I’m sorry we’ve been so very pathetic about updating this site. Life has swept us away in its forceful arms—and I’m inclined to say that’s a good thing. We’ve got more than enough to fill up our time. Josh is back at work nearly half-time, which is proving challenging. It’s also expected to be good for him in the long run, stretching his mental muscles and eventually his stamina for busy or social environments. For now, he needs lots of downtime mixed in with bicycling to work twice a week, shooting hoops, cognitive therapy, and taking the kids to crazy-loud community pools with tons of screaming children and waterslides and stuff.

Gusty’s adorable, but he’s definitely a toddler: demanding, active, and curious. Amelia is staying with us every other weekend. I’m working part-time on art and writing—which are actually my day jobs, lucky me!—and more-time as a parent and hausfrau.

There will be a reception and one-night-only video installation of my artwork at Reed College on June 13. It’s related to a piece called “Anakena: the Easter Island Project;” that installation can be seen at Reed throughout the summer.

Now that things are less crazed around here, I’m also getting back into my nonprofit mode, preparing to kick New Oregon Arts & Letters up a few levels (the publisher of Plazm) and getting more involved with our local family play area / co-op / community hub, Sunnyside Swap Shop Co-Op. I’m also brainstorming ways to start doing things I miss, things that are difficult on a budget and impossible when you have an injured loved one and small baby at home. Traveling, going to Burning Man, eating fabulous foodie foods, being out and about in the world like a normal cultural person. Not exactly world-changing stuff, but important to me! I can’t speak for Josh… hopefully he’ll post here soon… for myself, I had a very emotional week processing the one-year marker of the accident… but in general I feel like I’m emerging from a cocoon.

In much more important news: in under two minutes I wrote a haiku about food for a contest, and won VIP tickets to a decadent food event. Life ain’t bad.

–Tiffany

PS: Thank you Jack for the photo! He shot this in Amsterdam this week. Heh.

Well, this is getting fun. Artwork’s in the house, friends are dashing madly to printing houses & wine sellers around town, and nearly 90% of the Art Dash pre-registration tickets are already sold. (You can come to the event without an Art Dash ticket.)

Lots of official 100 x 100 for Josh event details are on this page. Of course. But take a moment to look at these logos and read the thank-yous at the bottom of this page. It’s weird how a terrifying accident and near-death experience can bring so much love & goodness bubbling to the surface.

Back to details: Remaining tickets for the Art Dash are at tinyurl.com/joshpica. You can be part of it even if you can’t show up to the event in person. If any tix remain on Sunday, you’re welcome to buy them at the event itself.

=== EVENT DETAILS =====

100×100 for Josh
Sun . Feb 24 . 3-6 pm

PICA (Portland Institute for Contemporary Art)
415 SW 10th Ave, Suite 300, Portland
503.242.1419

Short musical sets from Sam Coomes (Quasi, Heatmiser), Ray Raposa a.k.a. Raymond Byron (Castanets, White Freighter), Tuvan throat singer Enrique Ugalde (Soriah), Grey Anne, WC Beck, and a special guest. And the inimitable e*rock will spin, too. Performative auctionary experience by AC Dickson. Beer from Fort George Brewery, food from Tastebud, love and good vibes from all of you.

All ages
Suggested donation $10-20
Pre-purchase Art Dash tickets for $100 (includes admission) at tinyurl.com/joshpica (links to brownpapertickets.com)

===== HELLO, EVERYONE =====
Hello, people of Plazm… On February 24, our friends at PICA are very kindly putting on an event for Josh due to his bike accident, with help from many wonderful friends and compatriots. We hope you’ll come. There’ll be art from 100 artists and designers, from Milton Glaser to Storm Tharp to Kristy Edmunds, with music from Sam Coomes of Quasi, e*rock, and others.

As you may have heard: Plazm art director & Liquid Agency creative director Joshua Berger was in a serious bicycle accident last May, and sustained a TBI, aka Traumatic Brain Injury. He will be there to say hi to everybody—though keep in mind it will be pretty overwhelming for him and he will spend some time resting elsewhere in the building. His recovery is still ongoing, but going very well. He’s now working ten hours a week, bicycling (!!!)*, and continuing his speech-language cognitive work and other therapies.

