I will take it all: tongs, molten lead, prongs, garrotes, all that burns, all that tears, I want to truly suffer. Better one hundred bites, better the whip, vitriol, than this suffering in the head, this ghost of suffering which grazes and caresses and never hurts enough.

Jean-Paul Sartre

vitriol [vi-tree-uh l]

noun 1. Chemistry. any of certain metallic sulfates of glassy appearance,

as copper sulfate or blue vitriol, iron sulfate or green vitriol, zinc sulfate or white vitriol, etc.

2. oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.

3. something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.

INTRODUCTION v

Welcome, fellow travelers, to the second issue of vitriol.

A s we write this, as you read this, polar regions continue to melt, garbage accumulates in our oceans, humans keep killing each other, rights are still violated and denied, hearts are broken wholesale, changing economies displace urban dwellers from their neighborhoods. Before the publication of our next issue, rising San Francisco rents will have forced The Emerald Tabletthe host venue for most of the events that inspired the writings in this magazineto close its doors.

Thus, though bittersweet, it is with a knowing optimism that we share, in this issue, an essay version of The Emerald Tablet's first homegrown performance series, Under the Influence; for more than two years of monthly shows and 130+ artist presentations, its slogan has been: because some things last longer than homes. Created to pay homage to the myriad factors that make us who and what we are, and to acknowledge

and celebrate the fact that we do not live in a vacuumeach of us is an intersection of forces undergoing continuous changethe series has been a potent reminder that while the future is always unclear, whatever happens next will be defined by the processes that brought us here. You can read more about the series, and Jack Foley's three-fold application of the idea, on page 51.

As the fabric of the here and now is lacerated, new threads unroll and combine to weave another tapestry. As with the individual lives who have contributed to this magazine, so too, we hope, with your life. As the image of the moment fades, fresh colors are already blending to paint a new picture, not to be clearly seen until it too begins to disappear. Worldwide, the multitudes and their relations of voice, path, and work, forever create what is, leaving behind what may appear to be the wake of a plan, the shadow of intentionality. Who is the master who makes the grass green?

To us, that is not the right question; it is not global warming that needs attention, but our disinterest in the world's affairs; it is not the homicide rate, but our inability to empathize; not the trash in the ocean, but our idea of trash; not the court-sanctioned injustices, but our changing needs for the law; not the gentrification of our neighborhoods, but what we hope to build, and how we will build it; it is not the artist's job to master, but to illuminate.

What is the green that makes the grass master? We did not seek answers or solutions or even specific writings in compiling the content of vitriol; we sought seekers; we invited people working to transform themselveswho are looking to rebuild the homes they have made of their experiences into better homes on greener pasturesto send us the results of their latest efforts. Pick them up and put them down and take them with you.

DECEMBER 2014 - APRIL 2015INTRODUCTIONiv

Evan Karp is the founder and executive director of Quiet Lightning and the founding editor of Litseen.com. He writes literary columns for The San Francisco Chronicle, SF Weekly, and SF/Arts, and is co-creator and -host of The Emerald Tablet's original programs: Under the Influence and Call and Response. He's currently Front of House & Special Events Coordinator at SOMArts Cultural Center. Find videos, audio, and more at

otherpeople. info

Lapo Guzzini is executive director of events and activities for The Emerald Tablet. In the years from 1996 through 2001, while residing in Rome, Italy, Lapo created video projections and installations in collabo-ration with musical artists, developing conceptual and textual material as well as visual experiences for audiences across Italy, Spain and France. Since moving to California from Italy in 2001, Lapo has been studying and producing art in a variety of media, passing through painting, drawing, sculpture and ce-ramics to his current focus on the written word. From 2007 through 2009, Lapo attended UC Berkeley and studied mathematics and logic with leading experts in the field. He is a strong believer in the fun-damental unity of the human pursuits of reasoning and creativity. By curating the scene that gravitates around The Emerald Tablet, he seeks to create a welcoming and vibrant community space for creators, a melting pot for all the multifaceted expressions of the human spirit to intersect and find points of synergy. Contact him at lapo@emtab.org.

Vitriol 2 - front coveriii from vitriol ii1 foreword2 from foreword