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Generous Muse, which goes out two to four times per year, is a summary of big news (like book releases and events) + access to subscriber-only perks. I cobble together my latest expressions and always include a unique poem or excerpt. The Museletter is different from KristenCaven.com posts—see above!

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Artist’s Statement

I am a literary creative and independent educator, driven to express with elegance and excellence in all available media and teach secrets that everyone should know. Love fluffy surfaces and profound depths alike, connecting realms between wherever meaning can be cultivated. As an action-oriented innovator and guide, I seek to galvanize energy by activating both intellect & emotion, insight & wisdom. I owe my creative and collaborative outpouring to my “Generous Muse.” Here are my books. Here’s more about me.

Inside the Mills Revolution

June 21, 2013 Kristen

Inside the Mills Revolution

Winner of the 1990 Bay Guardian Cartoon Contest

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Calendar

"Joaquin Miller Went Walkin" Art & Nature Project

October 24, 2021 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

This monthly workshop in Joaquin Miller park for Oakland kids & their grownups is about art, song, poetry & nature! Register at https://forms.gle/AShAXqjDSsUKSWdm8

See more details

"Joaquin Miller Went Walkin" Art & Nature Project

November 28, 2021 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

This monthly workshop in Joaquin Miller park for Oakland kids & their grownups is about art, song, poetry & nature! Register at https://forms.gle/AShAXqjDSsUKSWdm8

See more details

"Joaquin Miller Went Walkin" Art & Nature Project

December 19, 2021 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

This monthly workshop in Joaquin Miller park for Oakland kids & their grownups is about art, song, poetry & nature! Register at https://forms.gle/AShAXqjDSsUKSWdm8

See more details

As Writer in Residence at Joaquin Miller Park, I head for the hills one day a week to walk, think, and write a blog. I'd love to get your comments!

"From Ina to Ayodele" — celebrating our new Poet Laureate
10-11-2021
Let's Draw a Book Together!
09-29-2021
Climate Champions...
09-22-2021
The Bohemian Roots of JMP
09-15-2021
October 9th, 2021 - The Waters & Words Flow!
09-09-2021

Subscribe to get "Walkin' with Walkin" as a weekly email!

My Books:

kristen.cavens.imagination

I like cookies! Especially my husband's signature chocolate chips WITH WALNUTS! But I'm sorry about this annoying banner. New GDPR rules mean you have to agree to my cookies. They're nice cookies. I won't sell or stalk or harass you. I'm a person. This message will self-destruct after 60 seconds and leave you alone for a whole year. Cookie Policy

#amtweeting

Stopped by my favorite vintage shop to get in the

Stopped by my favorite vintage shop to get in the mood for today's 3pm show.

@khrysalis674 says, "I can't wait to see it!"

It's not too late to get tickets! (Link in bio)

See my fashion show at @allthingsvintageoakland!

A serene day in the hills, still high from Saturda

A serene day in the hills, still high from Saturday's historic literary event, "From Ina to Ayodele."

#oaklandhills
#oaklandhistory
#californiawriters
#literaryhistory
#poetlaureate
#joaquinmiller
#joaquinmillerpark
#inacoolbrith
#jacklondon
#georgesterling
#yonenoguchi

Link in bio to "Walkin' with Joaquin" -- learn more, see pix and follow for weekly musings.

#planttrees
#openhearts
#deeplistening

Also please tell parents with kids about my monthly art workshops at same link.

#VitaminN
#natureheals
#poetrywillsavetheworld
#writerschangetheworld
#writerinresidence
#californiawritersclub

Event photos 🙏🏻 @donald_caven
#hirethisguy

Who wants a free piano? We're getting grandma's ba

Who wants a free piano? We're getting grandma's baby grand and our starter model (a converted player piano with good tone but one wonky key) has to go! So much wonderful music played on this beautiful upright! Dimensions: 63.5' wide, 29" deep, 55" tall.

A's game in our new bespoke @mamamacs_masks @hmjag

A's game in our new bespoke @mamamacs_masks @hmjaguars
@athletics

The smallest beer you can buy is 20oz..I only need 2! 😂 #lightweight #oaklandalcoholics #buyinbulk

Best part of being here: #peanutsonthefloor #drumsection

@crackerjacks omg a sticker of empty enthusiasm? #crackerjacksprize #noteventrying

@mayorlibbyschaaf + @oaklandundivided + #cutebaby

Kristen Caven announces screenings of her animated

Kristen Caven announces screenings of her animated Oktoberfest play, The Dirndl Diaspora!

Kristen Baumgardner Caven is a writer, publisher artist, and comic known for her books, plays, performances, presentations, and parties. The author of 7 books on positive parenting, bullying, self-esteem, cartooning, thinking, fairytales and funny safe sex, and several plays about Oakland, she’s been called a creative force and an inspiring community leader.

In 2020, Kristen helped create a virtual Oktoberfest in her community, turning her original play, The Dirndl Diaspora, into an animated movie and hosting an online dirndl contest that brought global participation. In 2021, a screening of this “intensely thoughtful and funny show” can enliven celebrations everywhere, give communities much to discuss, and bring costume inspiration for a kinder and more equal world.

See the show on demand 10/1 through 11/16. Zoom event is on 10/16.

Tickets on Eventbrite - Link on website in bio - donations in any amount.

*Enter the #dirndldiversity costume contest - $100 prize!
*All ticket holders get a FREE “How to Host a #dirndldiversity Fashion Show” guide!

