The Michigan Womyn's Music Festival is as much a state of consciousness as a place. Imagine a land created entirely by and entirely for womyn, a land where decisions are made by consensus and work is shared equally by each according to her wishes and talents, a land where differences are celebrated and oneness is a reality. No, of course, the Festival does not always live up to these goals, but it comes as close as any community I've ever seen.

By the year 2007, "Michigan"--as it is known--will have been home for 32 years to between 3-10,000 womyn and children from around the world for six days and nights every August. The "Land" is made up of 650 acres of meadows and forests near Hart, a country town in western Michigan, 20 miles from the Great Lake, Michigan. There are no buildings, only tents, that, in deference to the health of land and water, are totally removed after every festival, only to be reinstalled by over a hundred womyn construction workers, electricians and assorted workers every summer.

Days and evenings offer performances by world-class singers, dancers, musicians, poets and theater artists on three sound stages...and hundreds of workshops and intensives are offered for all tastes. It is a world where womyn who love womyn are at home, as are womyn who love men. Clothing or lack of it depends on the weather, and all sizes are considered beautiful. Each womon is expected to work two 4-hour shifts during the week, chosen from services as diverse as those needed in any city in which food must be prepared, garbage collected, wounds healed, newcomers welcomed, children cared for, and security maintained.

Differently abled womyn, such as myself, are given all the help they need to manage this rustic outdoor life by DART (Differently Abled Resource Team), a collection of staff, volunteers, services, accessible seating areas, special lines, shuttles and the most centrally-located tenting area on the Land.

This year I celebrated my 13th year on the Land, and did it a little differently. Instead of coming for the entire week, I arrived on Friday morning and stayed through Sunday night's Closing Candlelight Ceremony. And instead of camping at DART, I spent those three nights at a motel in Hart. At age 65, I decided to do what made me most comfortable. As I checked out of the motel on Monday morning, I made my reservations for August 2008. As the womyn always say, "See you in August!"

My photographic intention this year was to focus on womyn's tattoos, but, as you'll see, I couldn't keep myself from taking other photos as well...