Variation(s) – March 21st and 26th, 2026

Gathering

This month, 3 of us gathered to enjoy the changing seasons and to explore the theme of variation together. For the first time this month, a second meetup also brought 8 participants together at Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC.

Opening Reflections

Centering activities, including group breathing and gentle stretching, have become a meaningful part of how we begin our time together. In DC, Jessie Houff graciously volunteered her experience to guide us through these practices. Music and poetry also played an important role in our opening reflections.

Ben Townsend shared examples of variation within Appalachian fiddle and banjo traditions at both meetups, an example of which can be heard as the featured musical portion below. Bailey Blumenstock offered examples of poetry that rely on repetition and variation, including Sylvia Plath’s “Mad Girl’s Love Song” and Paul Celan’s “Todesfuge.” In North River Mills, Townsend also shared the poem “juggler, magician, fool,” by Peter Schaeffer, along with a brief introduction to the pantoum poetic form, which similarly weaves repetition and variation together.

Themes and Discussion

What follows is a shared reflection on the conversations that unfolded in both West Virginia and Washington, DC. While each group began at different places, both gatherings gradually moved toward similar insights.

In West Virginia, participants pointed to clouds, grass, Arizona sunsets, and daily commutes as examples of variation in everyday life. A participant shared the quote “How do you take pictures if you don’t travel?” voicing our culture’s predisposition to prioritize adventure and consumption. Commutes stood out as a symbolic way of talking about the importance of being present and of noticing the beauty that surrounds us in familiar places. This offered a gentle counterpoint to the idea that meaning can only be found through travel or constant novelty. Instead, participants reflected on the richness of small, ever-changing details in the places we inhabit daily. Even as we move along the same roads and pathways, the world around us is always shifting. Through the seasons, through light, through the subtle movements of creation itself, constant variations invite us to take pause and notice. Over time, the conversation widened, and many came to see variation as something woven into all of life. Even our DNA, unique to each of us, can be understood as an expression of this deep and ongoing creativity.

In Washington, DC, the conversation began from an opposite point of origin, focusing first on variation through the lens of evolution. Participants reflected on the many ways living things change and adapt, often becoming quite different over time due to small shifts in environment or experience. The concept of carcinization, a new idea for many of us, describing how different crustaceans independently evolve crab-like forms, brought moments of laughter followed by a much deeper recognition of how much we share in common despite our perceived differences. As the conversation bloomed in DC, the focus zoomed further and further in to include rituals like choosing a daily outfit, a process that is always different, but at the same time always the same, and making our daily coffee, a process that is often the same, but yields a variety of results.

Both gatherings focused on the importance of variation in creation. We talked at length about how different faith traditions are connected by their inclusion of some sort of creation story. We identified these creation stories as variations on a theme that unite us through the commonalities of our various traditions. The idea of God the creator was lifted as a unifying vision of God that led us to explore the idea that we creative people, through our various creations, honor God the creator. Our creative endeavors in this sense become forms of prayer with the power to transform us and those we love. In closing, we started to examine the importance of ritual and discipline both in aiding our creative processes and as a vessel through which we can order and offer our creative outpourings for ourselves and others. This, we accepted, would be a great topic for another gathering.

Creative Practice

In North River Mills, Townsend shared a detailed explanation of various styles of traditional banjo and fiddle playing, which you can find below. He shared thoughts on how a “skeleton melody,” the melody at its most basic, should “open up like a flower” through improvisation and variation to become something uniquely beautiful each time played. “Old Mother Flannagan,” a tune from the playing of Lester McCumbers, served as his example.

At Oxnam Chapel, participants made a paragraph used to revisit the “I Am Sitting in a Room” idea from Alvin Lucier, which read:

“You do not have to be good. Flowers slow my mind. How rare & beautiful it is to even exist. Have you ever heard of an “exquisite corpse?” Welcome to the buds, leaves, birds, bees, spring, because you are water babe. We sit together in this room celebrating each other in all our wonderful ways.”

It was read by Jessie Houff and featured in our Third Space Archives.

Looking Ahead

Join us this later month in North River Mills on Saturday, April 18th, and/or at Wesley Theological Seminary on Wednesday, April 29th, where we will explore the topic: displacement. Musical offerings will include guided improvisation on this theme, played by anyone in attendance excited to participate.