#oktoberfest
#Oaktoberfest
#trachtenmode #twist
#dirndldiversity
#dirndldiaspora
#germanheritage
#newplay
#communitytheater
#womenownedbusiness
#womenruntheworld
#ungoals
#kentecloth
#hessian
#hessianobsession
#snotgoblin
#germanseverywhere
#postcolonialism

I brought my living room on to the lawn for the Ga

I brought my living room on to the lawn for the Gatsby Summer Afternoon this year to create a "Poet's Parlor." In this mimi-salon that would rival Gertrude Stein's Paris domain, the rule was: if you sit in the throne, you have to read from The Great Gatsby or the little anthology of Modernist poets I put together for the event.

Fitzgerald was a novelist, but we all rediscovered and savored the dense poetry of his prose. And what does the green light mean? The future. Hope. Green light go. Freedom. Money. The thing you want and you will never have. Daisy.

#thegreatgatsby
#artdeco
#modernistpoetry
#fscottfitzgerald
#federicogarcialorca
#kayboyle
#counteecullen
#dorothyparker
#langstonhughes

All the beautiful dresses! All the amazing women i

All the beautiful dresses! All the amazing women in them!

#preservation
#thingsworthsaving
#vintagestylenotvintagevalues
#beautyis

Gatsby 2021: Not the raucous crowd of yesteryear b

Gatsby 2021: Not the raucous crowd of yesteryear but sweet little bubbles of friendship & freedom.

Just the coolest ancient art & kitchen gadgets at

Just the coolest ancient art & kitchen gadgets at "Last Supper in Pompeii". Convivium, anyone?

#homealtar
#calyx-krater
#snails
#carbonizedfoods
#clawfoot
#toothpicks
#naughtyart
#thelooksontheirfaces

One of my great pain points in life is the way car

One of my great pain points in life is the way cars creep out of a packed lot after a show. Tonight I dared myself to walk the line with a smile on my face and a public service announcement: "It only takes ten seconds of gas to start a warm engine. Idling is just a habit."

Back in the car, the youngsters point out that six cruise ships pollute more than ALL non-commercial driving. He may have a point, but the safe amount of carbon we can put in the air right now is.... zero.

Here's a peak post-vax experience ...singalong wit

Here's a peak post-vax experience ...singalong with 50,000 of my (mostly) masked friends!

@greenday @weezer @falloutboy

It's done! And it's delicious! Got some perspectiv

It's done! And it's delicious! Got some perspective on things before the scaffolding came down today.

I see these colors everywhere now...!

Ready for a fresh start.

The first color is on!! We feel so rich... The na

The first color is on!! We feel so rich...

The name of this color is "Sunny Day" but we are also calling it Honey bucket, Meyer Lemon, California Poppy, and Saturated Fat (butter!) 😅😂🤣

(Inspiring flowers © 2021 Yvon "White Shoe" Chausseblanche as seen on Facebook...Haven't seen the outside much lately...windows are covered with plastic.)

#thisoldhouse #makeithappen #makeitlast #yellowsubmarine #happycolors #imglowing #investment

A ghastly pall A blank canvas A frosted wedding ca

A ghastly pall
A blank canvas
A frosted wedding cake
A render space

So weird seeing the Rancho denuded of personality... but not of style. It's got good bones.

Prepping & priming almost done.
Painting next week.

#thisoldhouse
#barebones
#

Rancho Deluxe is finally getting the makeover and

Rancho Deluxe is finally getting the makeover and repairs It's been needing for 15 years. Agonizing over color choices is the fun part!

#yellowsubmarine
#oldfruitvale #citrus
#fruitvalecitrus
#meyerlemon
#juicy #apricot
#satsuma
#championstreet
#yummyhouse

@craftsmanpainters

After a year teaching in my "Groovy Grotto" it's w

After a year teaching in my "Groovy Grotto" it's wonderful to get back on the dance floor at @rossmoorwc Fitness!

Zoom in on #Bandaloop! dance fitness with me online every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m. PST. (Click on "Move

Follow @krs10dance on Facebook or @flabulous_vitality on Instagram.

It's all about the music! Use the "Move" Quicklink at link in bio.

Bad angles, maybe... #gotrocks #boulderoldie #fe

Bad angles, maybe...

#gotrocks
#boulderoldie
#feelingroovy
#zumbalove
#elevation

Two years later, through thick and thin, We finish

Two years later, through thick and thin, We finished watching all four episodes of My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Here's to my crazy girlfriend for some 75 mid-day TV trysts, at first in person then over awkward combinations of smartphones, TVs, and laptops, sometimes pulling TVs outdoors and inching our masks down to sip tea or wine, and finally in front of a great big TV, snuggled together on a couch. Even when the bandwidth was not cooperating, we would agree to call each other after we'd finished the episode.

If you have never seen an episode of this uncomfortable comedy, (and especially if you like cringe comedy and Broadway style theater), treat yourself on Netflix, or at least watch a few songs on YouTube. In almost every episode, we had to pause and catch our breath lest we die laughing.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsoAvKrwFzseNu5-Btp67PaAEph_kq3Ee

@racheldoesstuff my big fat creative crush I want to be you! @TaboucheChocolates my sweet rewards I want to eat you!
@AdamSchlessinger #CovidRIP the world is less without you!
@LeahVass, crazy girlfriend what's next?

Today I tickled the first ripe apricots off the tr

Today I tickled the first ripe apricots off the tree. It was 90 degrees today so it tasted fresh-baked.

#generoustrees
#sweetsweetsummertime
#thisiswealth

Great news: they're going to repair the pools in t

Great news: they're going to repair the pools in the Joaquin Miller Cascades! Save the date for October 9th for Art in the Park...and watch for some big news from me & the California Writers Club!

#woodminister #friendsofjoaquinmillerpark @fojmp @oaklandprf @woodminstermusicals #californiawriters #artinthepark #poetsinthepark

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