Executive Director

Peter Bauer Peter is currently looking for someone to take his place as the director of mythmedia as he moves on with his solo project, the adventures of urban scout.

Board Of Directors

Willem Larsen is an instructor of riddle-making, place-making, mythology, linguistics, animal movement, and wilderness survival. When he's not teaching he is researching cultural tools that work or writing blogs about sustainability through myth at Mythmedias College of Mythic Cartography.
mythic.cartographer(at)gmail(dot)com.

Lisa Wells is an instructor of creative writing, theatre, and wilderness survival. A published poet and author, Lisa's loves to work with unschoolers and dropouts, aiding in their quest to stay productive and out of school! She is certain that the crash of civilization is upon us. takerthunderbolt(at)hotmail(dot)com .

Tony Kimbro is a master of wilderness survival. He spends much of his time traveling and camping in different areas learning what he can from the variety of environments. He is an insructor for TrackersNW. Cypress Hill would be proud, cause when the shit goes down, he's gonna be ready.
tony(dot)kimbro(at)gmail(dot)com.

Charlotte LaVictoire is a freelance art director/wardrobe/stylist for photo and film shoots. She is currently attending the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts for textiles and plans to create a sustainable clothing business. It ain't news to her that exploitation of resources is going out of style and fast.
yesclothing(at)gmail(dot)com.

Calen Kennett is a sound designer, film producer and an associate of Grassroots Screening. His post-apocalyptic survival kit weighs more than the total of all 5 board members.
calenk(at)gmail(dot)

Board of Advisors

Peter Schoonmaker, Illahee
Marie Deatherage, Meyer Memorial Trust

The History and Vision behind Mythmedia

We felt we had to abandon school and every form of this culture that we possibly can, so that our grandchildren might have a chance. Seeing our culture exposed in a simple and straightforward way drove us mad. With the act (or non-act) of abandoning civilization comes the charge to create, inspire, and invent.

In the style of cultural creator and healer Martin Prechtel our art is about bringing to world back to life.Though our main focus is video and film, we also have projects that involve journalism, poetry, photography, painting, interactive web sites, guerrilla theater, and graphic design. Although we have a complete distaste with the dominant system, our art is not of a distopian nature. We are not looking to make people feel bad about the way they're living. Instead, we are trying to make them see life outside of the prison of civilization as more appealing then life inside. We want our art to teach people how to keep the web of life woven tight simply by going about their daily routine.

Our belief is that art plays a fundamental role in the way culture is transmitted from one generation to another. This belief developed through our study of Joseph Campbell's works on mythology. Campbell showed us that stories can more easily slip into the subconscious, making art a very effective tool in cultural change. We have applied Campbell's works in mythology and comparative religion to our vision of sustainability, and in doing so become like a Trojan horse of the environmental movement. This idea gives artists a sense of power and responsibility when producing their art. Those who accept this responsibility are given the title of Mythmaker. Defined as, "Artists who use their gift to steer human destiny toward ultimate cultural survival." We go beyond the ordinary artist, and use our art to bring the world back to life. But simply creating our own art isn't enough. We want to unite artists with the common goal of creating sustainable human cultures.

We do this through holding special artistic events and educational workshops. One such past event, entitled "Broadcast," was an independent video screening. Local artists who attended signed in at the front, and screened their video on the big screen to an audience. We shaped Broadcast around our vision, adding elements that separated it from an ordinary film screening. Some examples are; that Broadcast was held on the full moon of the month to create an awareness of natural cycles, every month directors would be challenged to answer a "Sacred Question" with a short video to show at the following screening. We closed each Broadcast by having the audience vote on their favorite piece of the night. The winner received a copy of Quinn's "Ishmael," Campbell's "The Power of Myth," or one of a number of similar books that focus on mythology and culture. Broadcast was a project that ran successfully for 5 years.

After studying John Gatto's "Underground History Of American Education," we are being careful not to simply replicate what we call the "non-working process of schooling," but strive to create a holistic learning environment where people draw on their own passions to get the answers they need. We want to wrap the people who attend in a "cultural basket." When friends, family and regulars would say, "I saw the moon was half full, and I knew it was almost time for Broadcast," We know the culture works.

Without a background in business and a refusal to attend school, we have relied on other methods to explore and learn about business management and tribal models. Studying at the Wilderness Awareness Schools "Art of Mentoring" program, as well as traveling to New Jersey for Tom Brown JR's. Tracker School. We spent the first few years away from high school tracking animals in the wilderness. Tracking is about learning to follow a trail of questions. We have used these same skills to track experienced mentors in the business world who are happy to answer our questions or give us advice. It's on the job training. Our long-term goal is to be a sustainable non-hierarchal business. Following the example of an oak tree. They may take a long time to grow, but are one of the strongest trees. Our strategy: add one ring at a time.

Fueled by the inspiration to make a difference, a deep passion for art, and indigenous world views at the core of our lives, Mythmedia is sure to make it's mark on Portland and the future generations of all things.