Making Space for the Journey

February 21, 2026

Gathering

This month, 15 of us met to have a wonderful conversation all about letting go and making space for life’s journeys. While the majority of us hailed from the North River Mills metro area, we had folks joining from as far away as Gays Mills, Wisconsin, and Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Opening Reflections

We kicked things off with a centering breathing activity, followed by a relevant poem from Mary Oliver called In Blackwater Woods, in which she teaches us that “to live in this world,” we must “when the time comes… let it go.”

We also explored the major themes of The Philosopher and the Handyman, a Cautionary Tales podcast episode that explores maintenance through the story of two competitive sailors.

Themes and Discussion

Our conversation leapt to an energetic start when a participant shared stories about his constant battle with getting rid of stuff and eliminating clutter. Many in attendance agreed that we had a tendency to spend too much time collecting and not enough time enjoying, maintaining, or getting rid of things once we experienced the rush of the initial purchase. This opened to the idea that we can be crippled by choice. Limitations, we agreed, can help the creative process, and that sometimes simply refusing to buy a proposed solution to a problem leads us to better solutions of our own.

We then explored grief through the lens of letting go. We talked about how hard it can be to lose a loved one and shared stories about how that process unfolds. We also talked about how traditions sometimes die out and how that can be hard for communities to face. We agreed that some elements of tradition were best let go, and that sometimes, when we stop trying so hard to keep them going, they surprise us and come back in new ways in younger generations.

Sweet Milk and Peaches shared how the tour that brought them to our area was, in itself, an act of giving up. They mentioned that temporarily letting go of the responsibilities of overseeing their farm back home and letting someone else help out with their kids while they are gone was a real challenge. Members commented that giving up control and delegating work, while often necessary, can prove truly challenging.

Trying to let go of distractions was another angle we entertained. We agreed that so many things pull us in so many directions and that it is becoming evermore difficult to stay focused on the things that truly matter. This evolved into a conversation about the distractions of modern technologies, cellphones, the internet, social media, etc. While we laughed and agreed when a participant offered that this likely goes back to “Prometheus and fire,” we eventually came away convinced that the immediacy required of us and the feigned urgency of all forms of communication in this constantly connected iteration of society was new and problematic.

In closing, we decided “you just never know,” what we think we want often turns out to be merely a distraction, and the discoveries that lead us to true fulfillment often come through accidental circumstances or the observations of other people in our lives. We were left to contemplate the lovely Italian phrase “Il dolce far niente,” or “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

Creative Practice

Sweet Milk and Peaches (Liz Voz and Jesse Downs) concluded the evening with an amazing hour of original songs and tunes. As you’ll see, a lot of the subject matter in Voz’s songs explores grief, growing pains, and the power of letting go. You can hear an excerpt from the evening below. They are also interviewed in this podcast series:

https://www.facebook.com/events/footjoy-farm-and-brewing/sweet-milk-peaches/2005701763231867/

Looking Ahead

Join us on March 21st at North River Mills United Methodist Church, where we will focus on the theme: redemption. Check back as we are also looking to expand this project beyond North River Mills in the near future.

Third Space
Cycles of Growth

December 2025
North River Mills, West Virginia

Gathering:

This month, six of us braved the weather to meet and contemplate the cycles of life and the ways we are called to change through life’s seasons. While several regular participants were in attendance, we were also pleased to be joined by visitors who drove down from both Maryland and New Jersey.

Opening Reflections:

We opened the meeting by discussing adaptation and the importance of releasing our grip on things that no longer serve us as we endeavor to continue growing and thriving in life. This initial conversation set the tone for a broader reflection on change, resilience, and presence.

Themes and Discussion:

As we dove deeper into the meeting, we discussed the possibility of abundance through devastation. We talked about how, in each of our lives, we have experienced times when our sense of normalcy was taken away, only to open us to development and growth we had been reluctant to accept. Like a forest after a fire, we agreed that our lives often realign after tragedy, allowing us to grow in ways we hadn’t anticipated or were otherwise unwilling to initiate on our own.

