ve probably seen him around.

You  can find more Walker here... You can get more Spiderweb Salon there and you can catch them at 35 Denton in March!