Silo Sounds

This past May, we had our inaugural “Silo Sounds” event to celebrate completing the first phase of renovations on the silos. We gathered for a night of words and sounds, with local poets, writers, musicians, and friends. A neighbor fired up the wood stove, offering fresh pizza and bread. There were reflections on grief, calls to protect each other and our environment––there was a group of people listening to each other. 

I’ve been thinking about what is required to listen deeply, and what it means to be of service. The idea of service has been industrialized in so many ways, and when looking at the etymology of the word itself, the ideologies pooled around it, I find that a better word to focus on is support––meaning literally “to hold up from beneath.” How do we reshape and balance our systems to look more like an inverted pyramid––those with the most resources at the bottom point, supporting and working for those with less access? I hope it can begin with listening, with paying attention to what needs we have the capacity to address. That is how I feel poetry, music, and art are more imperative than ever within our current constellation of needs, fears, and growing fissures in a broken system. A reminder and a pathway, to listen and pay close attention. 

Brendan performing.