Several floods were remembered by participants, especially the flood of 1985. Now forty years out from the devastation brought on by the rising of the banks of the Potomac, participants explored ways the destruction of the ’85 flood united the people of the South Branch Valley in ways that continue today. We talked about how, when the normal facets of life—grocery stores, restaurants, theaters, and routines—are stripped away, we connect in forgotten but meaningful ways. We ascertained that the process of healing from the historic wounds brought on by the floods of ’85 in the southeastern and ’96 in the northeastern parts of the county allowed for needed growth and connection for the people of the region.

Gradually, it became apparent that it is important to define and redefine what it means to thrive. At times, we can be blinded by how we seek success and recognition and fail to see ourselves thriving on our own terms. Silence and privacy surfaced as needed elements of personal growth. We discovered that when we strive for status or acceptance, we sometimes miss the beauty and significance of what we are being called to experience and share with others.

Similarly, we acknowledged that obligation and routine can get in the way of our development and presence. Often, we say “yes” to everything that comes our way, which limits our ability to focus on where we are truly inspired and able to contribute and participate. We considered the importance of admitting that the ways we engage change over time, while recognizing that, foundationally, our intentions and true joys seldom change and seldom need to.

Finally, we considered how our circles of engagement grow and develop over time. As the old proverb says, make new friends, but keep the old, we recognized the importance of changing and growing without leaving behind the meaningful relationships and contributions we have made in the past. Our past serves as a framework to grow from and add to as we continue to improvise on the unique light that informs each and every one of us.

Creative Practice:

Our meeting concluded with a musical contribution from Ben Townsend that explored cyclical growth by showcasing how several notes, extended over several voices, could grow and expand through a series of cycles.

Looking Ahead:

We invite you to listen to this sonic exploration below, and join us online on January 17 at 6:30 PM as we begin using these cold months to explore how the Third Space project might expand beyond its origins in North River Mills. A Zoom link will be shared through the email list and on Facebook.

Rejoicing in All Creation – November 15^th, 2025

Seventeen of us gathered this month, just before the Thanksgiving season entered full swing, to spend an evening exploring the theme “Rejoicing in All Creation.” We were joined by Levi Houston Sanders, who helped guide us through a range of philosophical and religious perspectives on creation and stewardship drawn from cultures around the world, and who also offered a healing raga on sitar that set the tone for the night.

Opening the Conversation

We began with poetry from Wendell Berry, who reminds us that “In the loss of skill, we lose stewardship; in losing stewardship we lose fellowship; we become outcasts from the great neighborhood of Creation,” alongside reflections from artist and writer Makoto Fujimura, who writes that “to be effective messengers of hope we must trust our inner voice, our intuition that speaks into the vast wastelands of our time.”

Together, these voices invited us into reflection on renewal. From a Christian perspective shared during the gathering, this renewal was named as God’s ongoing work; an assurance that there is always the possibility of new creation.

Creation and Responsibility

As the conversation unfolded, we explored how different cultures and traditions have understood God, creation, responsibility, and spiritual fulfillment over time, and how we each encounter these themes in our own lives today.

A shared insight gradually emerged: beauty is not always something we make, but something we discover. This realization carried us into a conversation about the importance of truly visionary artistic work in a time so often shaped by distraction, slop, and excess. However, we understand the sacred; we agreed that creation does not depend on us, but it responds to us. When our creative work is thoughtful and attentive, it can deepen connection and nourish the communities we are part of.

Rejoicing as a Practice

Our attention then turned toward the idea of rejoicing itself. Someone offered that rejoicing can be like running or jogging; often difficult to begin, but deeply nourishing and meditative once it finds its rhythm. Rejoicing by noticing small things, or by naming the good we see in those around us, can draw us into a deeper connection with life.

This kind of presence, we noted, can help us move through writer’s block and other forms of creative stagnation. Discipline and routine were lifted up not as rigid demands, but as gentle structures that can help joy take root more deeply over time.

Listening and Care

We closed by reflecting on care. Lstening, we agreed, is an act of care in and of itself. Often, those we care about do not need solutions so much as they need to be heard. Once again, the importance of noticing surfaced—when we notice, we open the door to care.