In addition, if you’d like to participate in the “Art Dash” that’s happening in lieu of an auction, the organizers ask that you please oh please purchase your art-ticket as soon as possible. You can be part of it even if you can’t be there in person. The Dash described below, but basically? You spend $100 and walk home with a work of art. Tickets are available at www.tinyurl.com/joshpica (Brownpapertickets).

==== ART DASH ====

The dash involves donating $100 and when your ticket number is called by the inimitable AC Dickson, you select a piece of art off the wall. You choose from 100 works by artists like Storm Tharp, Ed Fella, Cynthia Lahti, Milton Glaser, Harrell Fletcher, Susan Seubert, and Kristy Edmunds. Nan Curtis and Marty Houston are creating a special series of portraits of Josh as well. If you can’t be there in person, PICA will assign a proxy to dash for art on your behalf. More artists are listed below.

===== MORE INFO & YEP, JOSH WILL BE THERE =====

Back when Josh’s friends and family first began planning this event, we didn’t know when or whether Josh would able to walk or work, much less show up at his own party. His recovery is going well, so he’ll be there to say “hi” to all of you. His family has been blessed with incredible support of all kinds from friends, family, and community, but they’ve experienced medical expenses and a significant loss of income, and are grateful to PICA and friends for making this happen. Josh’s recovery is documented erratically at getwelljosh.com

===== THANK YOU! =====

Enormous thanks to PICA, Melissa Delzio, Tastebud Farms, Fort George Brewery, Pushdot Studios, AIGA, Premier Press, Derek Ecklund, Thomas Bradley, Jeremy Bittermann, Karl Lind, Sarah Cline, Jon Raymond, Gus Nicklos, and Liquid Agency.

Thanks also to Chris & Celeste of Extracto coffee roasters, Tony Raynor of Galaxy Wine Company, Jack Harris at Fort George, Matt Berson of Love & Squalor and Behemoth wines, Quinn & Katherine of Foxfire teas, and Mark Doxtdater at Tastebud, for keeping us in beer, wine, tea, coffee, and food. Special thanks to Rebekah Scheer for helping organize all that!

And thanks to all the donors, sponsors, volunteers, artists, organizers, musicians, and friends who’re making this possible.

We’d like to offer Elise Bartow at PICA a cigar, a blue ribbon, and a tiara for her awesome accomplishments.

===== FEATURED ARTISTS & DESIGNERS =====

Adam Garcia

Adam Sorenson

Alexis Mollomo

Alfredo Muccino

Astrogirl

Brad Simon

Chris Haberman

Chris Johanson

Chris Knight

Christina Seely

Clare Carpenter

Corey Lunn

Cynthia Lahti

Dan Attoe

Dave Walsh

Ed Fella

Erik Stotik

Erin Holcomb

Gabriel Liston

Gus Nicklos

Harrell Fletcher

Heather Watkins

Jason Bacon

Jeff Foster

Jeff Jahn

Jeffry Mitchell

Jennifer Armbrust

Jeremy Bittermann

Jeremy Pelley

Jerry Ketel

Jolby

Jordan Domont

Jose Cabaco

Keegan + Meegan

Kristan Kennedy

Kristen Rogers Brown

Kristy Edmunds

Lloyd Winter

Malia Jensen

Marcus Swanson

Mark Faigenbaum

Mary Kysar

Melody Owen

Michael Brophy

Michael Buchino

Midori Hirose

Mike King

Milton Glaser

Nan Curtis & Marty Houston

Neva Knott

Patrick Long

Paul Fujita

Philip Iosca

Robbie McLaran

Sam Guerrero

Santiago Uceda

Sarah Cline

Sean Healy

Stephanie Snyder

Steve Sandstrom

Storm Tharp

Susan Seubert

Thomas Bradley

TJ Norris

Tom O’Toole

Tsilli Pines

Vanessa Renwick

Will Bryant

Zak Margolis

* – worried exclamation points courtesy of Josh’s wife and Plazm co-editor Tiffany)

If you’d like to have a chance at artwork by the amazing artists by these folks and by all those listed below, the organizers are asking that you pre-register ASAP for the Art Dash at tinyurl.com/joshpica. You can be part of it even if you can’t show up to the event in person. Also, for the time being you can sign up for multiple Art Dash tickets and take home many pieces of art, or share a ticket with a friend.

