100 Colorado Creatives: Evan Weissman

You really do get cookies and milk at Evan Weissman's Warm Cookies of the Revolution.

#93: Evan Weissman

Evan Weissman already deserves the Colorado Creative designation as a member of the wildly creative Buntport Theater (the whole troupe was honored as such when they received a Westword MasterMind award back in 2005 as part of the inaugural class). But then, late last year, he came up with the darndest idea: a new way to get people talking to each other about civic issues.

See also:
- Evan Weissman on why Warm Cookies of the Revolution is good for your civic health
- 100 Colorado Creatives: Onus Spears
- 100 Colorado Creatives: The Ladies Fancywork Society

Letter-writers at Warm Cookies of the Revolution.

Called Warm Cookies of the Revolution, and subtitled a "a civic health club," the concept combines milk and cookies, public discourse and silly, communal fun for adults -- writing letters, playing games, building a LEGO town -- in the space of an evening. The monthly event has unfolded at a variety of venues so far, but Weissman's ultimate dream is to find a permanent spot, and open a true civic health club where people can really talk. What's your ideal government? Is gun control anti-American? Is Facebook making us lonely?

Does that sound like a place where you'd like to hang out? Weissman is betting on it, which makes him creative in a way that maybe hasn't quite been invented yet. We asked him to take our Colorado Creative quiz, and following are his ideas about life and local arts and culture.

Westword: If you could collaborate with anyone in history, who would it be, and why?

Evan Weissman: Charlie Chaplin, because he experimented with a new form and was able to present important issues with beauty and humor. It'd be less of a collaboration and more of me watching him and eating snacks or something...

Who in the world is interesting to you right now, and why?

The Coalition of Immokolee Workers. They are immigrant tomato pickers that have been the most creative and therefore successful movement for worker justice in the last decade or so. I also find Rebecca Solnit's writing and Sebastiao Salgado's photography inspiring.

What's one art trend you want to see die this year?

I'm not a huge fan of irony in artwork, but I don't know if that's a trend nor if I would actually want to see it die!...so, brushed steel? Those squiggle lines make me dizzy.

What's your day job? 

My day job has been as a theater-maker at Buntport, though this year, I've been transitioning to making Warm Cookies more of my day job. We'll see if that works out!

A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?

I'd spread it around to as many folks creatively working for uplift in the community, whether that be straight art-related or more social justice based work. We'd make some great change I'm sure, and you know we'd have fun doing it!

Continue reading for more from Evan Weissman.