Matthew O'Brien's Blog, page 4

Upcoming exhibit

“Nelson’s Landing,” the poem I posted a few weeks ago, is going to be included in an interesting, mixed-media exhibit sponsored by Nevada Humanities. I’ll let you all know more about the exhibit as the Sept. 1 reception date approaches.

KNPR interview

George (“Jazz”) and I just visited KNPR’s studio and were interviewed by host Joe Schoenmann about the tunnels and last month’s deadly flood. Jazz shared his harrowing tale of being swept down the channels and losing his girlfriend Sharon. The interview should air next week. Keep you all updated.

Flood death

The coroner hasn’t spoken, but the streets have. RIP, Sharon.

Flood death update

Jazz, Sharon’s longtime boyfriend, who was also carried away by the flood, is slowly recovering, mentally and physically, in a motel just off the Strip. He says he feels like a motorcyclist who fell off his bike. But his spirits, I could tell, are rising.
Sharon’s family is preparing to have her cremated. They will most likely, her youngest daughter told me, have a viewing here in Las Vegas, before having a memorial service in the L.A. area (where much of her family is from). I will keep you updated on all of this, as best as I can.
Those of you who have contributed to my Shine a Light project, through CrowdRise or otherwise, please know that your contributions have provided shelter for a broken man and will assure that Sharon gets a proper sendoff. Thanks again for your generosity!

More death in the drains

A man’s body was recently pulled from a wash near Decatur and Russell. If he was a victim of the flood—and I suspect he was, as that area was hit hard—that would bring the body count to at least three. And the monsoon season is just underway.

Sun story

At least three homeless people died in the latest flood and hardly anyone is talking about it:
http://lasvegassun.com/news/2016/jul/05/deaths-of-3-found-in-las-vegas-area-washes-were-fl/

A poem

A poem I wrote that was partly inspired by a visit to Nelson’s Landing: 

            Nelson’s Landing
Volcanic rock claws at my feet.I’m frozen.Behind me on the banka blanket.On top of it our clothes,a bottle of wine. The sky burgundy. Five fathoms below,the Colorado Rivercreeps toward oblivion.
The Spanish found gold here.Eldorado.A Civil War deserter beaten to deathwith a shovel for a yellow stone.The veins dried up during WWII.
Nelson, Nevada. Population 24.
A flood flashedthrough the canyon,carrying them away.A rusted water tankand bandaged minesremain.
Reaching the bend in the riverJohn Wesley Powell said, “We are ready to start into the Great Unknown.”
Atop the cliffeverything comes clear.The beginning of this relationship betrays how the last ended.I can’t see her,but hear her treading water. “You scared, old man?” she says.I smile, close my eyes.
And jump.

Book update

Joseph Watson and I have finished the “final” draft of the fictional memoir/art project we have been working on, off and on, for several years. We think it is now, finally, a very unique and publishable Vegas-related book. We think it is special.
We are more confident than ever about shopping around the book and are in the process of doing so. However, we are not sure we have reached out to the right people. If you know a literary agent, or a publishing house outside of Nevada, who may be interested in this combined art and literature project, please let me know.

Thanks!

DTZen.com

It’s a work in progress, but the website for the new Downtown Zen is up. Please give it a look. Cross training on the downtown streets, a memoir of an open-mic night, a photo essay of weekly motel desk clerks, a sketch by Joseph Watson, a downtown-set short story (Prose & Cons)—it’s certainly something to build on.
Also, we are looking for writers, photographers and illustrators who know and get downtown Vegas and urban living. Please let us know if you’re interested in contributing. (Yes, we pay.)
http://dtzen.com/

Off the Ranch

I haven’t done much local print journalism in the past few years, but I shook off the cobwebs for Downtown Zen’s Off the Ranch column (which highlights worthy things—in this case the jazz night at The Dispensary—outside of downtown Vegas).
http://downtownzen.wpengine.com/off-the-ranch/