At times, people may struggle to name what they are carrying. A friend or loved one who notices something amiss can help begin the healing process. In this way, creative work can also become an act of care when it gives voice to what needs attention societally through art, music, mentorship, or simple presence. We concluded by affirming the importance of extending community across cultures, listening deeply, and honoring the many ways people express meaning and belonging worldwide.

Closing the Evening

The evening came to a close with a collaborative performance by Levi Houston Sanders on sitar, joined by Ben Townsend who contributed synthesized drones and soundscapes, an offering that felt both grounding and expansive.

You can listen below, and we invite you to join us next month in North River Mills on December 20th at 6:30 PM, as we explore cyclical transformation in honor of the coming winter solstice.

October brought us together beneath the beautiful colors of the changing leaves in North River Mills, West Virginia for a conversation about how we persist and find patience during times of frustration. Our group of nine participants ranging in age from 17 to 76 shared perspectives, experiences, and creative practices spanning generations.
 

Themes and Discussion

Our conversation centered on how we navigate struggle and remain grounded in our values and communities. Together, we explored: 

- The tension between distraction and presence, and the need to stay connected with the moment we are in. (Nostalgia was offered as a growing draw on our focus.)      

-  The value of noticing small joys and letting go of the pressure to compete or “win.”     

 -  The importance of staying true to one’s purpose, even when recognition is scarce.      

-  The idea that acts of joy and creativity have worth in themselves, not only when they produce measurable outcomes.
 

Our session began with a brief centering meditation, followed by sharing some of the personal and collective challenges participants have faced recently. Many spoke of how simply being seen in one’s struggle can be deeply healing. We reflected that understanding, not quick problem-solving, is often what truly supports transformation. As one participant observed, our values and talents shine through our struggles. The group also discussed how our culture discourages the full expression of emotion. We agreed that acknowledging anger, sadness, and disappointment is vital for growth.

Suppressed feelings, we noted, often re-emerge in harmful ways. True healing, we concluded, comes through allowing ourselves to feel and to persist patiently through the full spectrum of human emotion. 


Competition and Creativity

A generational dialogue unfolded around the role of competition in creative life. Younger members described how social media and contest culture, especially in local music, where fiddle and banjo contests literally rank players, can limit experimentation and self-expression.

Older participants reflected that over time, competition loses importance, and the simple act of creation becomes its own reward. Together, we recognized that many digital and social models prioritize trendiness over authenticity. Our group reaffirmed the importance of creative spaces that celebrate difference, experimentation, and sincerity over conformity.

Community and Recognition

We closed by reflecting on the transformative power of recognition. Several participants shared recent experiences of being affirmed for following their convictions, continuing to create or act from integrity even when it felt unnoticed. These moments of validation, we found, strengthen persistence. We ended with a commitment to support one another between gatherings and to keep finding ways to stay connected.

Poetry and Music

Our session opened with Nakahara Chuuya’s “The Voice of Life,” a meditation on the restless search for meaning and authenticity. We closed with selections from Mary Oliver’s “Evidence,” reminding us to “keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable” and to “consider, always, every day, the determination of the grass to grow despite the unending obstacles.” Music for this month’s gathering was provided by Jim Townsend, who shared piano improvisations from his 2013 work Meditations on the Tao Te Ching. You can explore his work at jimmytownsend.bandcamp.com.

Why This Matters

These monthly “Third Space” gatherings create opportunities for authentic dialogue, intergenerational connection, and creative expression in rural Appalachia. By combining conversation, music, and art, we build community resilience and foster spaces where participants can share honestly, listen deeply, and support one another’s growth.

Next Time

We hope you will join us for our next meeting Saturday, November 15th at 6:30 PM at the North River Mills United Methodist Church, where we will be discussing Joy and Celebration and listening to the sounds of the sitar provided by Levi Houston Sanders. 

Join us in the forum in the meantime.

Slowly and Truthfully – September 20

     As autumn settles into North River Mills, our September gathering invited friends and neighbors to slow down and engage truthfully with both our creative practices and daily lives. This session reminded us why intentional, in-person community matters and how vital it is to find joy in our gifts even when applause or online affirmation doesn’t follow.

