Dorian Allstot - August 08, 2019

Jared Anderson recommended Dorian to participate here. It was obvious through talking with both of them that they have a tremendous amount of mutual respect for each other. I found that connection to be quite moving. I am so grateful to Jared for recommending Dorian to this project as I doubt very much that I would have encountered him in this context otherwise. Dorian and his friends share an aesthetic and a way of life and during the time I’ve spent here in Bend, Oregon, I’ve noticed that this particular lifestyle is one that the people here tend to have trouble with. I’ve been wondering what I can do about it and how I might bridge this particular gap. I’ve contemplated starting another project, dedicated to exploring the clash between the home-owning, car-parking, more conventional consumeristic citizen and the stigmatized less polished transient crowd who may or may not be experiencing homelessness. Well, as it turns out, Jared and Dorian gave me an opportunity to explore this within the confines of this project and for that I am very grateful. I didn’t know anything about Dorian before meeting him today and I went into this interview with the same open-mindedness that I approach all other interviews with. And I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Dorian. Sorry to belabor the point, but please withhold your judgments about those who might look different than you. Have a conversation. I bet you that you’ll learn something and be better for it. I wanted to point out that early in our conversation Dorian asked how I felt about swearing. I told him it didn't matter. And with that, there are a few more swears in this interview than in most. But, frankly, it shouldn't be swearing that offends you at this juncture with all the wild and shocking atrocities going on and the incredibly violent, racist, homophobic, and generally divisive rhetoric that ceaselessly plagues our senses. Also, Dorian's cat, Yin Yang, hung out with us for the entirety of our conversation and you may hear evidence of her throughout.