=== EVENT DETAILS =====

100×100 for Josh
Sun . Feb 24 . 3-6 pm

PICA (Portland Institute for Contemporary Art)
415 SW 10th Ave, Suite 300, Portland
503.242.1419

Short musical sets from Sam Coomes (Quasi, Heatmiser), Ray Raposa a.k.a. Raymond Byron (Castanets, White Freighter), Tuvan throat singer Enrique Ugalde (Soriah), Grey Anne, WC Beck, and a special guest. And the inimitable e*rock will spin, too. Performative auctionary experience by AC Dickson. Beer from Fort George Brewery, food from Tastebud, love and good vibes from all of you.

All ages
Suggested donation $10-20
Pre-purchase Art Dash tickets for $100 (includes admission) at tinyurl.com/joshpica (links to brownpapertickets.com)

===== HELLO, EVERYONE =====
Hello, people of Plazm… On February 24, our friends at PICA are very kindly putting on an event for Josh due to his bike accident, with help from many wonderful friends and compatriots. We hope you’ll come. There’ll be art from 100 artists and designers, from Milton Glaser to Storm Tharp to Kristy Edmunds, with music from Sam Coomes of Quasi, e*rock, and others.

As you may have heard: Plazm art director & Liquid Agency creative director Joshua Berger was in a serious bicycle accident last May, and sustained a TBI, aka Traumatic Brain Injury. He will be there to say hi to everybody—though keep in mind it will be pretty overwhelming for him and he will spend some time resting elsewhere in the building. His recovery is still ongoing, but going very well. He’s now working ten hours a week, bicycling (!!!)*, and continuing his speech-language cognitive work and other therapies.

In addition, if you’d like to participate in the “Art Dash” that’s happening in lieu of an auction, the organizers ask that you please oh please purchase your art-ticket as soon as possible. You can be part of it even if you can’t be there in person. The Dash described below, but basically? You spend $100 and walk home with a work of art. Tickets are available at www.tinyurl.com/joshpica (Brownpapertickets).

==== ART DASH ====

The dash involves donating $100 and when your ticket number is called by the inimitable AC Dickson, you select a piece of art off the wall. You choose from 100 works by artists like Storm Tharp, Ed Fella, Cynthia Lahti, Milton Glaser, Harrell Fletcher, Susan Seubert, and Kristy Edmunds. Nan Curtis and Marty Houston are creating a special series of portraits of Josh as well. If you can’t be there in person, PICA will assign a proxy to dash for art on your behalf. More artists are listed below.

===== MORE INFO & YEP, JOSH WILL BE THERE =====

Back when Josh’s friends and family first began planning this event, we didn’t know when or whether Josh would able to walk or work, much less show up at his own party. His recovery is going well, so he’ll be there to say “hi” to all of you. His family has been blessed with incredible support of all kinds from friends, family, and community, but they’ve experienced medical expenses and a significant loss of income, and are grateful to PICA and friends for making this happen. Josh’s recovery is documented erratically at getwelljosh.com

===== THANK YOU! =====

Enormous thanks to PICA, Melissa Delzio, Tastebud Farms, Fort George Brewery, Pushdot Studios, AIGA, Premier Press, Derek Ecklund, Rebekah Scheer, Thomas Bradley, Jeremy Bittermann, Karl Lind, Sarah Cline, Jon Raymond, Liquid Agency, and all the donors, sponsors, volunteers, artists, organizers, musicians, and friends who’re making this possible.