Building Community Beyond the Scroll

     Six participants joined us this month, including two newcomers. For the first time, everyone hailed from Hampshire or Hardy counties, a sign of our growing local roots. We began with gentle movement and breathing exercises, which set a tone of mindfulness and connection.       

     Together, we explored the shrinking of our attention spans shaped by 24/7 media cycle and the flattening effect social platforms have had on creativity. While social media can connect, we recognized its net negative: replacing deep engagement with “content,” turning artists into competing brands, and eroding meaningful communal spaces.

      We affirmed our shared commitment to cultivating alternative spaces, both online and offline, where creative works can be valued for their depth and meaning. By adjusting our start time to 6:30 PM, we hope to make it easier for participants traveling from farther away to participate as evenings grow shorter.

Practicing Attention Through Art

     This month’s activities featured Lectio Divina and Visio Divina, practices that reconnect us to attentive, reflective engagement. Using Bailey Blumenstock’s poem “Vision” from her new book Leaving the Religion of Self-Harm, we explored how reading and re-reading can reveal new layers of meaning and inspiration.

      Nancy Townsend offered a series of stunning nature photographs for our Visio Divina practice, inviting participants to first notice a single detail, then widen their focus to the whole image. These photographs are up in our Third Space gallery, extending the experience to our online visitors.

Music as Meditation

      To close the evening, Ben Townsend shared a new work inspired by Robert Fripp’s Frippertronics. Bowed electric guitar, lopped using Eurorack modules, created an evolving soundscape that mirrored our conversations on time, attention, and lasting impact. The piece invited quiet meditation and underscored our commitment to blending artistic disciplines in meaningful ways.

Why This Matters

     At a time when digital spaces often feel shallow and transactional, gatherings like this provide the kind of intentional, face-to-face community that sustains both artists and neighbors. By carving out alternative spaces, places not defined by algorithms, likes and shares, or competition, we affirm that meaningful connection and creative exploration still matter. These meetings remind us that building community is slow, patient work that requires showing up, listening deeply, and sharing our gifts without expectation. Supporting and growing these spaces ensures that artists and community members alike can find belonging, inspiration, communal support, and the freedom to create authentically.

Join Us Next Month

     Join us for our next gathering on October 18th at 6:30 PM at North River Mills United Methodist Church. Our theme will be “Persistence.”  You’re warmly invited to take part in person, on our new forum page, or both. Bring your creativity, your curiosity, and your willingness to slow down and engage.  We are sure there’s a place for you here.

Transformation – August 23, 2025

After skipping July due to the intense summer heat in North River Mills, we gathered again this month for a meaningful conversation on transformation—what it means, how it unfolds, and how we continue to grow as both artists and people.

Eight of us came together: a mix of North River Mills locals, friends from across Hampshire County, a visiting couple from Alexandria, Virginia (by way of Baker, West Virginia), and Scott Ingleton, the incoming pastor at our host site, North River Mills United Methodist Church, who joined us for the first time.
 

Themes of the Conversation

We began by exploring the role of education in shaping one’s understanding of transformation. Many noted how early exposure to different cultures helps build openness and curiosity later in life, rather than fear or caution. Travel was mentioned as another way to deepen understanding throughout life.

From there, the conversation turned to flexibility—focusing on how the ability to adapt rather than resist change is a skill often acquired with age and one that sustains longevity. Lyrics from Ani DiFranco’s songs, including “Angry Anymore” and “Buildings and Bridges,” added depth to this reflection.

Our group also highlighted the value of small gatherings. Participants shared that they often feel freer to open up in more intimate settings where support and welcome are present. In contrast, we noted that large concerts or mega-church environments, while impressive and spectacular, rarely lead to lasting transformation. Instead, relationships and small, meaningful experiences often prove to be far more profound. We took time to share and celebrate examples of such relationships in our own lives.
 

The Role of Place

Some attendees voiced concern that holding these gatherings in a church setting could feel like a barrier. We acknowledged that this has come up before and reaffirmed that the heart of the Third Space Project is to provide a safe environment for people of all backgrounds—religious, secular, or anywhere in between.

Several participants shared past experiences of “church hurt,” reminding us of the importance of this work. In fact, one of our main intentions with Third Space is to address the rift between religion and the arts. Leading by example, we hope to bridge gaps created in the past—by both the church and the secular world—in order to facilitate powerful creation through this holistic reconnection.
 

Looking Ahead

Education emerged again as a key focus for the future. Together, we set an intention to consider educational needs in our community, to discern how we might contribute, and to continue developing concrete proposals at future meetups. Themes of support, encouragement, and combating isolation arose as major needs among those present.
 

Music as Transformation

Our musical offering this month was Alvin Lucier’s “I Am Sitting in a Room.” Here is a glimpse of his simple yet profound score:

Excerpt from Lucier’s Score

Instructions:

• Choose a room the musical qualities of which you would like to evoke.
• Attach the microphone to the input of tape recorder #1.
• To the output of tape recorder #2 attach the amplifier and loudspeaker.
• Use the following text or any other text of any length:

“I am sitting in a room different from the one you are in now. I am recording the sound of my speaking voice and I am going to play it back into the room again and again until the resonant frequencies of the room reinforce themselves so that any semblance of my speech, with perhaps the exception of rhythm, is destroyed. What you will hear, then, are the natural resonant frequencies of the room articulated by speech. I regard this activity not so much as a demonstration of a physical fact, but more as a way to smooth out any irregularities my speech might have.”

• Record your voice on tape through the microphone attached to tape recorder #1.
• Rewind the tape to its beginning, transfer it to tape recorder #2, play it back into the room through the loudspeaker, and record a second generation of the original statement through the microphone.
• Rewind the second generation, splice it onto the end of the original, and repeat.
• Continue through many generations.
• All the generations spliced together in order form a composition whose length is determined by the original text and the number of iterations.

Our Process:

Inspired by Lucier, we created our own version, based on the intentions that surfaced during our discussion. Together we wrote:

“We are sitting in a room exploring transformation. Maybe finding it’s possible when we thought not, discovering that the search itself is transformative if we look outside of the box and are open to evolving. We transform in small ways every day that we live. May we share the transformative power of our gifts with all those we meet going forward.”

You can listen to how our experiment turned out below:

We look forward to continuing this journey together and invite you to join us for our next session on September 20th.  

Reflections on Our First Gathering of the Season

On June 21st, we held an intimate yet deeply meaningful first gathering of this season’s “Third Space” gathering. Six of us came together for two hours of heartfelt conversation and music centered on the theme, “Where do we go from here?” Among the participants, four hailed from the local area, while two traveled from as far as Portland, Maine, and Huntington, West Virginia.

Key Insights and Takeaways

Welcoming Atmosphere:
We reflected on the importance of creating a space that genuinely invites participation from all age groups. To foster this inclusivity, we explored incorporating movement as a gentle icebreaker at future gatherings. July’s session may also introduce a Q&A segment following musical performances to help demystify musical presentations for those previously unfamiliar with more experimental musical forms. This open dialogue could make the experience more approachable and diminish any sense of pretentiousness.

The Courage to Embrace the Unfamiliar:
A recurring theme was the value of showing up consistently, without preconceived notions, to allow something new and meaningful to emerge. We discussed how creative endeavors like art and music often require patience, a willingness to sit with discomfort, and a trust that joy and inspiration will eventually guide us forward.

Authenticity Over Obligation:
Many of us shared experiences of being compelled into “team-building” exercises that felt artificial and contrived.  Conversation led us to realize that in our own ways, we each aspire to cultivate spaces of genuine connection, where engagement arises naturally and partnerships grow organically.  We discussed specific gathering elements that could promote such connection at upcoming “Third Space” events and beyond.

A New Idea—The “Thought Luck”:
One exciting concept that emerged was the idea of a “thought luck,” where participants could share creative works either finished or in progress during gatherings. We hope to develop this idea further in the coming sessions.

The evening concluded with a captivating modular performance by Ben Townsend which consisted of a journey through several sonic landscapes coaxed on by a conversation between Townsend and his instrument.  A fitting close to a night filled with discovery and inspiration, this performance is included for your consideration.

We look forward to continuing this journey together and invite you to join us for our next session on July 26th. Let’s see where the path leads.