===== FEATURED ARTISTS & DESIGNERS =====

Adam Garcia

Adam Sorenson

Alexis Mollomo

Alfredo Muccino

Astrogirl

Brad Simon

Chris Haberman

Chris Johanson

Chris Knight

Christina Seely

Clare Carpenter

Corey Lunn

Cynthia Lahti

Dan Attoe

Dave Walsh

Ed Fella

El Rey Del Art

Erik Stotik

Erin Holcomb

Gabriel Liston

Gus Nicklos

Harrell Fletcher

Heather Watkins

Jason Bacon

Jeff Foster

Jeff Jahn

Jeffry Mitchell

Jennifer Armbrust

Jeremy Bittermann

Jeremy Pelley

Jerry Ketel

Jolby

Jordan Domont

Jose Cabaco

Keegan + Meegan

Kristan Kennedy

Kristen Rogers Brown

Kristy Edmunds

Lloyd Winter

Malia Jensen

Marcus Swanson

Mark Faigenbaum

Mary Kysar

Melody Owen

Michael Brophy

Michael Buchino

Midori Hirose

Mike King

Milton Glaser

Nan Curtis & Marty Houston

Neva Knott

Patrick Long

Paul Fujita

Philip Iosca

Robbie McLaran

Sam Guerrero

Santiago Uceda

Sarah Cline

Sean Healy

Stephanie Snyder

Steve Sandstrom

Storm Tharp

Susan Seubert

Thomas Bradley

TJ Norris

Tom O’Toole

Tsilli Pines

Vanessa Renwick

Will Bryant

Zak Margolis

* – worried exclamation points courtesy of Josh’s wife and Plazm co-editor Tiffany)

UPDATED, CURRENT INFO: “New Additions to PICA fundraiser” page on getwelljosh.com. The latest artists, musicians, sponsors, and other news.

the basics:

100×100 for Josh
Sun . Feb 24 . 3-6 pm
Music, beer, food, and work by 100 artists

PICA (Portland Institute for Contemporary Art)
415 SW 10th Ave, Suite 300, Portland
503.242.1419

All ages
Suggested donation $10-20
Pre-register for the Art Dash for $100 (includes admission) – you are guaranteed to walk out the door with a piece of artwork! Purchase at brownpapertickets.com

You can be part of the Art Dash even if you can’t come to the event.

UPDATED, CURRENT INFO: “New Additions to PICA fundraiser” page on getwelljosh.com. The latest artists, musicians, sponsors, and other news.

So I bring up the “supporters” link, which shows each donor and their address. It’s a big list, not just one supporter per page. I hit “print.” And the printer dialogue says:

Printing page 1 of 47.

Wow. That is a heckuva lot of love and generosity.

Thank you again…

-Tiffany

Josh and his uncle Dennis at Hanukkah

He was approved to work 10 hours a week beginning in January; his employer, Liquid Agency, has been very accommodating and supportive, as they have been to our whole family all these months. Josh is also approved to stay at home alone with our son Gusty for a couple hours at a time, which makes a big difference.

And a Providence program (that doesn’t put anyone behind the wheel, but does run ‘em through cognitive testing) approved him to start bicycling and even ease into driving. This all scares the heck out of me! Josh is cool with it, though, and biking to parks near our house is helping reduce his dizziness. Today we went driving in parking lots and on the city streets for a few slow, weekend industrial blocks. Thankfully Josh can parallel park, and back into dodgy, steep, narrow driveways a lot better than I can, so it all went great.

From my perspective it seems like Josh’s main recovery issues now are stamina/exhaustion and continuing to create compensatory strategies with his speech-language pathologist. He needs a lot of sleep and a lot of rest; it’s easy for other people to forget he’s still on a long road. When you’re having a great conversation about politics and the media with a smart guy, it’s hard to remember, “Oh yeah, he’s only 7 months into this recovery process.” Work and other responsibilities have to be done in short chunks with chill time in between.

His SLP guides him in making processes and systems, finding software and making lists, to keep track of things, prioritize what needs to be done, compensate for loss of memory, and the like. She also assigns Lumosity cognitive training and mental exercises that I help with—remembering strings of numbers and alphabetizing the words of, say, alliterative sentences. And he’s doing physical exercises to increase strength, balance, and physical stamina.

We have a heck of a lot to be thankful for around here. Thank you all for supporting us, being kind, reaching out, and all you’ve done for us. Love.

-Tiffany

Josh’s family in Portland during the holidays: Tiffany, bro-in-law Dan, Josh, sister Andrea (she and Dan are, as of last week, the proud parents of Lily! yay), Josh’s mom Joan and her husband Steve, Josh’s daughter my stepdaughter Amelia, dad Ron, and official toddler of the event, Gustav.

JOSH UPDATE
Progress continues on Josh’s recovery. His employer, Liquid Agency, has been amazingly helpful and supportive during this whole crazy time; in a few weeks, they’ll have a meeting with Josh and his doctor about how to take small steps in getting Josh back to work. Josh is really looking forward to getting started with that (though we don’t know when he’ll be approved to do so).

Josh has also been volunteering for the Obama campaign, going to a lot of medical and therapy appointments, and spending time with his kids. He’s now able to take the bus by himself, and he doesn’t take his cane all that often. Progress!

AMELIA & GUSTY
Am comes over frequently and hangs out with Josh; they go to the food carts, out to coffee, over to the park to shoot some hoops. She’s doing well in school and works part-time too. Gusty’s all about reading, or rather, memorizing dozens of books and “reading” them out loud.

TIF UPDATE
In a real-life conversation, this is usually the part where someone says, looking concerned yet hesitant, “And how are you doing.” (The sentence rarely goes up at the end, like a regular question-mark question would…) I’m pretty OK, very grateful that we’ve had the support to weather all this. People have given so much of themselves and their love to us.

For work, I’m still a freelance writer/artist/editor. I have an ongoing art project at Reed College that will keep evolving and changing for nine months, together with a website and project soundtrack at magdalen.com. I’m also acting as an editor and writing coach for a very cool person who’s writing his first book.

DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING - new link
Our friend Jeremy started a YouCaring online fundraiser. Old links to that won’t work now, because there is a whole new YouCaring fundraiser now. Jeremy advised us to assess our new expenses and income challenges, so that is in the works. Paypal donations can also be sent to magdalen23 at gmail.com.

We’re hugely thankful for all the donations that flowed in over the last six months!

Much love,

Tiffany

Josh works hard at the PT, OT, and SLP therapies that continue to help him recover. He attends the Cognitive Enhancement Center three times a week and does cognitive exercises daily through an online program called Lumosity. He’s gained more independence and mobility, and we continue to have high hopes that he will eventually make a full recovery.

(photo is of josh and cousin jane at gusty’s 2nd birthday party…)

As Josh gets better I feel less and less like I can or should speak for him, more and more like I should speak from and about my experience. I hope to have a video or written update from Josh himself here soon. In the meantime, some of my writing inspired by this subject have been published by Boing Boing and bit on my new website.

Your love and help and donations and advice and willingness to listen, your openness and reaching out, still get us through each day, each week, each season. Thank you, everyone. Really.

Love,

Tiffany

Josh has been home for almost two months now and as he puts it, he’s getting a little better every day. Recently, his dedication to physical therapy has paid off: he’s walking really well with a little aid from his cane and even shooting some hoops. His strength and balance return. It probably feels like slow progress when you’re going through it, but from the outside it looks fast.

His daughter Amelia is back in Portland and they spend lots of quality time together, talking, walking down to Stumptown for coffee, going to the park, and Amelia plays guitar for Josh. Our son Gustav is delighted to have Dada back home (he still remembers and talks about the hospital days). They do a whole bunch of reading and coloring together. Today we went and saw our friend Cynthia’s goats.

The Museum of Contemporary Craft in Portland (MoCC) recently asked for Plazm materials to display during Design Week in early October. Posters and publications from the magazine’s 21-year history will be shown in the museum’s Lab room.

They say that people stop visiting the patient, and stop volunteering to help the family, a couple months into a long-term injury and recovery period like this. I’m happy to say that They aren’t always right. Though much less desperate than before, we still need help and love (hey, who doesn’t?), and our awesome friends and family are still offering us generosity and support.

We’ll be working through this for many months and knowing that people love, care, and are willing to go the distance makes it feel … do-able. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again.

Wow. Our friends raised $5,500 and pushed us past the $5000 goal with four days to spare. Bob Ball is giving $5000 to match your donations. Our family — Josh, Tiffany, Gusty, & Amelia — is really, really grateful for everybody’s help and kindness.

Just knowing you guys are out there and willing to step up in so many different ways makes a huge difference in getting through the daily struggles of this unexpected life turn.

Love,

Tiffany

(photo by Josh. Goo Goo Goggles obsession courtesy of Dr. Seuss’s ABCs.)